Drag star The Vivienne's death down to "unnatural causes" - inquest hears
The 32-year-old was found in their Cheshire home last month
RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne was found dead in the bathroom of their home, an inquest opening has been told.
James Lee Williams, 32, who performed as the drag queen, was found dead at their home near Chester in Cheshire on Sunday, January 5.
An inquest into their death was opened and adjourned at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington on Wednesday.
Coroner's officer Amanda Edgar said Williams was found deceased in the bathroom at their home address in Chorlton-by-Backford.
Police attended and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Ms Edgar said: "Post mortem testing has been undertaken identifying an unnatural cause of death."
The hearing, which lasted two minutes, was told Williams was identified by their father Lee Williams.
Area coroner Victoria Davies said: "Given the unnatural cause of death identified on post mortem testing it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into the death of James Lee Williams."
She said further investigations were required.
The case was adjourned for a case review on April 13, with a full inquest set to be held on June 30.
The brief hearing was attended by four members of the press.
Williams, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, before moving to Liverpool, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third on the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice.
The star performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year.
They were due to be back on stage this month as the Childcatcher in the tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a role which they first portrayed last year.
Their funeral, held in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales last month, was attended by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz and Cheryl along with Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV personality Kim Woodburn and Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney
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