The BBC is at the centre of a "misogyny" row over its new drag queen reality show which highlights "unacceptable" language about women.

RuPaul's Drag Race UK has been accused of using crude phrases to "ridicule" women, while LGBTQ+ artists added the programme failed to represent the full spectrum of British drag.

The show sees drag queen contestants compete against one another in performance-related challenges such as singing, acting and comedy.

The UK version aired on BBC Three for the first time last month following its successful 10-year run in the US. A second series was commissioned by the BBC last week after recording positive audience figures.

However, the show's language has attracted criticism from fellow drag performers and LGBTQ+ activists.

Author and playwright Rose Collis said derogatory terms used in relation to the female anatomy were "pure misogyny".

The BBC rejected the show was misogynistic, insisting it was instead "empowering" for its audience.

Ms Collis told the Telegraph: "It seems to be acceptable still for women’s anatomies and women in general to be ridiculed. This is on BBC television and that is staggering.

"I’m a woman and whether I watch it or not, I don’t want my license fee money going towards something that uses misogynistic terms about women and about women’s bodies.