INTERVIEW: Marsha Mallow reflects, "I am a great believer in energy and the legacy you leave behind"
The UK’s sweetest sensation chats to us about OUTflix’s paranormal TV show Drag in the Dark, her dazzling cinematic revue Lallies On The Hill and teases something special happening on 27th March 👀
Ladies and gentleman, theys and thems, welcome to the Brighton & Hove residents' community corner series celebrating our city’s bold drag artists, boundary breaking performers and a new category unlocked for 2026: Brighton & Hove based queer/LGBTQ+ owned businesses.
In 2025 I decided that I wanted to create a series that goes beyond the glam with our legendary, local queer performers (and now queer owned businesses too) so we can all get to know them more because like Lady Gaga said on ARTPOP, "Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the aura?" so erm, why not?!
If you’re looking to put your hard earned money where your queer mouth is then I think supporting queer/LGBTQ+ owned businesses is a statement of solidarity. These businesses often operate at the intersection of creativity, resilience and community, bringing fresh perspectives while navigating unique challenges. Their success strengthens our community economically and helps pave the way for future queer entrepreneurs.
This week though, we’re joined by the UK's sweetest drag sensation: MARSHA MALLOW.
If this is your first time stumbling across my centrestage series and you want to catch up on previous interviews, don't panic hun-catch up HERE and come back here next Saturday to see who else I'll be yapping with but right now, it's all eyes on Marsha Mallow so let's dive in head first!🤿🌊
DALEYPOP: Oh heyyy Marsha, how are you and what were you up to just before we jumped on this interview?
MARSHA MALLOW: I'm doing good! The weekend has begun which means I shall be up and down the country working, which also means I get to see my favourite people!
DALEYPOP: Oh yes happy saturgay to you! So for our readers who haven't caught you performing yet, can you introduce yourself and let us know what pronouns you go by, both in and out of drag?
MARSHA MALLOW: So my name is Marsha Mallow and I am the UK's sweetest drag sensation. I go by she/her pronouns in drag and he/him pronouns out of drag. I have often been described as a drunk auntie at a wedding...the drinks are flowing, the banter is scandalous and the dancing is endless.
DALEYPOP: I love that, what first sucked you into the world of drag and how long has Marsha been serving it now?
MARSHA MALLOW: I was 18 years of age and I was taken by my friend Mark to The Two Brewers in Clapham to see Miss Jason. I had never seen a drag queen before except for on TV. All of a sudden this man in a puffy blonde wig, gold two piece and bright blue eyeshadow started singing Let It Swing by Bobbysocks and I was HOOKED! Over the years, especially in my twenties I fell in love with the British drag scene and that's how Marsha became the queen she is today.
This April I am celebrating 10 years in tights, I've worked so hard to get to this point...long may it continue!
DALEYPOP: I have to ask, how the hell did you come up with the name Marsha Mallow? (I love it though).
MARSHA MALLOW: Well during the old days, you had to get Drag Race in the UK by downloading it online, me and my friends would have a Tuesday Drag Race night with pizza and a few drinks, we were watching season 6 of the US drag series and we randomly said what would our drag names be? We used one of those drag name generators online and Marsha Mallow popped up for me. My friends said straight away "if you ever do drag this is the name for you! Fluffy, sweet and the colour palette is very you" and here we are!
DALEYPOP: Can you give our readers the scoop on Drag in the Dark and OUTflix? How did this whole spooky, fabulous adventure come to life?
MARSHA MALLOW: Oh, it’s such a wild story! I used to frequently drink in a bar called West Five in Ealing (which is sadly no longer open) and I became good friends with everyone who worked and drank there. Out of nowhere Dan (who was the general manager of West Five) called me and asked if I would be interested in being a part of a new paranormal TV show and went on to say that I was asked for by the production company. How could I say no!? I was the only non Drag Race queen on the lineup and it was a pleasure to work with everyone on the production and S.E.P.T (aka South East Paranormal Team) who are good pals of mine. I still haven't watched the episode though, through fear of cringe.
DALEYPOP: Before Drag in the Dark, were you a believer in ghosts and has your opinion changed since?
MARSHA MALLOW: I am a great believer in energy and the legacy you leave behind but in terms of actually seeing ghosts, I have never experienced it...however, during the filming I definitely experienced some very creepy things which has made me a bit more skeptical about what is out there.
DALEYPOP: I still can't get over that when I was doing research to interview you that I came across a chinchilla called Miss Marsha Mallow on the Blue Cross website, how cute?! (Sorry readers, the page has now gone walkies because Miss Marsha Mallow has now found her forever home naww).
MARSHA MALLOW: This is actually adorable and for the past couple of weeks I have been laughing about it so much! Who did that? But also I'm very glad Miss Marsha Mallow has a forever home.
I wonder how many animals have been named after drag queens? I think it's time I did some diving.
DALEYPOP: Please do and please keep me updated, so what’s something you’ve changed your mind about recently?
MARSHA MALLOW: Good question. Recently I have been thinking about using my time wisely to spend it with the people that matter most to me, life is so short and I decided that I need to take care of John first before Marsha and that means being around people who have been there for me before and during my journey into drag. Since this mindset I have spent more time with loved ones, lost weight and found confidence which I have never had before.
DALEYPOP: Would you say Brighton’s drag scene leans more toward activism, pure entertainment, or a scrumptious mix of both?
MARSHA MALLOW: Oh it most certainly is a scrumptious mix of both! We have to be on the ball with what's going on in the world, so we can't really do a show without discussing what was on social media this morning. But! There are queens out there that if you need to escape from the rubbish of the outside world they are there to make you forget your troubles.
DALEYPOP: Most of the LGBTQ+ community shows up hard for drag artists, right?! What does that support mean to you? Especially in the current social and political climate....
MARSHA MALLOW: People love what they love, especially in Brighton. So when I see regulars come in to see me week after week it fills me with joy and fireball...but mainly joy.
DALEYPOP: Is there a particular performance in your mind that you've never forgotten, for better or worse?
MARSHA MALLOW: When I first started drag back in the day, I worked in a bar called The Gin Palace (which has closed down now) in Bristol and I was experimenting with musical numbers at the time and I decided to try out Sissy That Walk by RuPaul and as I went to strut into the audience I flew into the crowd tumbling down every step from the stage. I broke the strap on my platform heels! Little did I know Mary Golds was in the audience and it made her laugh so much I got a booking in Cardiff so I guess that's a positive?
DALEYPOP: Can you tell our readers about Lallies on The Hill?
MARSHA MALLOW: Oh yes! Lallies on The Hill was the Balham production of my original show Lallies on The Pier which premiered last January at The Queens Arms as part of their 40th anniversary as an LGBTQ+ venue. It’s a cinematic review which collated footage from the 70’s to present day of our icons of British drag who are sadly no longer with us.
I have done three versions of this show and I am so proud of the money we have raised for charity.
I will hopefully be bringing it back this summer at the QA in a different way...keep your eyes peeled!
DALEYPOP: Super important, deeply intellectual question incoming...who's your crush of the day?!
MARSHA MALLOW: Ya know what! I've never been a celebrity crush kinda person...I am quite taken with models or average joes. HOWEVER! I did recently walk past the actual Jonathan Bailey on Brighton seafront and I’m not exaggerating when I say my heart skipped a full theatrical beat. It was very rom-com. Very slow motion. Very “oh… hello.” So yes, for today, let’s go with him.
DALEYPOP: Wellllll I mean...I suppose you don't get named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 2025 for nothing! I still can't believe he lives here and I haven't casually bumped into him buying an oat flat white yet...one day! So what's your current favourite song?
MARSHA MALLOW: I've adored Calvin Harris since his very first album-he's just one of those producers who never misses for me. He's just dropped a collaboration with Kasabian called Release The Pressure and it's SUCH a banger. It instantly transports me back to being 18, double parked at a chaotic house party, clutching a WKD Blue and making questionable (but fabulous) life choices.
DALEYPOP: That WKD Blue at a house party energy is so specific and so real! Before I let you go, where and when can our readers catch you next and is there anything else you'd like to share?
MARSHA MALLOW: You can frequently see me at the Two Brewers in Clapham, Halfway To Heaven in London and frankly any bar along St James' Street that will have me! But if you’re getting your diary out, circle March 27th and head to The Queen's Arms. That’s going to be a special one…more details coming soon, but trust me, you’ll want to be there.
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