Chanel Williams talks The Vivienne

On Monday’s Lorraine, Lorraine Kelly was joined by Chanel Williams in her first TV interview since she tragically lost her brother, James Lee Williams best known as drag star The Vivienne…

Speaking to Lorraine following the shock passing of her beloved brother, Chanel said: “It’s completely devastated us all, it was so unexpected and he loved life, so now reflecting on everything you just think what can we take from this now and what can we do.

“As a family we are really passionate about turning this into something where we can make a difference and make change and raise awareness around the drug ketamine, the dangers that are associated with that and that’s part of his legacy if we can help even one more person.”

Lorraine added: “I think it’s wonderful what you’re doing, It’s so hard when you lose someone, doing so well, doing incredible, very, very open about problems in the past with drugs, very, very open about that. I don’t think anybody really realised the struggles.”

Chanel went onto say: “I think that goes back to the stigma that is around and trying to break that stigma down because James was quite open, as you say, about his previous struggles and he’d gone through long periods of sobriety so for us as a family, we didn’t know that struggle that was clearly going on towards the end of his life.”

Talk then moved onto the classification of the drug as Lorraine said: “I know, Chanel, you want this to happen as well. We need this to be reclassified don’t we because at the moment it’s not a class A drug.”

Chanel Williams in her first TV interview since she tragically lost her brother, The Vivienne.

Chanel shared her thoughts as she said: “I think that’s where the classification of the drug currently isn’t in line with the risks that are associated. I’m fearful that the younger generation, where it is more prevalent, feel that it’s less harmful.”

Reflecting on other people who have sadly lost their lives due to Ketamine usage, Lorraine said: “The first time I really heard about this and how dangerous it was, was Matthew Perry. Was he not given it to help with depression I believe?”

Cheryl Williams, manager of a drug rehabilitation centre joined the conversation to issue a stark warning to young people using the drug as she said: “This is the thing we need to make clear, in a medically monitored situation, the drug is pure. When you’re buying it off the street through the drug dealers, you have no idea what it’s being cut with and children are also then taking it with other substances.”

Lorraine went on to say: “Chanel, I know you’re meeting with the government minister today to really push this.”

Chanel replied: “Yes, I really want to push, it’s top of my list to get the drug reclassified and raise awareness. I just had a conversation with Tracey who’s the mother of Sophie Russell, who’s a mother, heart breaking, who is going through the same thing. This is for James, it’s for Sophie and it’s for everybody that’s currently affected or has been affected by Ketamine. We are going to keep in contact and really campaign for a change.”

Lorraine weekdays from 9am on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player