'Drag-fiti' mural unveiled Manchester as song drops about a 'giant armadillo'
It's in their bid to become the coveted Christmas Number 1
Last updated 5th Dec 2025
It might have been unveiled in the pouring rain at the start of December, but a giant new mural is adding a bit of sparkle to Manchester’s Northern Quarter – and it’s all about drag queens... and a giant armadillo.
Local queens Lill, Actavia, Liquorice Black and Banksie unveiled the artwork, celebrating a new Christmas song by Emmy-winner Bob the Drag Queen, made in partnership with the charity On the Edge.
The track, called Giant Armadillo, aims to raise awareness for nature and conservation – and there’s hope it’ll make Bob the first drag queen to reach UK Christmas number one.
On the Edge says it wants young people to reconnect with the natural world – and Manchester’s drag community is backing the campaign.
Lil told Hits Radio Pride: "Well, On the Edge wanted unique, special people to represent a unique, special animal - which is very vulnerable at the minute.
"The mural really brightens up the day, doesn't it?
"You've got the armadillo with the gorgeous purple background and it's spectacular seeing this gorgeous creature on the side of a wall in the centre of Manchester!"
Octavia added: "To be honest, I didn't really know very much about the giant armadillo until I started on this project, and I think that's what's so fun about it.
"So much of Gen Z feel like they're not connected with nature - which I can totally relate with.
"I just think, with the Giant Armadillos, they are so underappreciated and overlooked and I feel like a lot of Drag Queens are sometimes overlooked too - so we can relate to them in a way."
Liquorice said: "I love watching all the TV nature documentaries, and the fact that Giant Armadillos are getting decimated in the natural world is so sad.
"Half of them have gone in the past decade which is wild.
"And when you learn about something you didn't really know about before, especially when it comes to nature, it makes you realise we all need to do our bit to look after the world around us."
So, will they reach the heady heights of becoming the Christmas number one?
They certainly hope so!
It's giving... 'production'
The Queens said: "It's a drag song, which are always really catchy... so what better way to learn about the armadillos than through the power of music?
"And the music video is really good - it's totally giving 'production'.
"The more people that listen to the song, the more people that hear the message about this vulnerable animal... and the better chance we can get to Number 1!
"I think we're in with a good chance - and the Giant Armadillo is ten times better than Mr Blobby!
"Bob the Drag Queen has done such an amazing job with the song... it's going to be huge!"
New research shows nearly a third of Gen Z (30%) feel disconnected with the natural world, and On the Edge say Manchester’s drag community is in 'full support' of bringing that gap.
Lill, one of Manchester’s most iconic drag queens and a former competitor on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK (Season 6), says: “It’s time we celebrated the original Mother – Mother Nature.
"If there’s one thing drag and nature have in common, it’s that they both celebrate fierce individuality.
"The giant armadillo is the ultimate underdog icon - quirky, bold, and beautifully unique, just like every young person we’re trying to inspire.
"And what better way to celebrate this beautiful, armoured creature than getting Giant Armadillo to Christmas number one.”
Giant Armadillo kickstarts On the Edge’s second ‘Werk of Nature’ series – a successful programme the organisation introduced at the start of the year, blending the magic of nature with the global pop culture phenomenon of Drag.
Having previously collaborated with Drag Race royalty such as Mo Heart and Heidi N Closet, Werk of Nature is all about connecting people the natural world.
Beth Blood, the CEO and Founder of On the Edge, said: “We’re hoping ‘Giant Armadillo’ helps engage people by invoking a sense of curiosity, fun and interest in nature.
"This series is not only about raising attention for the Giant Armadillo, but for all overlooked species in the animal kingdom. Across our content, we want people to see, appreciate and fall in love with the nature that's all around them.”
Giant Armadillo is available to stream across all major UK streaming platforms, and the mural will be there until December 14th.