The Vivienne’s ex-husband said his “heart sank”
The Vivienne (left), with Catherine Tate in character and David Ludford for the special screening of The Nan at the Ham Yard Hotel, Soho, central London. (Image: Suzan Moore/PA Wire)
The Vivienne’s ex-husband has paid tribute to the star after it was confirmed they died over the weekend. James Lee Williams, known to many as their drag persona and the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, had been married to David Ludford for six years.
The entertainer briefly left her stint as a Pride Quarter DJ and host and headed off to make a name for herself in Spain’s Canary Islands. During this time, The Vivienne took up residency in Sparkles, a show bar where she performed multiple nights a week.
It was also during this period that she met David. The two married in 2018 in London at the world-renowned nightclub G-A-Y’s Heaven. David is also known in the drag industry thanks to his business, Drag Helmet Wigs. However, the couple called it quits in 2023 after just over half a decade together. At the time, they issued a joint statement.
It said: “As many may have noticed, David and I have been apart recently. We have made the decision to part ways after an amazing five and a half years.
“We are still very much friends, but sometimes life gets in the way, and people grow apart. We wish each other the absolute best and will always be part of each other’s lives. We’d ask that you please respect our privacy at this time. Thank you. James and David.”
Now, after The Vivienne’s publicist, Simon Jones, confirmed the death of the TV personality with an emotional Instagram post, David has made his own tribute with a collage of photos of the two from their wedding day.
Taking to social media, he said his “heart sank” when he heard the news. He added: “Never in a million years did I ever think I’d ever be writing anything like this about James Lee Williams.
The Vivienne at The National Lottery’s Big Eurovision Welcome at St Georges Plateau, Liverpool. (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
“This man changed my life so much from the day we first met in August 2017 in Gran Canaria. We literally clicked straight away, and we knew we were going to be together for a long time!! He made me feel love and showed me what it was really like to love someone.
“We literally went through and did so much together it was like a whirlwind, and I wouldn’t have changed the time we spent together for anything In the world. I feel like a tit feeling this upset and hurt because we have been fully divorced for just over a year now, but we were together for 6 years, and we loved each other so much, and you can’t take that away.
“I’m so happy to say I not only met you, but we were together, we were husbands, and you were the biggest part of my life for such a long time. Six years is such a long time to spend 24/7 with. You will always have a place in my heart. I’m going to miss you more than people will ever know. Sleep tight, angel.”