“RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Trixie Mattel has revealed that television productions use the walkie-talkie code “10-1” when someone needs a bathroom break to use the restroom.
Mattel shared the behind-the-scenes terminology in a recent video about working on reality television and learning the routines of a TV set. She said cast and crew might say someone is “going to 10-1” rather than announce the reason for leaving the set.
According to production StudioBinder, “10-1” is commonly used as radio shorthand for urination. Meanwhile, “10-2” can refer to a bowel movement. StudioBinder also says someone can ask to “upgrade” a 10-1 if the bathroom break takes longer than expected.
Mattel said she did not know the exact origin of the terminology broader “ten-code” shorthand used in radio communication.
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Later in the video, Mattel also discussed the difficulty of taking bathroom breaks during long periods in drag.
She said she had never urinated on herself while filming “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” although she believed such incidents had happened to other performers without appearing on camera.
