A New Series from the Creator of 'It's A Sin' and 'Queer as Folk'
Russell T. Davies, the celebrated writer behind some of the most significant queer television of the last two decades, is set to release a new five-part thriller titled Tip Toe. The series, which will premiere on the UK's Channel 4, stars Alan Cumming and David Morrissey as neighbours in Manchester whose lives unravel as political tensions escalate around them.
The drama centres on Leo (Cumming), a bar owner, and Clive (Morrissey), an electrician. According to the show's synopsis, it follows how "words become weapons, opinions become radicalised, and gradually, two neighbors become deadly enemies." While the series is set in the UK, its exploration of political polarization and the real-world consequences of online hate will likely resonate with audiences in the Netherlands, where similar societal tensions are a frequent topic of discussion.
A Story Told Through a 'Queer Lens'
In an interview with the BBC, Davies explained that the series is a direct response to what he perceives as a "sliding back of gay rights" and the normalization of extremism that begins online. He noted that while the story is told through a "queer lens," its themes are universal to many who face prejudice.
"A Jew could have written this,” Davies stated, referencing recent violent attacks on the Jewish community in London. “If this was a Jewish version of the story you wouldn’t be calling it timely, you’d be calling it too late.”
He also shared an anecdote to illustrate how these issues affect other marginalized groups: "I have had a friend in a wheelchair have someone knock on her door and tell her she’s lying, that she’s a benefit fraud, and that she can actually walk. That actually is physically happening in the world."
Actors on the Normalization of Hatred
Alan Cumming, who is bisexual, described the series as a potential "wake-up call." Speaking to ITV, he said, "It's a story about two neighbors that goes haywire, but it's about the way that violence and hatred are sort of normalised so much in our culture nowadays."
Cumming also reflected on the current political climate, telling Out magazine about a feeling of helplessness. "There's so much in our culture right now that we cannot control, and we're just helpless. I think we have to rely on each other, and it's really important for people like me to speak out."
His co-star, David Morrissey, added that the series uses a non-linear narrative to challenge viewer assumptions. "Russell plays with the timeframe brilliantly... he'll suddenly take you back a few days, take you back a year or whatever, and you see a different part of it. It's about those assumptions."
A Warning on Digital Life
Davies offered a stark assessment of the digital age that fuels the show's conflict. "Being online is a brand new form of communication that we did not evolve to suit,” he told the BBC. “We’re taking it so lightly and so much enjoying its benefits at the same time as we are actually sliding into hell.”
Tip Toe marks Davies' return to Channel 4, the network that aired his acclaimed 2021 series It's a Sin. He noted that the broadcaster allows him to be more "radical" in his storytelling compared to the BBC, which he suggested sometimes insists on happier conclusions for his work.
