Russell T Davies Premieres Tip Toe on Starz
Russell T Davies has brought his five-episode drama series Tip Toe to the United States, where it began streaming on the Starz network on Friday after premiering in the UK in May. The series explores how misinformation, generational divides, and political rhetoric impact the queer community through the story of a Manchester queer bar owner facing an increasingly hostile straight neighbor. Davies created the show to examine a modern political climate he never expected to see return nearly three decades after his 1999 series Queer as Folk.
“I’m kind of sad that having done ‘Queer as Folk’ in 1999, that then you would have imagined 2026 would be a lot happier with equal gay rights everywhere, instead of seeing it going wrong,” Davies said. The writer pointed to figures like Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as leaders who have modeled bullying behavior for their supporters. In Tip Toe, character Leo runs a Manchester bar while managing his neighbor Clive, whose online radicalization pushes him to suspect Leo is making moves on his teenage son George.
Alan Cumming and David Morrissey Anchor Manchester Cast
Emmy-winning host of The Traitors Alan Cumming stars as Leo, a Manchester queer bar owner navigating a rapidly shifting social landscape. David Morrissey plays Clive, his straight neighbor who is stuck in a marriage from which he can’t afford to divorce and radicalized by social media. Jackson Connor plays Clive’s teenage son George, while Paul Rhys stars as bar regular Melba. The five-part series uses these dynamics to investigate how online anger spills into real-world violence against LGBTQ individuals.
“Do you ever think it’s coming back? All that stuff from the ‘90s? We were despised, but you read the stuff online now and it sounds just the same,” Melba tells Leo in the series premiere. Davies noted that online hostility has crossed physical boundaries, citing his own experiences after casting transgender actor Yasmin Finney in his 2023 Doctor Who revival. Online bigots targeted Davies with accusations of grooming and pedophilia, leaving him concerned for his personal safety.
US Public Support for Same-Sex Marriage Declines
The fictional tensions in Tip Toe mirror documented declines in public acceptance and rising political targeting in the United States. Gallup polling shows that support for same-sex marriage among Americans has declined slightly since 2022 after climbing for decades. Meanwhile, the administration of Donald Trump has actively targeted transgender individuals regarding identification, medical care, and sports. The American Civil Liberties Union has accused the White House of trying to push transgender people out of public life.
Davies also highlighted violent incidents, such as the killing of two men outside a Tucson, Arizona, gay bar by a gunman said to be carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses, as evidence of a deteriorating environment. The series also questions whether the success of queer representation in popular culture has created unintended consequences. In the show, Clive complains about seeing identities that seem foreign to him on television, while Leo questions whether visibility has simply made the community a clearer target.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tip Toe
When did Tip Toe premiere in the United Kingdom?
Tip Toe first premiered in the United Kingdom in May before launching in the United States on the Starz network.
How many episodes make up the Starz series?
The drama series consists of five episodes exploring themes of online radicalization, misinformation, and generational divides.
Which actors play the lead roles in Manchester?
Alan Cumming stars as queer bar owner Leo, David Morrissey plays his neighbor Clive, Jackson Connor plays George, and Paul Rhys plays bar regular Melba.
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