Russell T. Davies Discusses His Most Intense Series Yet: Why ‘Tip Toe’ Might Spark Major Conversations
Renowned writer Russell T. Davies revealed that his previous work, the dystopian drama Years & Years, was mandated by the BBC to conclude with a happy ending.
In contrast, Davies described his upcoming series for Channel 4, Tip Toe, as his “angriest and darkest show yet.”
“I love Years & Years, but it was made with the assistance of the BBC, which kind of meant it had to have a happy ending,” Davies stated. “The world has proved me right [on the need for a sad ending] since; things are just getting worse. That condition does not apply to Tip Toe.
During a masterclass at Series Mania, the audience received a sneak peek of Tip Toe. The series stars Alan Cumming as a bar owner in Manchester and David Morrissey as his long-standing neighbor, exploring their evolving feud.
Davies noted that the show aims to highlight the political nature of being gay in 2026. “People will hate it,” he predicted. “My word this show is going to get called woke on a colossal scale, but I’m happy to be called woke.”
After screening clips of the show in Lille, Davies expressed that they depict the current challenges facing the queer community, stating, “every good deed goes punished, everything goes wrong and every text creates a nightmare.”
This troubling discourse prompted Davies to approach his long-time producing partner, Nicola Shindler, with the concept for Tip Toe. “I felt the queer discourse was becoming so hostile and dangerous in a way I never thought would happen again, so I came to Nicola and said, ‘Hello, let’s do this,’” he recalled.
Davies and Shindler, credited for a series of impactful shows including It’s a Sin, Years & Years, and Queer as Folk, emphasized their creative dynamic. “There are no long runners in there,” Davies added, noting that apart from Doctor Who, most of their projects consist of four or six episodes to keep them agile.
He is currently preparing to submit yet another idea to Shindler, adhering to their usual approach where Shindler receives scripts with little prior notice. “You are literally the viewer in that moment,” Davies remarked.
Davies and Shindler participated in discussions at Series Mania alongside notable figures like Hugo Blick and content executives from Disney, HBO, and Prime Video.
