Channel 4’s new five-part drama Tip Toe has made an immediate impact on viewers with its gripping premiere. The suburban thriller, featuring David Morrissey as electrician Clive and Alan Cumming as gay bar owner Leo, is the latest creation from Russell T Davies, the acclaimed writer behind It’s A Sin and Doctor Who.
Set against a backdrop of 15 years of uneasy peace, the story quickly dives into conflict when Clive’s deeply ingrained prejudices clash with Leo’s life, sparking bitter enmity. The episode opens with a harrowing and graphic scene showing Leo’s lifeless body hanging from a lamppost, a shock that has resonated powerfully with audiences.
Before the premiere, Alan Cumming described the drama on ITV’s This Morning as “overwhelming and brutal,” emphasizing its exploration of normalized violence and hatred in today’s culture. “It’s hopefully a wake-up call for everybody,” he said.
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Viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) immediately after the first scene aired, expressing a range of strong emotions. Comments such as “That’s beyond frightening for the opening scene,” “F*** me, that’s an opening scene #tiptoe,” and “There’s only one way this could begin. And that’s at the end,” highlighted how impactful the introduction was.
Despite the intense start, audience reaction has been largely positive. Many praised the building tension and the promise of a compelling narrative. One viewer shared, “Good start, the tension is already simmering,” while another predicted a success for Davies, stating, “Looks like Russell T Davies will have another hit on his hands.”
Although Tip Toe is not based on a specific true story, Russell T Davies drew inspiration from his own experiences and those of friends. Speaking to HuffPost UK, Davies revealed the personal motivations behind the drama: “Things happened both at work and at home — in ways I’m not going to go into because it might encourage them to happen again — that made me think ‘that’s enough.’”
He added, “If this anger, this violence and these lies are affecting my privileged life, it must be significantly worse for others. These times are getting worse and worse.” At the drama’s screening, Davies reflected on the widespread nature of this crisis: “Anyone can be targeted. This drama could have a Jewish, disabled, or female version. Even straight white men feel marginalised now. The divisive and heated arguments we see every day, amplified by our phones, deeply alarm me.”
Tip Toe is now available to watch on Channel 4, inviting viewers to confront the harsh realities of prejudice and violence in contemporary society.