Tip Toe

Tip Toe opens on a devastating note as the camera pans across a Manchester street. A woman screams in distress, onlookers gaze out of windows, and a man hangs strung up from a lamp post. That person is Leo (Alan Cumming), a divorced gay man who runs a bar at the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene. His killer is his next-door neighbour Clive (David Morrissey), who can’t look away from what he’s done. The show then jumps back ten days to chronicle how an awkward situation where Leo gets locked out of his house could lead to something so horrific. Throughout the five-part series, creator and writer Russell T Davies digs into the social anxieties that have polarised modern society. Whether it’s homophobia, toxic masculinity, queer rights, or trans acceptance, everything hits hard to deliver an astounding piece of television that is itself difficult to look away from.

From the shocking opening moments, Davies creates a powder keg of tension that’s slowly approaching detonation. Even as the uncomfortable exchange between Leo and Clive evolves into a heated rivalry, Davies always finds more ways to elevate the drama to gripping new heights. A large part of this is down to the flawless performances from Cumming and Morrissey, with one kitchen confrontation being a major highlight. Alongside being the main vehicles for the narrative, both characters also serve as provocative character studies of the political divide. Clive is a rage-filled electrician struggling to get work who regularly says things like “I’m not being racist, but…” and “your lot”. He’s online extremism and insecure masculinity amplified to its inevitable conclusion, and Morrissey is downright terrifying throughout. Leo, meanwhile, is arrogant and has a habit of overstepping despite his heart being in the right place.

Davies frequently peppers in sharp observations about society with the ensemble of supporting characters. Chief amongst them is Melba (Paul Rhys), a regular at Leo’s bar who waxes philosophically about the downfall of Britain with cynical wit. None of the talking points are heavy-handed and instead add further layers of complexity to the ongoing drama. When the impending tragedy strikes, it does so with unflinching intensity and heart-wrenching anguish.

Cumming and Morrissey take centre stage in a tour de force drama from Davies. Perfectly paced and smartly written from start to finish, Tip Toe is mandatory viewing that deserves our undivided attention.