Russell T Davies announces new LGBTQ+ drama ‘Tip Toe’ for Channel 4

Following the immense success of 'It's a Sin' in 2021, a new LGBTQ+ Channel 4 drama by Russell T Davies is coming.

On February 13, it was revealed that the creator of ‘Queer as Folk’ is collaborating with Channel 4 on a new series titled ‘Tip Toe’.

According to ‘Gay Times’, taking place in Manchester, the series will delve into “the most corrosive forces facing the LGBTQ+ community today, examining how prejudice is insidiously creeping back into our lives.”

According to the synopsis: “Leo operates a bar on Canal Street, while Clive is an electrician with two teenage sons. Just when life seems to be settling, the world around them becomes increasingly tense. Words turn into weapons, opinions are radicalized, and two neighbors gradually become deadly adversaries in a tense, suburban thriller that challenges everything we consider safe.”

“The series, filled with lively characters and enhanced by Davies’ signature wit and smart humor, is an urgent yet captivating tale that brings focus on the re-emergence of an incipient threat.”

Currently, the cast and production start date have not been disclosed.

Discussing Tip Toe, Davies expressed: “It’s my privilege to unite my old home, Channel 4, with my second home, Canal Street. This is a show I felt compelled to write because the world is becoming stranger, tougher, and darker, and, honestly, the battle is on.”

Nicole Shindler, executive producer for the forthcoming series, shared similar views, describing the five-part drama as “not just a timely narrative, but a captivating story laced with Russell’s remarkable wit, warmth, and profound poignancy.”

Additionally, Channel 4’s Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, Ollie Madden, remarked: “We couldn’t love Tip Toe more: it is funny, gripping, full of heart, and an urgent call to arms. It perfectly represents Channel 4's ethos, and we are beyond excited to collaborate with Nicola, Russell, and Peter again on this exceptional show.”

The announcement of Tip Toe follows four years after Davies’ previous highly praised Channel 4 drama, ‘It’s A Sin’. Set in the 1980s London, the series follows a group of friends growing up amidst the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Upon its release, ‘It’s A Sin’ garnered universal acclaim for its compelling storytelling, outstanding cast, and for shedding light on LGBTQ+ history to a mainstream audience.

Released during HIV Testing Week, the drama had a significant impact on viewers, with Terrence Higgins Trust reporting 8,200 HIV tests ordered in a single day – shattering their previous daily record of 2,800.

It also broke substantial viewing records for Channel 4, accumulating nearly 19 million views, becoming the service’s most successful instant box set to date, as well as their most binged show.