FIRST LOOK Tip Toe

It's Russell T Davies' vital new drama for Channel 4.

As the final week of filming continues on Russell T Davies’ new five-part drama Tip Toe, which reunites the team behind Queer as Folk, Channel 4 has released first look stills featuring leads Alan Cumming and David Morrissey.

Tip Toe, entirely shot in Manchester, will follow Leo and Clive, who have lived next door to each other in Manchester for almost 15 years. But just as life should be settling down, the world around them is growing more tense.

Words become weapons, opinions become radicalised, and gradually, two neighbours become deadly enemies in a tense, suburban thriller that challenges everything we consider to be safe.

Alan Cumming plays Leo, who's described as vivid, funny and dynamic, and the owner of a bar called Spit & Polish in Manchester’s Gay Village. Whilst David Morrissey plays Leo’s unsmiling and troubled next-door neighbour, Clive.

Tip Toe promises to be a story that speaks not just to the queer community but to the world today and is populated with a cast of vibrant characters and underscored with Davies’ trademark wit and deft humour. It's described as an urgent tale, bringing a spotlight to bear on the prejudices which are creeping back into our lives.

Joining Alan Cumming and David Morrissey will be Pooky Quesnel as Clive’s wife Marie, Jackson Connor as Clive’s youngest son George, Joseph Evans as George’s older brother Saul, Elizabeth Berrington as Leo’s best friend Stephanie, Iz Hesketh as Zee and Shakeel Kimotho as Hanna, who both work at Spit & Polish.

Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo stars as the bar’s manager Judy, Paul Rhys as Melba, a Canal Street fixture, Charlie Condou as Leo’s ex-husband Curtis, and Denise Welch as Diane.

And as filming comes to an end, Russell T Davies said, "We’re in the final days of filming, and I’m so excited for 2026 - this show has some of the finest acting I’ve ever seen, from the most splendid cast, and I can’t wait for it to hit Channel 4."

Produced by Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios), Tip Toe has been written and created by Russell T Davies, cast by Andy Pryor, directed by Peter Hoar, produced by Phil Collinson and executive produced by Nicola Shindler, Russell T Davies, Peter Hoar and Alan Cumming.

Tip Toe will air in 2026 on Channel 4