Russell T. Davies has never been one to shy away from tough stories, and his latest Starz series Tip Toe is no exception. The creator of Doctor Who and It's a Sin has crafted a tense, tragic drama about two Manchester neighbors—Leo Struthers (Alan Cumming), a gay bar owner, and Clive Goss (David Morrissey), a straight family man—whose lives collide with devastating consequences. But what makes Tip Toe truly unique is that it tells you the ending right from the start, and then makes you watch every painful step toward it.
In a recent interview, Davies explained why he chose to reveal Leo's fate in the very first scene, a decision that was debated by his longtime producer Nicola Shindler and the network. "It was highly debated," he admitted. "They were like, 'Do we need it? What if we didn't?'" But Davies was adamant, and once the footage was shot, the argument vanished. "It was the very first edit, and not a single question was ever raised because it works."
Davies argues that without that opening, the show would have felt like a completely different—and misleading—beast. "If it started with scene two, it would look like it's a domestic comedy about a man who locked himself out of the house without his pants," he said. "It would look impossibly light and impossibly silly." Instead, the opening serves as a warning, a "tolling bell" that hangs over every seemingly harmless conversation, reminding viewers of the tragedy to come. "Even when they're laughing, even when they're taking the piss out of things, there's a little tolling bell underneath it," he explained.
That structural choice also allowed Davies to play with time in a way he calls "a masterclass in how to do it properly." Each episode offers a different glimpse of what happens ten days in the future, building to the moment when the timeline catches up. "Every episode, you get a different version of what happens 10 days in the future, and then as Episode 4 comes, you realize that 10 days have passed and you're there," he said.
Getting Alan Cumming on board was a strategic move. Davies and Shindler approached the actor before the script was even written, knowing his schedule would fill up fast. "We had this great Zoom where he was sitting there and I literally described scene one and he lit up like a firework," Davies recalled. "What actor could resist that?" Cumming's enthusiasm never wavered, and he held his dates, devoting himself fully to the project.
The performances across the board are a major reason Tip Toe lands such a gut punch. Cumming brings warmth and vulnerability to Leo, while Morrissey makes Clive's descent into paranoia and conspiracy all too believable. Davies praised both actors, calling them "a gift" and noting how their chemistry elevated the material. The final scene, which offers a small grace after the devastation, was something Davies said "came about" organically, a quiet moment that lingers long after the credits roll.
For those who've been following Davies's career, his decision to leave Doctor Who again has been big news, but he's already looking ahead. While he didn't spill details, he hinted at exciting projects on the horizon. For now, Tip Toe stands as a powerful reminder of his ability to tell stories that are both deeply human and unflinchingly honest.
If you're a fan of Davies's work, you might also want to check out this look at another iconic TV moment or what's next for a streaming favorite. But be warned: Tip Toe is not an easy watch. It's a story that demands you sit with discomfort, and it rewards you with a haunting, unforgettable experience.
