‘Masterpiece’ 5-part thriller has viewers hooked

Russell T Davies’ latest Channel 4 thriller, Tip Toe, follows the escalating feud between neighbours Leo (Alan Cumming) and Clive (David Morrissey)

hannel 4’s latest thriller, Tip Toe, has been hailed by viewers as a “masterpiece” following its gripping debut on Sunday night.

The new five-part series, created by Russell T Davies, explores the alarming rise of homophobia through an intense, escalating feud between two neighbours that is taken to shocking extremes.

© Ben Blackall
David Morrissey and Alan Cumming star in Tip Toe

Russell is no stranger to tackling heavy, important subjects. His acclaimed Channel 4 drama, It’s A Sin, powerfully explored the impact of the 1980s AIDS crisis on young gay men in London, while his dystopian thriller Years and Years followed an ordinary British family navigating a terrifyingly unstable future. This time, Russell brings his lens to the present day, tracing the disastrous, real-world impact of online misinformation and hate.

Much like It’s A Sin, which remains one of the most memorable dramas I’ve ever seen, Tip Toe is already shaping up to be an unforgettable watch.

What are viewers saying about Tip Toe?

Following the debut of episodes one and two on Sunday night, viewers have hailed the show as “brilliant” and a “masterpiece”.

Taking to social media, one person wrote: “Just finished episode 1 and I’m hooked! Definitely recommend #TipToe,” while another added: “Finished the first two episodes of Tip Toe. Russell T Davies is a genius.”

© Channel 4
David plays unsmiling and troubled next-door, Clive

A third person penned: “The first 2 episodes are absolutely brilliant! What a masterful writer RTD really is.”

What have critics said about the show?

The series was met with a flurry of four and five-star reviews from TV critics. The Telegraph described it as a “bold and stirring warning against hate” in its four-star review, while RadioTimes.com gave five stars to the “visceral and chilling” show.

© Channel 4
Alan plays Leo, the owner of a bar called Spit & Polish in Manchester’s Gay Village

Meanwhile, The Independent hailed the series as a “terrifying, landmark queer drama” in its four-star review.

What is Tip Toe about?

The series is billed as an “urgent tale that brings a spotlight to bear on the prejudices which are creeping back into our lives.”

It follows Leo (Alan Cumming), the owner of a bar called Spit & Polish in Manchester’s Gay Village, and Clive (David Morrissey), his unsmiling and troubled neighbour, whom he’s lived next door to for almost 15 years.

© Channel 4
Tip Toe follows the escalating feud between two Manchester neighbours

The synopsis continues: “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 which challenges everything we consider to be safe.”

Sharing the inspiration behind the series during an interview with HELLO!, Russell said: “I wrote this partly because the front door key attracted me. I gave my front door to a neighbour, and it’s my job to consider how those things go wrong.

“As a gay man, I was very much feeling the rise of antagonism in society, accelerated by the online voice,” he continued. “I have a real fear for the future, and that’s where the tension and the horror of Tip Toe comes from.”

How to watch Tip Toe

The series premiered on Sunday 31 May with its first episode. Episode two will air on Channel 4 at 9pm on Monday 1 June, with both episodes available to stream on Channel 4 now.

© James_Stack
The first two episodes are available to stream now

The remaining episodes will air on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday 7 June, Monday 8 June and Tuesday 9 June. However, all three will become available to stream on Channel 4 on Sunday 7 June.

CRE: https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/904686/viewers-hooked-masterpiece-thriller-tip-toe/