Manchester Melodrama: Tip Toe Explores Queer Struggles and Masculinity

Tip Toe is a British miniseries that premiered on October 2 on Starz. The show was created by Russell T Davies, who also revived Doctor Who. It's a melodrama about masculinity in crisis and queer liberation reversed. The story revolves around Leo Struthers (Alan Cumming), a gay man in his 60s who is struggling to cope with the loss of his partner and the decline of his bar business. He clashes with his next-door neighbor, Clive Goss (David Morrissey), an electrician who is also going through a tough time.

The two men have a complicated relationship, with Clive's family being affected by Leo's presence. Meanwhile, Leo becomes embroiled in the lives of less privileged members of the queer and trans communities, including a 20-something trans bartender named Zee (Iz Hesketh). The show explores themes of loneliness, economic struggle, and social media scrutiny.

Tip Toe has been praised for its unflinching portrayal of the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Russell T Davies' writing is described as a 'fire sermon against our toxic present.' However, some critics have noted that the show's seriousness veers into stridency at times, and that the abrupt escalation to Leo's death may be hard to believe.