Russell T Davies: Everyone's being weaponised against each other
Russell T Davies has teased some details of Tip Toe, his new drama series.
Russell T Davies believes the themes of Tip Toe are universal.
The new Channel 4 drama - which stars Alan Cumming and David Morrissey - centres on rising prejudice towards the LGBTQ community in the UK, but Russell believes the theme of alienation could apply to all sorts of demographics.
The acclaimed screenwriter - who is best known for being the showrunner and head writer of Doctor Who - said during a BFI screening: "I think it's a crisis happening day after day – and it's anyone.
"Everyone's being weaponised against [each other]. You could make a Jewish version of this drama, you could make a disabled version of this drama, women could make this drama.
"I see straight white men who could make this drama, feeling marginalised. It's the temperature of the dialogue and the argument and the pitch of it – all driven by our phones – that's alarming me greatly."
David explained that his character's attitude is driven by misinformed things he's read online.
The actor explained: "He'd rather believe these reinforced values by keyboard warriors, who he doesn't see out there somewhere in the darkness, [instead of] the evidence of the person who's standing in front of him.
"As the show goes on, you see that these two men, in another way, could be friends – or they could agree to disagree in a more collegiate way. But he gets more and more driven, and angrier and angrier."
Channel 4 commissioned Tip Toe in 2025.
Russell said at the time: "It’s my honour to combine my old home, Channel 4, with my second home, Canal Street. This is a show I had to write because the world is getting stranger, tougher and darker, and frankly, the fight is on."
Meanwhile, Ollie Madden, the director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, heaped praise on Russell.
Ollie said: "It is a huge privilege to back this remarkable new series from Russell, one of the greatest writers of our time, and the man behind some of our most era-defining hits, including Queer as Folk and It’s A Sin.
"We couldn’t love Tip Toe more: it is funny, gripping, full of heart, and an urgent call to arms."
