Channel 4's new thriller Tip Toe is set to captivate audiences with its suburban drama, featuring a star-studded cast including Alan Cumming, David Morrissey, and Russell T Davies as the creator. The series, which premieres tonight, Sunday, May 31, at 9pm, explores the escalating conflict between two long-standing neighbours.
Where Was Tip Toe Filmed?
Tip Toe was filmed entirely in and around Manchester, with a particular emphasis on the suburban areas of Greater Manchester. The production also heavily features the iconic Manchester Gay Village, which serves as the backdrop for Leo's fictional gay bar, Spit and Polish.
Filming in the Gay Village
Principal photography began in September 2025, with much of the shooting taking place on Canal Street, the heart of the Gay Village. One notable location is The Church bar on Sackville Street, just off Canal Street. Creator Russell T Davies shared a photo of himself beside a 'toilets' sign on Instagram, captioning it: 'The glamour of filming on location!'
Manchester's Gay Village holds special significance for Davies, who filmed his celebrated series Queer as Folk there 27 years ago, along with other productions like Cucumber, Banana, and Tofu. He stated: '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.'
Cast and Characters
Alan Cumming portrays flamboyant Leo, who runs the bar Spit and Polish, while David Morrissey plays his 'unsmiling and troubled' neighbour Clive, an electrician. After 15 years of peaceful coexistence, their lives are dramatically upended when a spanner is thrown in the works.
Cumming described the series as 'overwhelming and brutal,' adding: 'It's a story about two neighbours that goes haywire, but it's about the way that violence and hatred are sort of normalised so much in our culture nowadays. It's hopefully a wake-up call for everybody.'
The ensemble cast also includes Andy Moss and Is Hesketh from Hollyoaks, Denise Welch from Loose Women and Waterloo Road, and Charlie Condou from Coronation Street.
Tip Toe airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.
