Legendary Queer as Folk writer returns to Canal Street for new series

Fresh off the critical and commercial success of It’s A Sin, legendary screenwriter Russell T Davies is making his return to Channel 4 and Canal Street with a new drama, called Tip Toe.

Set against the backdrop of Manchester’s iconic Canal Street, the five-part series will explore the modern challenges facing the city’s LGBTQ+ community and the growing tensions within its evolving social landscape.

Russel T Davies’ Tip Toe

Tip Toe follows the lives of two neighbours, Leo and Clive, who live side by side in Manchester.

Leo runs a bar at the heart of Canal Street, a space that has long been a symbol of queer liberation and nightlife, while Clive, an electrician and father of two, represents a different side of the city.

What begins as an everyday relationship between them soon starts to fracture as social tensions rise, words turn into weapons, and the sense of unity that once defined the neighbourhood is threatened.

For Davies, returning to Manchester was an essential part of the storytelling: “Canal Street is my second home, and I wanted to write about how this incredible city is facing new challenges. The world is getting stranger, tougher, and darker—and frankly, the fight is on.”

Queer as Folk reunion

Reuniting the creative minds behind Queer as Folk, Tip Toe is executive produced by Nicola Shindler (It’s A Sin, Fool Me Once), with direction from Peter Hoar (The Last of Us, It’s A Sin, Nolly). Filming in Manchester will bring authenticity to the series, capturing the vibrant spirit and struggles of the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

Ollie Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, emphasises the importance of the setting: “Manchester has always been a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ culture, and Tip Toe perfectly encapsulates the highs and lows of this city’s fight for acceptance and truth.”

Shining a light on Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Legacy

More than two decades after Queer as Folk showcased the energy of Manchester’s queer scene to the world, Tip Toe returns to explore how the landscape has changed.

Canal Street remains a hub of LGBTQ+ identity, but new battles are emerging—against misinformation, discrimination, and the eroding of hard-won freedoms.