Tip Toe viewers horrified by ‘harrowing’ finale as Leo’s fate confirmed
Alan Cumming (L) and David Morrissey (R) in Russell T Davies’ Tip Toe (Channel 4)
Tip Toe viewers have taken to social media to express their horror following the “harrowing” conclusion of Russell T Davies’ incendiary LGBTQ+ drama.
After fours episodes of growing tension and hostility between warring Manchester neighbours Leo (Alan Cumming) and Clive (David Morrissey), episode five has arrived on Channel 4 On Demand prior to airing on Channel 4 Tuesday night (9 June).
The shocking climax to Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin creator Davies’ latest LGBTQ+ drama brings Leo and Clive’s feud to a devastating crescendo, with Clive and a group of hooligans brutally murdering Leo and leaving his body hanging from a lamp post after he’s wrongly accused of being a paedophile.
The series ends with a series of flashcards showing what the future holds for each character. In a final chilling nod to the power of misinformation, viewers are told Leo’s story “isn’t over” and that “within 18 months a search for his name says ‘Leo Struthers, convicted paedophile’.”
Viewers quickly took to social media to share their reaction to Tip Toe‘s grim final moments, with many expressing their fear at the state of the world following Davies grim political portrait of Britain today.
“Just wow at Tip Toe. Feel very unsettled and number after that final episode”, wrote one viewer.
Another added: “The defining image, Leo hanging from a lamppost, isn’t shock for shock’s sake; it’s the thesis statement of the entire series: bigotry doesn’t simmer, it detonates.
“The horror is blunt: this could happen today.”
One viewer heaped praised on The Traitors USA host Alan Cummings “incredible” performance and Davies “amazing” script, while another admitted the violent finale had left them feeling “physically sick”.
Series creator Davies recently admitted he feels like “an idiot” for spending so many years campaigning for gay visibility, only to see homophobia and transphobia grow rapidly in recent years.
“All our lives we’ve campaigned to be more visible, and I never thought what the end result of that was,” he told i Paper. “Now I look at myself like I’m an idiot. As if I ever imagined we’d reach a harmonious society.
“Our visibility is being weaponised.”
Tip Toe episode five airs on Channel 4 tonight (9 June) at 9pm and the full series is available to watch on Channel 4 On Demand now.
