Russell T Davies' First Series After Doctor Who Exit Earns Stellar Rotten Tomatoes Score

Published Oct 3, 2026, 12:43 PM EDT

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Russell T. Davies' first show since exiting Doctor Who delivers a brilliant Rotten Tomatoes score.

Though he's a prolific writer-producer, behind such works as Queer as Folk and It's a Sin, Davies is thought of by many as the original showrunner and head writer of Doctor Who​​​​​​'s revival. He had the job from 2005 to 2010 before stepping away from the BBC staple and formally returning for a short stint in 2023.

Speaking about his decision to step away from Doctor Who, Davies explained, in part, that he felt it was “time to move on.” The iconic franchise is currently in a bit of an uncertain state. Davies' new project, in the meantime, is dazzling critics and audiences.

Tip Toe, which Davies created, wrote, and executive produced, has a score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The score is based on 22 reviews, with 21 categorized as positive and only one categorized as negative. The Average of Rated Reviews, which can be viewed by clicking on the Tomatometer, is 8.60 out of 10. This speaks to the fact that the reviews are strongly positive.

The audience score is similarly positive. It's 81% based on more than 100+ user ratings. It should be noted that the numbers could still shift if more assessments are added.

Tip Toe aired on Channel 4 in the U.K. and was acquired by Starz to stream in the United States. It centers on Leo (Alan Cumming) and Clive (David Morrissey), a duo that has lived next door to each other in Manchester for more than a decade.

Leo runs a bar on Canal Street while Clive is an electrician with two teenage sons. Their life begins to settle down, albeit everything around them grows a little more tense. That eventually leads to the two neighbors becoming deadly enemies as part of a dramedy that aims to explore how “prejudices have started to creep back into our lives,” according to the official synopsis.

The series has a fun Doctor Who tie-in between Morrissey and Davies, as Morrissey played a memorable role as Jackson Lake, a teacher in 1851 who looked suspiciously like he could be the next Doctor. Cumming, who has made waves as the host of The Traitors, has made Doctor Who appearances, as well.

ScreenRant's review of Tip Toe by Liz Hersey praises it as one of the best shows of the year. Although it's not at all a sci-fi romp, there's still plenty to recommend a series that looks to be among 2026's underrated gems.

Tip Toe is available to stream on Starz in the U.S.