It is an uncertain time for Doctor Who fans following the official announcement that the long-awaited Christmas special has been cancelled and showrunner Russell T Davies is departing. Although the show's future hangs in the balance and its biggest champion is exiting, there is a sense of relief that the British TV legend has bowed out. Not because he is bad at his job—he is an amazing showrunner—but because his talents are better used elsewhere. The reason lies with one show: Tip Toe.
For those following TV trends, Russell's groundbreaking LGBTQ+ Channel 4 show aired at the end of May this year. It has received widespread praise, hailed as a timely and urgent reckoning on the declining state of LGBTQ+ rights in the UK today. Starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, the series follows polar opposite neighbours—Leo, an older gay man, and Clive, an aggressively heterosexual handyman—whose differences breed homophobia, bigotry, and hostility. Although his socio-political commentary, especially regarding the trans community, remains a work in progress, it serves as a startling wake-up call that society is sleepwalking into a dark world regarding unity in rights.
After ending his first round as Doctor Who showrunner in 2010, RTD produced a run of stellar limited series. His 2015 trilogy—Cucumber, Tofu, and Banana—were edgy shows that became cult classics, especially among LGBTQ+ viewers. Then came mainstream work with gay and queer characters at their heart, such as A Very English Scandal starring Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw, which secured an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Bafta. His harrowing drama Years and Years—a post-Brexit reckoning with the UK's descent into fascism—remains an eerie prophecy for today's world with the rise of Reform and reign of Trump.
Rounding off this brilliant line-up was It's A Sin, a beloved LGBTQ+ show that reflects on the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s, an era Russell remembers well as a gay man growing up in Thatcher's UK. As brilliant as his time on Doctor Who was, his return in 2023 did not reach the heights many hoped. He faced criticism, ending in Ncuti's abrupt departure and the show's scattered future. Where his storylines, dialogue, and character-building at times fell flat in the past two seasons, his limited series—now considered his superior format—do not face the same trouble. This was proven with the Doctor Who spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, a standout tackling climate change and forbidden love. Then there is Tip Toe, veritable proof that Russell's time is best spent on bespoke ideas speaking to the era, rather than tying himself up with a fandom impossible to please.
Russell embodies how the TV industry can work at its best. He was a bright young writer in 1999 when he made his name on Queer as Folk and gained mainstream notoriety with Doctor Who. He has used that status to pen politically urgent pieces. Now, he can hand over the Doctor Who mantle to an up-and-coming writer who could be the next Russell T. Davies. While sad to see him go, there is excitement for what he will do next and for the future of Doctor Who.
