David Morrissey, the acclaimed British actor known for his roles in The Walking Dead and Sherwood, is set to star in the new Channel 4 drama Tip Toe. The series, premiering on Sunday, May 31, follows electrician Clive (Morrissey) and his neighbour Leo, a Canal Street bar owner played by Alan Cumming. After 15 years of peaceful coexistence, their relationship turns sour when Clive's deep-seated prejudices surface. The five-episode thriller, inspired by creator Russell T. Davies's personal experiences, airs over consecutive weeks.
David Morrissey's Health Battle
Away from the screen, Morrissey has been candid about his struggles. In a recent interview with The Guardian, he revealed he is a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for 21 years. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, he said: "I am a recovering alcoholic. Drinking first was about anxiety. I've had this terrible social anxiety and that helped me get through it." His drinking began in his teens after his father's death and escalated in adulthood. "I wasn't drinking to be convivial. I was on my own in the pub. That was really hard and very hard for my ex-wife and people around me."
Morrissey described the turning point: after keeping a former colleague's Alcoholics Anonymous contact for two years, he reached out at his lowest. "I was in a terrible, terrible state. He came round my house and just sat with me. And I've not drank since that day."
Who is David Morrissey's Famous Ex-Wife?
Morrissey met Esther Freud, the acclaimed British author and daughter of painter Lucian Freud, at drama school in 1993. They were together for over a decade before marrying in 2006. Freud is known for novels including Hideous Kinky, My Sister and Other Lovers, and I Couldn't Love You More. The couple wed in a small ceremony at Southwold Pier and have three children: Albie, Anna, and Gene.
Divorce and New Beginnings
In 2020, after 27 years together and 14 years of marriage, they separated amicably. Freud later began a new relationship and travelled extensively. She told Hello!: "It was fun to turn 60. Me and my boyfriend – I love using that word – went travelling for four months to Australia, Singapore and Laos." Regarding the split, she said: "There wasn't a huge amount of animosity or grievance really left. I felt it was more that our communication had gone awry. I didn't know what he wanted. I remember one day thinking, 'I don't even know what food you like. I don't even know anything anymore. I've lost my link with this person who was like you'."
Morrissey has since been linked to theatrical agent Larah Simpson, first seen together in December 2023. Despite new relationships, Morrissey told The Times that he and Freud remain close: "We're all very close. You know, my ex-wife and I are very close ... we all see each other a lot."
Tip Toe is available to watch on Channel 4.
