Russell T. Davies Praises Starz For Picking Up ‘Tip Toe’ LGBTQ Series In U.S. Despite Trump’s “Hatred, Bile & Anger”

With his latest LGBTQ thriller making its way stateside, Russell T. Davies is grateful Tip Toe found a U.S. home under the Trump administration.

The 3x BAFTA winner praised Starz for having the “nerve” to release the Channel 4 limited series in the U.S. and Canada, despite President Trump’s “hatred, bile and anger about minorities.”

“It’s very good news that it’s been picked up in the US by Starz, because a lot of the arguments in Tip Toe address many of the problems that come when the President of the free world talks with hatred, bile and anger about minorities,” he told Attitude.

“I think that has given permission – this is said on screen in Tip Toe – given permission to the whole world, or certainly the whole manifestation, to rise up in arms,” added Davies. “We made Tip Toe without any American money and kind of imagined it would never get shown there, so the fact it will be shown is really exciting and says a lot about Starz.”

Davies went on to commend Starz for having “nerve in a world where everyone, well governments are trying to censor broadcasters. Very, very exciting.

In Tip Toe, Manchester gay bar owner Leo Struthers (Alan Cumming) and electrician neighbor Clive Goss’ (David Morrissey) feud takes a deadly turn when online conspiracy theories and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric come into play.

Last month, Starz scored North American rights to the British drama series, as network president Alison Hoffman praised Davies for creating a “gripping and deeply affecting series that speaks directly to the cultural tensions and anxieties shaping modern life.”