Starz Acquires U.S. and Canada Rights to Alan Cumming Drama Series ‘Tip Toe’

Starz has acquired North American rights to the British drama series Tip Toe, a deal that brings the Alan Cumming and David Morrissey-led show to U.S. and Canadian audiences, the company reported through industry coverage on June 17, 2026. The series is based on a project created by Russell T. Davies and is produced by Quay Street Productions, a company tied to ITV’s scripted output, according to the report.

Tip Toe premiered in the United Kingdom on Channel 4. The series was developed to explore what the creators describe as corrosive forces facing the LGBTQ+ community, according to the description of the program’s premise in the coverage. Cumming stars in the series, with Morrissey also in the cast, and the show’s U.K. launch preceded the broader distribution agreement announced for North America.

The deal, as described in the report, covers rights for the United States and Canada. No specific premiere date for the Starz run was included in the information provided, and the coverage did not outline additional territories beyond North America or specify whether the agreement includes streaming, linear, or both platforms.

Quay Street Productions is credited as the producer of Tip Toe. The show is part of the wider pipeline of British scripted dramas that typically move from U.K. broadcasters to international buyers after initial runs, with licensing often negotiated separately for U.S. and other foreign markets.

Russell T. Davies, who is credited as the series creator in the report, is a prominent figure in British television, and Tip Toe is presented as a drama that addresses community threats through character-driven storytelling. Cumming and Morrissey are named as series stars, and the report frames the project around issues affecting LGBTQ+ viewers and communities.

For audiences, the rights acquisition means Tip Toe’s availability in the U.S. and Canada will shift from U.K. channels to Starz’s distribution footprint once the network makes the show available. For the production companies and rights holders, the agreement represents an additional distribution pathway following the initial Channel 4 premiere.

The Starz pickup also highlights the continuing market for prestige international series in the U.S. pay-TV environment, where distributors often seek internationally recognized talent and established creators to build subscriber interest. The coverage did not include figures on licensing costs or any details about marketing budgets tied to the deal.

The next steps for viewers will depend on Starz’s announcements for programming and release timing. Because the information provided does not set a date or platform specifics, the availability details may be provided by Starz closer to the launch of its North American schedule.

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