麻豆社

When the film I Swear won three Bafta awards, what happened at the ceremony prompted a much bigger story and wider discussion.

The film portrays the life of John Davidson who grew up with Tourette syndrome 鈥� the incurable condition, which causes sudden, repetitive sounds or movements.

During the awards, Davidson shouted out an involuntary racial slur, which was picked up by microphones and broadcast. In a statement, Davidson said he was "deeply mortified鈥� and that the tics, as they are known, were involuntary and did not carry any meaning.

In our conversations, we bring together two black Americans with Tourette鈥檚. They share their experiences, including dealing with the police.

鈥淢y parents had me sit there and recite and practice if I were to get pulled-over: 鈥楬i, I have Tourette's syndrome it is a tic disorder, do you mind if I explain or do you know what it is?鈥�,鈥� Jamie Grace, a music producer in Atlanta tells us.鈥� And the first time I got pulled over it was really difficult, the responding officer accused me of being intoxicated and it became a difficult conversation.鈥�

Tourette鈥檚 is a genetic condition that affects the nervous system. It鈥檚 estimated that one in every hundred children 鈥� many millions around the world 鈥� have it. We also bring together three people in the UK to give an insight into their lives with Tourette鈥檚.

Presenter: James Reynolds
麻豆社 producer: Lindsay Brown and Angela Sheeran.
Boffin Media producer: Richard Hollingham
Editors: Arja Haikonen and Simon Peeks

A Boffin Media production in partnership with the 麻豆社 Outside Source.

(Photo: Wilamena Dyer. Credit: Wilamena Dyer)