The film I Swear features Robert Aramayo as Davidson and won the leading actor award at the 79th BAFTA ceremony, with its impact praised for raising awareness about Tourette syndrome.

The film follows Davidson’s life from age 12 in a 1980s Galashiels setting, highlighting the challenges and public misunderstanding surrounding Tourette’s.

Set in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, the biopic portrays Davidson’s experiences growing up in the 1980s when Tourette syndrome was poorly understood, including episodes of bullying, violence, and arrest due to his tics.

At the BAFTAs in February 2026, Davidson’s involuntary outbursts were accommodated without ejection, drawing substantial online attention with millions of impressions in a single day.

Davidson envisions I Swear as a catalyst to end negative narratives around Tourette’s and to ignite a movement for broader understanding and acceptance.

Davidson has praised the film’s effect, saying it has opened people’s eyes to the real issues surrounding Tourette syndrome.

Historical context notes that the 1989 documentary Johns Not Mad helped raise awareness, and I Swear could amplify that awareness further given its wider reach in the UK.

The story connects to Johns Not Mad and includes footage from the 1989 documentary, chronicling Davidson’s life as a teenager living with Tourette’s.

Overall, Davidson’s front-facing endorsement portrays I Swear as an eye-opening force likely to influence policy, funding, and public empathy toward Tourette’s in 2026 and beyond.

I Swear is a BAFTA-winning biopic about Scottish campaigner John Davidson, who developed Tourette syndrome at 12 and advocates for greater awareness.

The film blends drama with documentary elements to portray Tourette’s authentically, reflecting Davidson’s advocacy work with Tourette Scotland and Borders Action Group.

I Swear traces Davidson’s journey from a bullied youth to an advocate and MBE recipient, intertwining real footage from Johns Not Mad.