In February 2026, the Scottish born John Davidson, the world’s most famous Tourette’s Syndrome afflicted individual, made news due to an outburst at a BAFTA awards ceremony. It certainly wasn’t Davidson’s first brush with infamy, as he publicly swore at Queen Elizabeth in 2019, and has had several films devoted to him, including the BAFTA winning biographical drama I SWEAR (2025) and the short documentary under review. A 28 minute episode of the BBC docu-series Q.E.D., JOHN’S NOT MAD was aired on March 15, 1989, and is widely credited with bringing Tourette’s Syndrome into the mainstream.
JOHN’S NOT MAD (1989) Full Documentary
Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder that, as elucidated here by Dr. Oliver Sacks, causes its sufferer to display impulsive tics and shout obscenities. John Davidson was 16 when this doco was lensed, and, according to the narration by Eleanor Bron, “has made his life and the life of his family almost impossible in the close-knit, well-ordered community of Galashiels where they live.” It begins with John in a supermarket shouting at fellow shoppers to “Fuck off!” and calling his mother, one Heather Davidson, a “slut.”
Tilly, John Davidson
We also see John annoying people in a library and at the school he attends, a special education center in which John hurls all manner of swear words at his teacher and sexual innuendoes at the girl students. Further strife occurs during a dinner with his mother and siblings, where a cake in the center of the table is covered by a plastic container, so John won’t get spit on it. His father, Heather reveals, has turned to alcohol to deal with his son’s outbursts, while his grandmother believes he’s demonically possessed.
I SWEAR (2025) Trailer
Obviously much of this is pretty funny, although producer-director Valerie Kaye’s intent was dead serious. Kaye provides us with a good briefing on the effects of Tourette’s, and effectively conveys John’s tragic isolation from the rest of the world—especially since, as is made clear in the title of a later documentary about John Davidson, THE BOY CAN’T HELP IT.
The latter, a 2002 BBC follow-up, profiles John as a young man, coaching underprivileged kids while still battling the effects of Tourette’s. In contrast to the earlier film, this one lasts a full hour, and is extremely unfocused, relying largely on footage from JOHN’S NOT MAD to prop itself up. I say the earlier film is worth seeing, and you can skip the latter.
Vital Statistics
JOHN’S NOT MAD
Uden Associates Productions
Director/Producer: Valerie Kaye
Cinematography: Mike Coles, Richard Hakin
Editing: Gary Burczak, Phil Cook
Cast: John Davidson, Mrs. Heather Davidson, Lorna Peggie, Oliver Sacks, Elanor Bron