The Truth About Tourette’s

BBC Radio 4 to Broadcast ‘The Truth About Tourette’s’, presented by Aidy Smith, one of the world’s only TV Presenters with the syndrome. 

Known for presenting the ‘The Three Drinkers’ travel series on Amazon Prime, Smith is a keen advocate and one of the few known personalities with the syndrome. He’s on a mission to normalise the representation of disabled talent across TV, radio and beyond.

The 28-minute documentary airing on November 4th at 9:30pm on BBC Radio 4 and explores the stigmas and misconceptions surrounding the condition as Smith visits his parents and delves into memories from his childhood for the very first time. “Tourette’s is arguably the most misrepresented and misunderstood disability on the planet” he says. “The lack of awareness and continued stigmatisation has resulted in this being the only disability both the general public and comedians feel they have a green card to openly mock, which is absolutely soul-destroying”. 

The condition is frequently perceived as a swearing disability, which Smith is keen to correct. “It may surprise you to learn that only around 10% of people with Tourette’s swear uncontrollably, known as coprolalia. That means a colossal 90% don’t. It’s these stigmas that result in many people in our community hiding away rather than showing their true potential”. 

For the first time in radio history, this documentary looks at the talents of those with Tourette’s, as opposed to painting them as being a burden. Keen to shed light on the unexplored positives of the syndrome, Smith speaks with a host of well-known personalities, such as YouTube sensation and serial entrepreneur, Caspar Lee, winner of Channel 4’s Big Brother Series, Pete Bennett, Netflix Glow Up finalist, renowned make-up artist, James Mac Inerney and leading thoracic surgeon Dr Thai Wilson. “When we find our passions, we soar.” Smith explains. “It’s like having a superpower; all of the excess energy that would otherwise go into our tics becomes focused on what we love doing, making us a force of power and productivity”.  

Smith also has an emotional encounter, as one of the first people in the world to try a new technology being developed at Nottingham University that can stop the tics associated with the syndrome. “I think it was one of the most emotional moments of my life” he recounts. “Our tics can bring so much pain and discomfort, to be able to be in control of them is truly life-changing, I’ve never felt anything like that before”. 

As a recently appointed patron for the UK’s largest neurodiversity charity, the ADHD Foundation, Smith has also spent his career raising awareness on Tourette’s and neurodiversity and has no plans to slow down. He hopes this documentary will be a source of inspiration to employers and commissioners when looking at talent with disabilities.  “I want to inspire those in positions who can change lives to look beyond the perceived burdens sourced from stigmas and look at the positives; what you may see as a disability is actually a hidden superpower and this documentary will explain why”.

The Truth About Tourette’s will air on BBC Radio 4 on November 4th at 9:30pm, thereafter streaming on BBC Sounds for 12 months. 

You can stream the documentary live by clicking here.