01/03/2026
I don't know John, but we have at least two pals in common who think the world of him.
I think Scotland maintains a profound sense of pride in him.
We all knew John in Scotland after his doc in the 90s (an updated retrospective doc is now available on Prime); check it out. Link below.
https://watch.amazon.co.uk/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.6da397f6-9032-4eff-8be8-27c6d27e70fc&ref_=atv_lp_share_mv&r=web
John is not a racist. He has apologised. He's very good at apologising. Apologies run off his lips just as frequently as the tics appear.
The BBC should have caught it - John told the late Queen Elizabeth to go fkk herself - to her face. John is a Scottish person... speaking to the Queen of England. Yeah - that happened!
This is a man who has soldiered on whilst being misunderstood every day, key relationships strained, his anxieties through the roof, scared to walk into any public space... etc etc - a nightmare. This has been his life since he was a child.
Imagine... for a second... how isolating and lonely that must have been for him.
John's resilience, intellect, and likeable demeanor have consistently provided him with significant opportunities to educate and inspire. This event is anticipated to be another such occasion, enabling individuals to acquire knowledge and expand their understanding of Tourettes and tics. The broader discussions are also expected to be highly engaging. John absorbs a substantial personal cost - every single day - often leading to embarrassment and deep shame. Some of the negative commentary has varied from broadly unfair to overtly uninformed...
He's an accidental hero.
He's suffered in ways we cannot fathom.
He has apologised, as per usual.
The BBC has apologised - quite rightly.