Cumming Thanks Audience for Tourettes Understanding at BAFTAs

BAFTA host Alan Cummings thanked the audience for their understanding after I Swear's John Davidson let out involuntary shouts due to his Tourette's during the ceremony. 

I Swear details the life of campaigner John, now 54, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at a time when little was known about the condition.

The neurological condition, characterised by a combination of involuntary noises and movements called tics, affects roughly one in 100 children, according to NHS England. 

And addressing the audience at London's Royal Festival Hall, Alan continued to raise awareness for the condition after some strong language and involuntary shouts were heard from John. 

'Thank you for understanding,' said Alan. 

I Swear stars Robert Aramayo as campaigner John and depicts his younger years living in Glasgow, when he was first diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome.

BAFTA host Alan Cumming thanked audience for Tourette's understanding as I Swear's John Davidson let out involuntary shouts during Sunday's ceremony

I Swear details the life of campaigner John, now 54, who was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at a time when little was known about the condition

The film is nominated in the Outstanding British Film category and Robert is also nominated for Lead Actor, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet. 

Peter Mullan, who plays Tommy Trotter in the film, was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, however he lost out to Sean Penn who bagged the accolade for One Battle After Another.  

John was awarded an MBE - for his tirelessly work over the years to heighten awareness of the condition.

Recalling the 'proudest' moment of his life when he was handed his MBE, John revealed that on the day, aside from swearing at the Queen, he experienced a compulsion to tell police officers at Holyrood Palace that he had 'a f***ing bomb!' as they routinely checked his vehicle.

He also shouted 'I'm a paedo!' as he walked down the corridor of the historic palace.

Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku was among the early winners as the BAFTAs on Sunday  as she won Best Supporting Actress. 

Mosaku, who is pregnant with her second child, thanked her husband, family and daughter from the stage, and said that her mother had 'beamed' her love at her 'to give me the freedom to make my choices.'

She said that playing priestess Annie in Sinners she had connected with a part of herself which she had 'dimmed as an immigrant trying to fit in.'

Alan continued to raise awareness for the condition after some strong language and involuntary shouts were heard from John (John pictured with the mum of his friend Dottie Achenbach, who helped raise him) 

I Swear stars Robert Aramayo (pictured in the film) as campaigner John and depicts his younger years living in Glasgow , when he was first diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome

Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku was among the early winners as the British Academy Film Awards kicked off at London's Royal Festival Hall on Sunday

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BAFTAs 2026 winners: Sinners' Wunmi Mosaku is awarded Supporting Actress as Paul Mescal misses out

Ryan Coogler wrote the role of Hoodoo priestess Annie in Sinners especially for Mosaku, who was raised in Manchester and sang for 11 years in the Manchester Girls' Choir.

A Rada graduate, she was catapulted into the spotlight in the 2010 film I Am Slave, in which she played a Sudanese girl sold into slavery.

Sean Penn was awarded Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, beating out favourites including Stellan Skarsgård.

This also meant Paul Mescal missed out on the honour, despite earning critical praise for his performance in Hamnet. 

The Milk star was not present to accept the honour, leading presenter Gillian Anderson to joke: 'I'm going to take it.'

Presented by Paddington Bear, the award for Best Children's & Family Film was given to Boong, an Indian Manipuri-language coming-of-age drama.

Best Production Design was presented to Frankenstein, which starred Jacob Elordi as the iconic monster, with the film also winning Best Makeup and Hair.

Monica Bellucci presented the award for Best Documentary to Mr Nobody Against Putin. 

This Is Endometriosis was awarded Best British Short Film by Miles Caton and Milly Alcock, while Best British Short Animation was given to Two Black Boys in Paradise.

Outstanding Debut from a British Writer, Director or Producer was given to Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies for My Father's Shadow.

The first award of the night was for Special Visual Effects, which was awarded to Avatar: Fire and Ash.