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Joel Leaver

6 celebrities who have spoken about Tourette's or tics as Lewis Capaldi shares battle

Lewis Capaldi shared his Tourette's syndrome diagnosis this week and opened up about the condition with fans.

The musician, 25, has revealed he experiences shoulder twitches that have been diagnosed as Tourette's, which the NHS describes as "a condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics."

The singer-songwriter said in a recent interview with the Sun that he twitches when he's "excited, happy, nervous or stressed" and assured fans that "it is not as bad as it looks."

He said that some days are "more painful than others" as the condition can be "quite uncomfortable," though Lewis said he can sometimes go months without experiencing it.

Lewis Capaldi shared his Tourette's syndrome diagnosis this week (PA)

According to the charity Tourette's Action, more than 300,000 child and adults in the UK live with the condition.

And although there are treatment options to help manage symptoms, like behavioural therapy and medicine, there are no cures for the condition, as stated by the NHS.

Lewis isn't the only celebrity to have opened up about experiencing tics or being diagnosed with Tourette's, so here are some others who have been candid too.

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish, 20, has been open about her Tourette's (Getty Images)

Billie Eilish, 20, has been open about her Tourette's over the last few years.

The Grammy Award winner said on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019: "[Tourette's is] something I've lived with my whole life".

But she doesn't want to be defined by it and she recently explained on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: "If you film me for long enough you're gonna see lots of tics."

Billie said she was diagnosed aged 11 and experiences tics like clicking her jaw and tensing her arm muscles. She described her symptoms as "very exhausting".

The musician further commented on the Netflix show that she is aware of other artists in the industry who have the condition but who have kept quiet.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogan has a 'very mild' form of Tourette's (Getty Images)

Seth Rogen, 40, is best known for his roles in comedy films like Knocked Up, Bad Neighbours and Pineapple Express. His other credits include TV series Freaks and Geeks.

The Emmy nominated actor shared his experience with Tourette's in a tweet last year, in which he said that he has a "very mild case" which "manifests in twitching".

He's been vocal about dispelling the perception that it's predominantly characterised by "uncontrollable swearing" and said there's been cases of the condition in his family.

Pete Bennett

Pete said he had been 'depressed' about having Tourette's prior to being a BB housemate (Getty Images for Warner Bros.)

Pete Bennett, 40, became a household name during his appearance on Big Brother in 2006. He went on to win the Channel 4 series and has remained in the public eye since.

The reality TV star recently said he had been "depressed" about having Tourette's prior to being a housemate, and said he was "bullied", as reported by the Independent.

He previously told New! magazine that raising awareness of the condition was one of his motivations for doing Big Brother and that he wanted to be a role model for others.

He said recently on GB News that stress and excitement are particular triggers for him, but Pete said his symptoms have calmed down with age, after being diagnosed at 14.

Tim Howard

Tim Howard has been open about having Tourette's and OCD (Getty Images)

Tim Howard, 43, is a former footballer who has played for Manchester United and Everton. He's also the most capped goalkeeper for the US men's national team.

He has been open about having Tourette's and OCD, including writing about the conditions in his autobiography The Keeper, as previously reported by the Guardian.

The former footballer said symptoms began when he was around 10, such as tics which included "forceful" blinking, clearing his throat and "facial jerks" like shoulder shrugs.

Tim - who said that after he was diagnosed, a teacher questioned whether it was as an excuse for bad behaviour - now advocates for others living with Tourette's syndrome.

Dan Aykroyd

Dan was was diagnosed with the condition when he was around 12 (We Love TV)

Dan Aykroyd, 70, is best known for his roles in films like Ghostbusters and the Blues Brothers. He was previously a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL).

He spoke about his experience with Tourette's syndrome in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2013, saying that he was diagnosed with the condition when he was around 12.

"I had physical tics, nervousness and made grunting noises and it affected how outgoing I was. I had therapy which really worked and by 14 my symptoms eased," he said.

Scarlett Moffatt

Scarlett previously opened up about her own experience with tics (PA)

Scarlett Moffatt, 31, rose to fame on Gogglebox and won I'm a Celebrity in 2016. She has since pursued a career in TV presenting and launched her own podcast in 2020.

Her presenting work has seen her front the documentary Britain's Tourette's Mystery earlier this year. The project saw Scarlett open up about her own experience with tics.

Although she wasn't diagnosed with Tourette's, she has revealed that she suffered from facial tics for two years when she was as a child, before they disappeared overnight.

The TV presenter has been open up about her childhood experience, commenting: "I had Bell's Palsy as well and I just felt really not all in control of my body."

She told OK! magazine: "I'd try to suppress the facial tics so I didn't stand out. And as soon as I'd get home they'd all come out. I didn't feel in control of my own body."

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