The release of the anticipated film I Swear – about the Scottish Tourette's Syndrome campaigner John Davidson – is only days away.
The 54-year-old from Galashiels has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the neurological disorder and is known nationally as the "ambassador for the condition".
Beyond his talks and workshops to school pupils, John has featured in a number of documentaries, such as the 1989 film John's Not Mad.
When will I Swear be released in cinemas?
I Swear will be released in Scottish and UK cinemas on Friday, October 10 and will be rated 15.
See the full cast list for I Swear
Here is the full cast list for I Swear, including Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan.
- Robert Aramayo – John Davidson
- Peter Mullan – Tommy Trotter
- Maxine Peake – Dottie Achenbach
- Shirley Henderson – Heather Davidson
- Scott Ellis Watson – Young John Davidson
- Paul Donnelly – Billy Dean
- Douglas Rankine – Doctor Colin Hargreaves
- Adam McNamara – PC / Inspector MacCullen
- Chris Dixon – James
- David Carlyle – Chris Achenbach
- Steven Cree – David Davidson
- Anthony Capaldi – Andy
- Andrea Bisset – Lucy
- Francesco Piacentini-Smith – Murray
- Gordon Peaston – Councillor Spalding
- Christina Modestou – Alison
- Isla Mercer – Young Caroline
- Andrew McPhail – James’ Friend
- Malcolm McFadyen – Police Officer
- Catriona McArthur – Sharon Davidson
- Jamie McAllister – Young Murray
- Leah MacRae – Mrs. Robinson
- Jamie Marie Leary – Irene
- Amber Sylvia Edwards – Marie
- Paul Cassidy – Allan
- Christina Ashford – Queen Elizabeth II (credit only)
- Gary French – Procurator Fiscal
- Thierry Mabonga – Defence Agent
- Ruth Milne – Karen
- Donald Morrison – Priest
- Gordon Morris – Queen’s Speaker
- Jason Alan Staines – Doctor
- Cerys Tinney – Girl
- Paddy Towers – Lad 1
- Kendal Sheridan McKinlay – Barmaid
- Ellie MacDowall – Girl
- Sanjeev Kohli – Shopkeeper
- Emma Hartley-Miller – Woman on Train
- Michael Dylan – Butler
- Calum Cormack – Bouncer
- Michael Cooke – Journalist
- Johnny Milne – Self
- Alan Morton – Self
- Frankie Morton – Self
- Paul Stevenson – Self
- Karen Bartke – [Role not specified]
Is the brand new Scottish film I Swear based on a true story?
Yes, I Swear, starring Game of Thrones actor Robert Aramayo, is based on a true story and follows the life and work of the Scottish Tourette's Syndrome campaigner John Davidson.
The film will detail his troubled teenage and early adult years, a time when very little was known about the condition.
The movie will even feature the time he accidentally shouted out "f*** the Queen" while receiving an MBE for his campaigning work from the late British monarch in 2019.
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Discussing the moment, he told the BBC: "I began ticcing and shouting and I was absolutely mortified.
"But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was one of the Royal Archers, the Queen's bodyguards while she's in Holyrood, and a voice said 'Don't stress, she knows all about your condition'."
"That to me was huge because I've struggled so much with everyday life, with people misunderstanding, and if the Queen of the United Kingdom can understand and ignore the tics and the swear words, then why can't the rest of society?"
I Swear will hit Scottish and UK cinemas on Friday, October 10.
