Episode 1 Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You

Condoms, syphilis, gonorrhoea. Chlamydia!

Ruth is one of 300,000 people in the UK with Tourette's Syndrome.

HE TICS

Like Ruth, Steve lives with constant physical and verbal tics.

HE TICS

They're like...fat...

Look out!

Music has an extraordinary effect on their lives.

# Oh, Lord, I see...#

When they perform, their tics completely disappear.

# Oh, baby, don't you know I suffer?

# Oh, baby, can you hear me moan? #

I have scoured the country looking for young people with Tourette's who have real musical talent.

But it has been no ordinary journey.

# You'll find it You'll find it next to me. #

-Aaargh!

-Aaaargh!

Their tics become worse when faced with new and challenging situations.

Out the door, go.

This is the story of how they overcame their fears...

-Hmm.

-You OK, Ruth?

-Yeah.

..grew in confidence...

# Get your old kit bag Don't worry about the cavalry

# I don't care what the...#

LAUGHTER

..and came together to put on the musical performance of their lives.

# You'll find it You'll find it next to me. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-'Reggie Yates!

-On BBC Radio One. The official chart,

'with Reggie Yates.'

Your number 15 is just around the corner,

we are getting closer and closer.

'I present the official chart on BBC Radio One,

'and have hosted TV talent shows.

'Now I am taking on something completely different.'

Text me, 81199.

'I have heard that music might help people with Tourette's.'

And I'm really interested to see how that works and if it works at all.

Music is something that has always been a part of my life, it is a huge, huge thing for me.

I live for music and there is nothing better than hearing

a new artist or seeing new talent,

and part of the reason that this project

is so exciting is that we are essentially looking for new talent.

But new talent that is even more special

because they are battling something that should get in the way of their talent blossoming.

Five to go until your top ten.

15, up 14, Ed Sheeran, Drunk. Official chart, BBC Radio One.

I am aware of the fact that Tourette's definitely affects

people to the point where they actually involuntarily swear.

I am really really interested to see if there are other layers and levels to it

and if Tourette's can affect someone in different ways,

in other ways other than swearing.

I'm a little nervous,

I am nervous about what I am actually going to find,

it is a huge statement to say we will put on this huge show where

people will perform and they happen to have Tourette's. It is a big ask,

but I hope we pull it off because it could be something fantastic

and something really special if it is done well, so fingers crossed.

Petrol bomb! Petrol bomb!

With three months to organise the event, I will be travelling across

Britain to find unknown talent who will become my Tourette's supergroup.

The search begins in London,

where I have heard about a singer called Ruth.

Condoms! Syphilis! Gonorrhoea!

Chlamydia! Cat AIDS!

I am intrigued, to find out how Tourette's changes the lives of

young people who have a talent in music and want to do something with it.

SHE TICS

It's fatty! Saturated fat. Gobshites.

Pigs! Pigs!

I am stealing!

I am interested to find out just how open I really am,

because we all like to believe, "Whatever, I can deal with this."

But I know that it will make me uncomfortable.

Waiting!

Aaaargh!

I don't want it to jump on me.

Ruth is 25 and works at a centre for autistic adults in north-east London.

I will move those away because I will end up smashing them off the table.

-Petrol bomb! Wankers. Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello! Pleased to meet you.

You too. Nice to meet you too. Nice to meet you too.

Wicked. You all right? You all right? How are you?

-I am not bad at all.

-Wankers! Wicked.

It is nice to finally meet you, I have heard a lot about you.

You are the first person I have met, so tell me about...

SHE TICS

When did you first start getting your tics?

-16.

-16? No symptoms before then?

-No.

-How did you react to that?

As a teenager I was mortified if I had a spot.

SHE TICS

Yeah, definitely.

-I suppressed it hell of a lot.

-How?

I don't know how to describe it, but you go to another place.

You just know that socially it is not going to be acceptable,

and you feel uncomfortable by it,

you are trying to get by with just normal teenage stuff.

You get on the bus and all of a sudden you notice there is

just space around you, people are moving away from you

and the faces on them, people unite for some reason, in hostility,

people are happy to not talk to their neighbour or smile at them

but if they see something different or someone who is making

a bit of noise, and all of a sudden they have become best friends.

I am everyone's number one enemy.

That gets to you, that really does hurt.

So, does it ever subside with people?

This is the first time we have met

and, I mean, obviously you are ticing a lot now,

maybe because we are talking about it...

'As I sit opposite Ruth, I am surprised at how shocked I am

'by the intensity of her tics.

'Getting the middle finger every five seconds

'and getting sworn at is something I have never had to deal with before.

'It is really hard to ignore it.'

What it is and how it affects you. There it goes!

So I am going to hang out with you for a couple of hours today

and get to see a bit of what you normally do, so what's the plan?

-We're going to head to Camden, and I am going to try to pick up my nephew a T-shirt.

-OK.

Who does that look like?

Oh my God! I spotted it straightaway. That is nuts.

SHE TICS

-How did you find yourself in front of...

-Reggie has a wedgie!

You know what? people said that to me when I was at school as a kid.

-You are bringing back dark memories!

-Hello!

'Out in public with Ruth, I am struck by how

'difficult it is for her to maintain a low profile,

'especially as everyone seems to be staring at her.'

Hello! Someone's got an STD! Cat AIDS! Hello!

Hello! It's not an STD, Cat AIDS is.

-So these two women in front of us. Have a little smirk.

-Yes, syphilis.

If it makes them feel all right to do that, that is cool.

I already find myself feeling quite protective towards Ruth,

and I am becoming more aware of people's reactions,

especially to the swearing.

People would often say that the swearing is the hardest

part of it, but only 10% of people with Tourette's swear.

That is very rare. It is... Fuck off! It is the rarest form.

SHE TICS

..symptom of Tourette's syndrome.

Hey! me, me, me!

Sorry, people shouting my name.

-You all right?

-All right, mate?

-Yeah.

-All right, mate? All right?

This is really annoying, they can see I am asking questions and they're shouting my name.

All right, mate?

Anyway, it is really bad. It is so funny finding myself doing that because it is a similar thing.

And I said to you, didn't I? You will be quite short with it

whereas I can tolerate it a bit longer.

Do you know what? Here's the thing, my tolerance levels

go right down when it is people who should know better

being silly or ignorant or being...

This is a really funny saying that,

but that is exactly the same for you, but it is harder for you.

It is harder as well because I expect no less.

Funny what you said about the whole choice thing,

because I suppose I have made the choice for this to be my life...

-Baked beans. Baked beans.

-Whereas you have not.

-Ketchup. Choose.

Baked beans or ketchup? Choose.

Go on, what are you saying?

I am used to people stopping and saying hello,

and people watching me while I am working,

and it is never a problem,

but I think because I have spent an entire day with Ruth

watching people stare at her and looking down their noses at her

and her not saying anything, it 's made me increasingly get annoyed.

The minute I had an opportunity to vent that I did,

I found myself acting out in a way I normally wouldn't.

It surprised me.

In 2006, Ruth went to university to study music,

but was forced to quit two years later

because of her outburst in lectures and during performances.

Vagina for sale! Vagina for sale!

Now that is an untapped market.

Tourette prostitute.

Ruth has only recently started singing again,

and I need a great singer for my show.

Petrol, petrol bomb.

It is difficult to imagine how she will be able to perform without ticing.

# You could be the one who listens

# To my fears and inquisitions

# You could never be as good as her...#

It is amazing, if you walked into the room now,

you would never know she had Tourette's Syndrome.

# Pieces of the life I had before

# I will be there As soon as I can but I'm busy

# Any other pieces of

# The life I had before. #

That is it!

I didn't have to encourage you to bring it to an end.

That is great.

Hello! In the name of the father the son, the holy cunt. Chip sticks.

-I am really impressed, Ruth.

-Thank you, Reggie. Wedgie!

Thanks, Reggie!

There is room to grow, that is the thing I am really excited about,

-your start point isn't zero or one or even three...

-Minus 10!

Better than that.

You are on your way already, and with help, we could do something amazing.

Chew on a vulva!

Oh, that's great.

What do you get when you hear that round of applause?

A sense of affirmation, I am a human being.

SHE TICS

A sense of worth, a sense of belonging, I suppose, to society.

MOUSE!

'I can already see that Ruth could be brilliant for my event.'

The prospect of taking off from where she is now to potentially twice,

even three times better is amazing.

Because, it is always great seeing someone progress.

Seeing someone progress and knowing that it means that much to them,

it just makes it all the more worthwhile.

I am looking forward to it,

I'm definitely looking forward to working with Reggie

and what he has got in store.

I will be nervous that I might get a little bit flapped but I am excited.

It is amazing to have found a great vocalist, and Ruth has given me loads

of advice on what to expect on my journey to put the lineup together.

I am heading to meet 25-year-old Steve, a singer from North Devon.

I don't know how he is going to react to me, and worst of all,

I don't know which one of my insecurities he will point out.

"Big head! Weird ears!" I just know that will happen.

But hopefully, much like with Ruth, I will get to know

the person and get past the fact that I am being insulted all day.

HE TICS

I find Steve on Putsborough Sands indulging in his great passion.

It is bloody freezing.

Thank you so much for meeting us, mate.

-A pleasure.

-It would be wicked to know more about you and your music.

-How long have you had Tourette's?

-Since I was about seven.

I used to run backwards with my hands forward

and it used to put an extra mile on my journey every time I went somewhere.

That was annoying.

I would be out with my mates and I would be back down the High Street.

HE TICS

You get so used to it.

You're fat, you cunt. You're not fat.

LAUGHTER

That is the one that turns heads in Tesco.

-Have you ever gotten any scrap over it?

-Loads.

You seem really confident and you seem really comfortable with your tics.

Have you ever hit anyone else with a tic?

Yes, obviously, it is something that I hold dear to myself

because it is part of me, so anything that people say

I will take offence to, but it is how I deal with it.

Sometimes, like anyone who gets drunk,

everyone knows that sometimes you can take it the wrong way

and sometimes I have lashed out at people. I will not lie.

You said you hold Tourette's really dear to you,

do you see it as something...

-Did you just hit yourself in the nuts?

-Yes, I will get the pillow.

-Have you done that before?

-I always hold a pillow when I sit down.

Are you serious? To protect yourself?

-To protect my nuts.

-Have you ever had yourself really hard in the balls?

-Yeah, fuck yeah.

-It is bad at the moment. You are seeing it at its worst.

-What has made worse?

There is stuff going on in my life,

and I have not found the place I want to be at yet with my career

and work and I do not have a lot of money and I am just trying to...

It is great living down here and surfing, but you must have a goal

and obviously music is my goal.

You have your guitar and you have spoken about how much you love performing,

it would be rude for you not to play, you've got to play me something.

-Really?

-Yeah, I want to hear your music.

'I know that Ruth stopped ticing when she sang to me,

but Steve's tics are so severe.'

# There's no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard

# The song that I could sing that I could drive to your heart

# It's not always easy Sometimes life can be deceiving

# A tangled thing, it's always better when we're together

# Yeah, it's always better when we're together

# Yeah, it's always better when we're together. #

Nice. Really nice, mate. I really like your voice, it is beautiful.

-Thank you very much.

-Is that one of your favourites? Jack Johnson?

HE TICS

Sorry. Yes, I love his stuff.

What is it about playing guitar and singing that stops your tics?

I think it is because I am sort of lost in the music in a way.

I do not know, when I am playing and singing you sort of get...

You're just in a dream. I just sort of stare and don't think.

When you stop that, your brain just creeps in again. I don't know why.

We should go to the scientists for that one.

Hang on!

It turns out there is no medical explanation as to why tics

disappear when they perform,

and there is no cure for Tourette's, either.

I am really excited about what we can do with Steve's musical talent,

I definitely want him in the show.

HE TICS

Steve has invited me back home, where he lives with his mum, Jane.

-I'm home!

-Look at that. Amazing, is that one sugar?

-Yes, one sugar.

-Steve?

-How many sugars?

-Two in there.

-Amazing, thank you so much.

And what would you say your relationship with your mother is like?

Has Tourette's changed the way you are with him at all?

No, I don't think so, Reggie. I think the Tourette's has made...

You're mental, Mum.

..has made him more exciting because he's really funny

and I never know what he's going to say next.

HE GRUNTS

His friends all tell me stories that have happened and it's just,

yeah, I think his Tourette's has enhanced our relationship if anything.

Something that has come up I knew nothing about before I started

meeting people for this, was the act of suppression

and I didn't know that people with Tourette's could actually do that,

suppress their tics and stop them for periods of time.

I mean, have you ever been able to do that?

When you were younger,

did you suppress more for other people's benefits?

Did you do that more often?

Well, in class, I would try because it's embarrassing and I was

trying my hardest not to do it and I found that that made it worse.

'Growing up, Steve tried various things to help his Tourette's,

'including medication, which can help control the tics.

'But the side effects were so bad that he came off them aged 14

'and has lived without ever since.'

Steve is without doubt very much his own man.

He's in control of his life and stuff

and he seems to have a great way of dealing with other people

in terms of the way they react to his Tourette's.

But how much do you find yourself feeling protective of him

and worried about him as well when he leaves the house in the morning?

Oh, I don't think I ever worry about him.

Oh, shut up, Mum.

I don't worry about him, no. I think I...

"Where are you going, what are you doing, who are you with?"

No, school was hard, when he was at school. I found that hard.

HE SNORTS

They just wouldn't let him do things and they used to put him

in the timeout room and he wasn't allowed to go to assemblies.

I really struggled then.

I think I used to get upset then because obviously it's not fair.

-But now...

-Tap the head.

Now I think, no, I don't worry about him at all.

You don't worry about me? That sucks.

-I worry about you all the time.

-Do you?

-24 hours!

I'm now off to meet 18-year-old student, Greg,

a drummer from Yorkshire.

Greg was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome at the age of six.

Like Steve and Ruth, I know he has severe physical and verbal tics.

-Hello, mate.

-Hey.

-How's it going?

-OK, you?

-I'm good. Reggie. Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too.

-Greg, right?

-Yeah.

-Good.

You're not going to go on that at any point, because if you do,

I will have a heart attack.

I've not got the right skates for that so don't worry.

OK, right. So is this your regular hangout?

-Is this where you always seem to come?

-Yeah.

I come here a couple of times with my mates

and then various places around where I live.

Yeah. Already I've noticed that you've not ticed in any way at all.

What sort of Tourette's do you have?

I get the physical and I get the vocal tics a lot but over the years,

I've built up by way of controlling it, so for instance...

When I'm on my skates, I've been able to, through meditation

and mind over matter, connect the fact that when

I'm on skates I don't tic.

-So whenever I wear my skates, I know I never tic.

-At all.

-At all.

Same with when I'm drumming.

I'm able to have total relief when I'm doing those activities.

How long did it take you to get to this stage with the skates?

This is out of... I didn't expect you to be completely ticless.

I tell you what, it's nice. It's nice.

When you see me off my skates, at home or something,

you'll probably be shocked at the difference.

You really probably will be shocked.

And if I say anything, I don't mean it offensively.

Yeah.

A lot of people get the thought that what you're saying in your head

is what your tics say but it's never the same.

Never the same.

I occasionally... If I see a girl I like, my tic will go, "Nice arse!"

Something like that.

That can be embarrassing, but aside from little things like that,

if I was to shout "flying asparagus," which is one I have,

totally random, but, you know.

I'm not thinking it. It comes from nowhere.

Let me get this right.

-When you take these off, things might dramatically change.

-Yes.

-Is it literary that instant, the minute they come off?

-Yes.

-You fall back into it?

-As soon as I take that one off,

you'll get the full force of my Tourette's in your face.

-Hopefully not in my face.

-No, not like that.

-I need that.

Are you serious? So literally when they come off, everything changes.

Yeah. It's a psychological trigger so it doesn't work that well when I've got them off.

Do you feel like a massive sort of anticipation whenever it gets there?

I get nervous. As you can see I'm delaying taking that one off

because as soon as I take off my skate or I stop drumming

or something, I could walk out and put my fist through a wall

or something like that.

Here we go.

But basically... I get off stage and... Ooh!

I start hitting people, ticing at them. Ooh!

-See what I mean?

-When you said they were loud, you weren't kidding.

And then...

..I can...get nervous because of people's reactions.

And then...

Flying asparagus! See?

That one's random.

And then tics get worse, I get more stressed and it builds up and up,

one potato, two potato.

The next thing you know, I can't stop screeching.

-Yeah.

-Or doing that.

'I'm really blown away

'by the change in Greg when he takes his skates off.

'I had no idea it tics can be controlled in that way.

'Greg has invited me back home where he lives with his mum, Kim,

'and his dad, Paul.

'They show me some video of Greg when he was younger.'

HE SCREECHES

-So this is from... How long ago was this?

-I was eight.

HE SCREECHES

It started with a cough, a persistent cough

that wouldn't go, so it was the usual trips to the doctors.

Is it asthma?

We started to know the eye tics and the rolling at home but we found out

later that he had been doing the squeaks and twitches at school.

The video diary was how we put together...

HE YELPS

..the evidence to be able to show that it did exist

because as soon as you go to the doctor, it goes.

It's just not helping! Please help me!

I've spent the entire day with Greg

and you've ticed more in the last 30 seconds then you have all day.

-Why is that?

-It's that!

Is it looking back at yourself?

It's not exactly pleasant.

What is it about looking at yourself at that age that makes you tic so much?

-It's... Ng, ng! It was bad.

-Then?

Yeah. Really bad times.

And just everything I went through was horrible

so it's like bad memories, bad stress, immediately tics.

Turn your face away.

HE BLOWS A RASPBERRY

Yeah.

'Meeting Greg's family and seeing the video has made me realise

'why skating is so important to him.

'Apparently, drumming has the same effect.'

Obviously apart from learning about Tourette's,

one of the things we're trying to do is find people with a musical talent

and as well as that, give them an arena to display it in.

If he's a really good drummer... I see drummers as being the spine.

They're the backbone of any band. I love a funky drummer. So...

Yeah, fingers crossed he's good and if he's better than good,

he could be an amazing addition to a great line-up of people.

'I can't believe he's only been playing for three years.

'He's really good.'

Woo!

Yeah!

-All right?!

-Go on, Greg!

One more time! I'm only joking.

What is it about drums that you think calms you down so much

and makes you enjoy it as much as you do?

It's more complicated than people think, you've got a lot more

to think about and then you can beat the hell out of it.

If you have some anger, it's just... aargh!

Is that what it is for you?

When your mind is active, it takes you away from all the other stuff.

Yeah. As you can see, I've stopped playing now...

Exactly, and it's gone quiet which hasn't helped.

Hi, guys.

# Born again

# Born again

# One day I know I feel... #

It goes without saying, we've got a drummer now.

This is an awesome sort of part of the band

that we're putting together.

In reality, getting a drummer that good at that age is quite hard

to find, let alone finding one who has such an amazing story as well.

And it's great.

It's great to be able to do something like this for him

and give him something to look forward to, as well as that

something awesome to be a part of.

# Moving on... #

'In less than 10 weeks, this studio will be transformed

'into the venue for our live event in front of hundreds of people.

'I've travelled back to London to meet the voice coach

'and musical director for our show.

'Jo Price has coached members of Take That and the Spice Girls.

'Chris Egan has worked with Annie Lennox and Lady Gaga.'

One thing I should probably warn you about...

OK! Here we go!

Is that if you have any insecurities or any issues with anything

you're wearing, or however you look, put it out the window now.

There's going to be a big ginger thing going on, isn't there? Yeah.

-I'm ready for that.

-I don't think you are!

I really don't think you've prepared yourself, so just get ready.

I'm excited I found three musicians with real potential

and I feel like the show is starting to come together.

# Tell me how you feel... #

No matter how much their music helps their tics, I can't ignore

the fact that Tourette's makes their everyday lives difficult.

I need to learn more about how they cope with it

and I'm wondering how they deal with friendships and relationships.

I go to meet Ruth and a group of her old university friends.

-Hello.

-Hello.

-Hello, how are you doing? Reggie.

-Reg, nice to meet you.

-Freddie.

-Hello.

-Wedge!

-How are you doing?

-All right. Take a seat.

-Ruth has renamed me.

So you guys used to hang out socially while...

-Jesus was a nigger!

-..whilst you were at university.

I'm used to that one now. I think I've heard them all.

When we went out in Camden, I think you got every single tic

you've ever done out of you your system. Right?

You guys are Ruth's friends. You know her well.

How do you take it when she says racially offensive things?

-Just kind of...

-They smile.

Yeah, we smile at her like it's just like we know she can't help it.

Makes it seem like it's not a big deal.

-If there's some slight I guess unsureness...

-Tickle him!

Tickle him!

Ruth's confidence a little, it...

Tickle him!

Can you just tickle him, please?

She's not going to stop until you tickle him!

You've been friends for quite a while now.

What do you get for the friendship?

There's a lot of stuff being thrown at you all the time,

in terms of insults.

You say you get to the point where you don't really hear them any more.

So when you sort of discount that, how does the friendship actually work?

-You have to help me to try and understand because there's a lot to get your head around.

-Peroxide!

I don't know. We always have a good time.

Ruth is very easy to chat to, to have a laugh with

and Ruth is open and we chat away.

Spread open. Legs open!

That's not what I meant, but...!

You've spoken in the past, Ruth, about there being tough times

and moments where you found it a little bit difficult.

How are you getting on with that whole partner side of things and relationships?

-You're single at the moment, right?

-All right, yeah!

THEY LAUGH

Ruth, I'm in the same boat, mate.

I'm not one to throw sand, don't worry about it.

So, if you're single at the moment, as a group of friends,

I'd imagine you go out and maybe sometimes be on the pull.

How does that work?

-Has Ruth ever pointed out a guy that she fancies and...

-Umm...

Yeah but they don't approach me and I don't approach them so it's the end of it.

That's not because you've got Tourette's. That's just how things are sometimes.

Do you think it's something that she uses as an excuse not to meet people, not to talk to people?

I can't be bothered to walk down the road with someone who's got

a bigger issue with it, do you know what I mean?

That's the first time I think I've seen her not be as confident.

When it comes to her talking about guys, she suddenly goes

within herself and almost is a bit defeatist and believes...

I mean, you get the impression she believes

she doesn't think anyone is going to want her.

See you, guys!

Bitch!

'Ruth made me realise the important role confidence plays in relationships

'and that's something I really hope the musical event can help with.

'I wonder how Greg deals with it.

'When I was 18, getting a girlfriend was one of the biggest things on my mind.'

I swear my cymbal bag gets heavier and heavier each day.

Right then, here we go.

Welcome to my bedroom.

Mate, you've got a proper cool bedroom going on here.

Little bit jealous of this. It's awesome. But you're 18 now, right?

Yeah. So how about girls?

What happens with you and meeting new girls and stuff?

-I mean I haven't even asked you, do you have a girlfriend?

-No, I don't.

And what about meeting girls then? How do you find that?

When you walk up to someone, you go, "Hi, how are you? Bah!"

In their face... It's quite... "Sorry, I have Tourette's."

It's not the best chat up line in the world, is it?

"Hi, do you want a drink? I'm going to split all over you."

Do you find you get more nervous around girls that you fancy

-that you're attracted to?

-Yes.

-And you tic more around them?

-Yeah. It's like anybody.

If you went up to... I don't know if you're in a relationship or not.

But if you went up to someone you really liked,

you get butterflies in your stomach and that turns into tics.

It's like a greaseproof sheet of paper.

Everybody sees the greaseproof piece of paper which is blurred

but not the person behind and I feel by doing my drumming

and skating, they see me, not the Tourette's.

Can you play bongo?

Yeah, all right.

Oh, piss off!

Ga-ga-g-ag-ga-ga-ga-ga!

OK, well, look. When we get to London, I think you being involved

with what we're planning could be incredible and you potentially

playing with some of the other guys I'm meeting could be awesome.

-Would you be up for that?

-I would jump at the chance.

-Perfect.

# You won't find him drinking under tables... #

It's interesting to hear Greg say that when he's drumming,

he gains confidence and people see the real him, behind the Tourette's.

I know that Steve, our singer and guitarist, has a girlfriend.

I would love to know how Tourette's affects their relationship.

SHE LAUGHS

Hello. Hello, morning. Hello, guys.

-All right?

-Hello.

-Hello.

I take it this is the girlfriend we've heard loads about. Hello.

-Reggie, lovely to meet you. What's your name?

-Iona.

-Hello, Iona.

Lovely to meet you.

-How are you doing, fella? Are you all right?

-I'm Steve.

"I'm Steve!" What you introducing yourself for? You all right?

-Tit wank. Yeah, good. You?

-Very good, thank you.

Very good. Thank you very much. I'm liking the hat.

You're looking a bit flash this morning.

How did your friends react the first time you brought Steve round?

-Everyone knew Steve before I did.

-Cunts!

-Right.

I don't know how I was the last person to meet him, to be honest.

-Everyone knows him.

-Yeah.

-Pan fry the cunt.

So you're making breakfast now, are you? What are you making today?

I'm making toast. Right. And some scrambled.

OK. Did you know much about Tourette's before you met him?

No, I had never met anyone with Tourette's.

I'd never seen it before.

No, never come across anyone.

"Oh, this is different. Let's try this!"

THEY LAUGH

Tell us a bit about this name you've got for your Tourette's then.

I went to France and it's like, it was called...

Like "tu veux", in French, like you want something.

So you're like, "Oh, tu veux."

I was like, "Tu veux, tu veux!"

Touretting all the time in France.

And it just stuck for ages and when I came back from France,

I was making my breakfast like this and I was frying a pan of eggs

like this and I just fucking went, "Tu veux, egg veux."

And lobbed all the eggs behind me.

They went flying across the kitchen, right?

Since that day, "Egg Veux" has been coming out like crazy. It's just been..

You see Egg Veux as another personality?

Yeah, he's like my alter ego.

It's like, it's kind of like instead of calling it Tourette's,

I call it Egg Veux.

So it's like it doesn't...

It doesn't sound as serious.

He's my little friend.

Butter that bread. Fatty cunt.

You said that your Tourette's has changed over the years

and in the last few years, it's increased a bit.

Has it got really serious recently?

It's got a lot worse...

Look out!

It's got a lot worse.

Fuck, just took in loads more.

Um...

Sorry, what was I saying?

Mate, I don't even want to talk to you right now.

-I want you to concentrate.

-Yeah!

-Because I'm crapping myself.

You've got a knife in your hand. Oh, my God!

Can I just butter the bread for you?

How do you stand and watch him butter bread when he's got a knife?! Oh, my God.

That's nothing. You should see him with a sharp knife.

-You cunt, you cunt, you cunt.

-He can't get himself out of it.

Whoa!

She is actually quite fit! He has done really well!

He has got himself a lovely girlfriend and they clearly get on.

And he has managed to maintain a relationship for about a year.

Which is more than can be said for me and most of my mates.

So it is really impressive to see that.

But he is almost at a crossroads now.

He wants to go on and take control of his life in its entirety.

At 25 you're thinking about living with your girlfriend

and maybe even a couple years down the line

starting a family of your own.

And it almost feels as if, as much as it feels horrible to say,

his Tourette's has got in the way of that.

In the eye, fuck off, fuck off.

Yeah. It's... Oh! Mum, hoover.

One of the ways Steve is able to earn money

is to perform in local pubs and bars.

I have only heard him sing in private

so I don't know how he will cope in front of a crowd,

or whether Egg Veux will make an appearance.

One, two. HE SNORTS

Oh, there he is! There he is!

HE SNORTS

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome. Hi, Reg. HE SNORTS

Oh, there he is.

# The long city blows Down the cold dark streets tonight

# And the children they were dancing To the music vibe

# And you're singing the songs Thinking this is the life

# Wake up in the morning And your head feels twice its size

# Where you gonna go Where you gonna sleep tonight?

# And she's singing the songs Thinking this is the life

# Wake up in the morning And your head feels twice its size

# Where you gonna go Where you gonna sleep tonight? #

I hate myself for saying this, and I will probably deny this at a later date,

but, when he was playing the piano and singing,

I found myself getting a little bit emotional.

Because I have heard him sing before

but just the room and the fact that there is an audience,

and, I think, more than anything, the fact that he caught everyone.

There was a few people definitely caught by surprise.

He was ticing a lot, us being there didn't help,

it definitely set him off, and his nerves were present,

but, the room went silent.

That is always magical in a gig situation anyway.

But seeing someone like Steve able to grab an audience

in the way that he did was amazing.

And then, when you throw in an amazing voice,

it made for a really special moment, and it definitely got me.

Cheers. Thank you very much. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

With Steve being able to play the piano and guitar,

Greg's drumming, and Ruth's voice,

I have got the beginnings of a great lineup.

But I am still on the hunt for more performers

and I have heard about a couple of really talented teenagers.

Schoolboy Jake is 15.

He was diagnosed with tourette's syndrome two years ago.

Emily is also 15 and has been living with Tourette's since she was two.

Her tics are mainly physical,

from facial twitches to uncontrollable collapsing.

15 is a bit of an interesting age. I know what I was like at 15.

Everything's sort of changing and to have Tourette's at that age

should throw up some really interesting situations and issues.

-Hello.

-Hiya.

-How are you doing? Are you Jake's parents?

-I am, yes.

-I am Danny.

-Hello, Reggie, lovely to meet you, Danny.

-Judy.

-Nice to meet you. Come on in.

-Yes, sure.

# I'm gonna to pick up the pieces And build a Lego house

# If things go wrong we can knock it down... #

I find it really hard to tell myself,

"It's your Tourette's, you can't help it."

I get thinking, "Well, I must be able to help it." But I just couldn't.

# It's all for you... #

-I do care what people think.

-Why do you think you care so much?

Cos I don't want to be known as the kid who has got a problem.

I just want to be known as the kid that, you know,

has got something wrong with him, but he just gets on with it.

# If you're broken Now I'll mend you

# I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now... #

Jake has mastered the art of suppressing his tics at school.

Most of the time he can go all day.

But then he comes home from school

and obviously he has to release those tics.

What happens when he releases them?

It is like fireworks night. He goes off like a rocket.

# And out of all these things I've done... #

Clearly Jake is not as far down the line in coping with his Tourette's as the others.

But he's got a good pop voice

that we could definitely do something with

and I really want him for my show.

Nice work. Very nicely done. Very nicely done.

You have got a really sweet voice. Nice work, sir.

If you had an option to sing anything you want on our show,

what sort of thing do you think you would sing?

-Something pop?

-I would love to sing an Ed Sheeran song.

-Yes.

I would really like to sing one of them.

OK, I think we could do something pretty cool. Nice.

Hello.

'Next I am catching up with our other 15-year-old, Emily.

'She has come along with her mum, Bridget, to sing for me.'

# Over the sea and faraway

# She is waiting like an iceberg Waiting to change... #

(Oh! She's good! Really good!)

I have that, like, kind of throat vocal tic.

I kind of roll my shoulder a lot, when I can.

What do you do to your shoulder?

I roll it. It is really annoying. It hurts as well.

# And the fire fades away Most of every day... #

She has never been a particularly confident person.

She has gone over and over what she thinks is going to happen

and she is desperately worried about how people perceive her,

how they are going to behave with her.

Will they like her? That is her biggest thing. "Will they like me?"

# You're close enough to see that

# You're on the other side of the world to me. #

Good. OK, you were worried about that...

I just want to give her a hug.

That was beautiful. She is a bit nervous. But she is bloody good. 15!

She's really good. I like her.

Emily and Jake are really promising.

I think we could do a lot with their voices

but their lack of confidence is a real worry.

I thought my line-up was complete

but I have heard about a 17-year-old student called Tom

who I think would bring a very different dimension to the show.

Quite full on, but that's nice.

I wear suits that are like, what the sort of stuff Michael Buble wears.

Obviously I like the little lapel down there.

That's quite showbiz-y and sort of crooner style. But...

I always wear grey and sort of the same stuff that Michael Buble

wears when he is performing.

Cos it makes me feel more like him.

# How lucky can one guy be?

# I kissed her and she kissed me

# Like the fellow once said

# Ain't that a kick in the head?

# Like this sailor said, quote,

# Ain't that a kick in the head?

# My head keeps spinning

# I go to sleep I keep grinning

# If this is just the beginning...

'Tom has a great voice but I am not sure about his music choice.'

# There is sunshine enough to spread

# It's just like the fellow said

# Tell me quick

# Ain't that a kick in the head? #

APPLAUSE

Sorry to interrupt, sorry, guys. Tom, right? Lovely to meet you.

-That was amazing.

-Thank you very much.

-That was incredible.

-How long have you been singing for?

-For five or six years.

-Since I was about 12 I have been doing swing and jazz music.

-Why specifically that?

-That is kind of a mature sound for someone like you.

-I know.

I watched Michael Buble, and Robbie Williams when he did Swing When You're Winning at the Albert Hall.

-Yeah.

-I just fell in love with the music.

-What do you guys think of Tom?

He's good, isn't he? He knows what he is doing.

You have got some fans, mate.

How long do you give yourself before you become professional?

I would like to think...

I have been doing it for five years, I suppose, for five years,

but then, I suppose, in ten years I would like to be a global superstar.

I am really happy my line-up is finally complete.

I have now got eight weeks until the live show.

I have arranged for all six of my performers to come to London

and meet each other for the first time.

I am just excited to meet people, really.

Because I have not really met anyone with it before. It is going to be...

I think there will be a mixture of things. Anxiety.

I'm probably more anxious than worried, I guess.

When you meet new people with Tourette's,

it is always quite interesting to see how your Tourette's interacts with theirs.

Because we set each other off. If one person tics, it always sets of the other person with Tourette's.

You know, if there is six of us or so... Whoa!

It is going to be quite loud at points. It may be quite, you know...

It could be quite nerve wracking sometimes.

Uh-uh. Chicken! But... Ah!

As well as meeting each other

they will be meeting their musical director, Chris,

and their vocal coach, Jo.

I have not ever met anyone with Tourette's before.

So it is a complete unknown for me.

So all you can do is just take it as it comes and, you know,

I am sure it is a lot worse for them than it is for me.

My insecurities, I think I need to just put them...

I think I need to leave them all at home today! We will see.

I think I am prepared.

But, you know what? I just want to get on with it now.

I will let you know in a few hours time.

I am a little nervous about today.

Especially seeing how apprehensive and scared Jo and Chris are.

Obviously they do not know what to expect

because they have not met anyone or really seen anyone perform.

So their nerves are understandable.

But I am a little concerned that I am giving them

a bit of a baptism of fire.

ALL SHRIEK AND SHOUT

Wooh! Wooh!

Would it be safe to say that you are setting each other's tics off, just a little bit?

Just a little bit!

The hat! Man down! Sorry!

Steve, you are dying right now,

because you have never met a group of people with Tourette's, have you?

-Really?

-I am just trying to get my head around it at the moment.

It is a bit... I really like it.

I want to be in a family, or living in a house together or something!

-Have kids, mate!

-I'm pregnant!

Emily is suddenly confessing loads!

-All right, let's push on, let's keep going.

-Onwards!

-Thank you!

This is genuinely the hardest conversation I've ever had in my life.

-Be professional!

-But at the same time, the most amazing.

This is incredible and... I like to think this is a bit of a baptism of fire for you guys.

We will see. Oh, my God! Right.

When I spent a bit of time with all of you

I got a really good idea of what your tics are like individually.

But this is a real opportunity for me to see what you are like together.

And also how your Tourette's affects each other.

And, as well as that, I think more than anything,

it is amazing to see you all feel that you don't need to suppress,

which is really, really special for me.

And really amazing as well.

-Now we have basically, in the next eight or so weeks...

-Knob jockey!

..we have got an opportunity to do something amazing and that is to get you on stage

and to get you to perform in front of around about 500 people.

Aaaaaaaargh!

Greg is clearly a little bit scared about that.

Just meeting people for the first time, with Tourette's has been...

I don't know if this sounds bad, but I thought it was hilarious.

I couldn't stop laughing for about an hour and a half. My stomach hurts.

I have definitely picked up some kind of vocal ones.

Bi...bi...bi...Itchy witchy! Like that!

We are going to challenge you. All right?

-These two people sitting next to me...

-Challenge accepted!

They're incredible when it comes to vocals

and when it also comes to music.

Jo is an amazing vocal coach and Chris will be looking after the band.

I don't know if you guys have been told

but we have got a live band.

-Some of London's best musicians, you're going to love them.

-Aaaargh!

-Aaaargh!

-And they are going to love you.

We have got one fantastic drummer, for you, Greg. You'll love him.

You two need to have a drum battle at some point, we're going to make that work.

-Sticks!

-Then we do live in front of 500 people.

-Whoa!

-You're going to get one go at it.

-I want to jump off stage and die!

You know what? this is going to be a great gig.

But it is going to need eight weeks of concentrated work.

Having a bit of a jam. We will see what happens musically.

But you have got a great gig ahead.

You know what? After meeting you guys today,

I am so looking forward to this!

It is going to be a really cool eight weeks.

I am just really enthused by the whole thing. I think it is going to be brilliant. Definitely.

Yeah! Uh...ah...oooh!

It is nice to be able to be around people

and not have to suppress my tics.

HE TICS

Fuck you!

You have about four sessions with me.

The first will be for a couple of hours. We will do vocal exercises.

-Exercise!

-Then I think you're going to sing me

a couple of tracks that you are really comfortable with.

So we are going to do that for the first session.

After that the sessions will be as long or as short as you want them to be, basically.

It's going to be fucking nuts.

There is no way to tell what is going to happen.

Thanks for that reassurance, there!

Expect the unexpected because you're bound to get it.

-I think we are already there!

-Yeah!

Crikey! That is what I thought.

-Crikey!

-That wasn't what I was expecting!

You know what, I don't know what I was expecting,

but it wasn't that. That was manic!

-But cool.

-They are really cool, actually.

-I loved it.

Yes, so did I.

I was so scared all morning of what that was going to be like.

And I thought it was brilliant. They are fabulous.

-There is so much energy from them.

-Yeah.

-It is mad and bizarre and wonderful all at the same time.

-Yes.

-All at the same time.

-I could not describe it any other way.

To say that I am anxious would be a massive understatement.

Because I think in their personal lives they have got to a point where

they are used to dealing with Tourette's

and are able to function without it getting massively in the way.

And if it does get in the way, they have dealt with it.

We are now setting them a challenge and asking them to do something

and push themselves, and how much how they learn, how good they get,

how much they progress,

and how much they interact with the people that can help them

isn't going to be determined by them,

it is going to be determined by their Tourette's.

Next time: rehearsals began.

-They are all Michael Buble songs.

-Not all of them.

Their passion for music is put to the test.

-Are you not happy, Jo?

-No.

-You're not?

-No, I am not.

-It can get better!

Come on, Jo. Don't make them feel awful!

It is going to get there though, right?

But celebrity support arrives in the nick of time.

Good to see you, Ed.

The stage is set. But can they pull of the performance of a lifetime?

This has been a long time coming. I've not been able to do it before.

Tourette's has gotten in the way.

Now I just really want to show people what I can actually do.

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