Alan Cumming pauses BAFTAs after heckling and Tourette’s outbursts as hosts’ role draws scrutiny
alan cumming paused the BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday after a string of audible interruptions from John Davidson, the man whose life inspired the film I Swear. The interruptions — including shouted expletives and slurs — forced the host to ask the crowd for patience and help in creating a respectful space.
Host intervenes twice: statements to the room and an apology
Early in the ceremony Cumming told the audience that they "may have noticed some strong language in the background, " and explained that this can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people. He thanked the crowd for their understanding and for helping to create "a respectful space for everyone, " a remark delivered to an audience that included the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Later he returned to the microphone to make a fuller statement: "Tourette’s Syndrome is a disability and the tics you’ve heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette’s Syndrome has no control over their language. We apologize if you are offended tonight. " At another point he briefly paused proceedings to apologise and thank the audience for their understanding.
John Davidson’s background and the warning from the floor manager
John Davidson MBE, the campaigner who inspired the film I Swear, was introduced in person before the ceremony by the floor manager, who said: "I'd like to welcome John Davidson MBE from one of our nominated films 'I Swear'. John has Tourette's Syndrome so please be aware you might hear some involuntary noises or movements during the ceremony. " Davidson was diagnosed with Tourette’s at the age of 25; his symptoms first began when he was 12 and include tics and uncontrollable outbursts, often involving cursing.
Audible interruptions named and when they occurred
A number of specific outbursts were heard during the event. During an introductory speech from BAFTA chair Sara Putt someone shouted "shut the fuck up. " When the directors of Boong accepted the BAFTA for best children’s and family film an interruption of "fuck you" was audible. During the presentation of the award for best visual effects — handed out by Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo for Avatar: Fire and Ash — an outburst included the n-word.
Many of the interruptions were audible on television. The disruptions were not heard in the second half of the ceremony after Davidson appeared to have left the room; he left of his own accord and was not asked to leave by BAFTA. Organisers had designated him an invited guest and had said he would not be asked to leave under any circumstances. BAFTA did not respond to comment on whether the outbursts would be cut for the broadcast, which is shown on a two-hour delay in the U. K. and on international outlets elsewhere.
I Swear’s awards haul and Robert Aramayo’s remarks
The film I Swear follows John Davidson at around the age of 25 and was dramatized with Robert Aramayo portraying Davidson; Maxine Peake also stars. The story draws on the seminal documentary John’s Not Mad. I Swear, directed, written and produced by Kirk Jones, was up for five BAFTAs, including best leading actor for Robert Aramayo and best supporting actor for Peter Mullan; it was also nominated for best original screenplay and for casting, the latter of which it won. The film was competing for outstanding British film. Aramayo was awarded BAFTA’s EE Rising Star prize on Sunday and, collecting that award, called John Davidson "the most remarkable man I ever met, " adding that Davidson is "so forthcoming with education" and believes there is much more to learn about Tourette’s.
How hosting has been judged before: past BAFTA and awards-show examples
The spotlight on Alan Cumming’s night at the BAFTAs comes against a long-running conversation about the difficulty of awards-show hosting. Choices of MCs have produced celebrated runs — Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes — and notorious flops, such as Anne Hathaway and James Franco’s 2011 Academy Awards double act, which critics labeled childish and "spectacularly unwatchable. " David Tennant occupied the BAFTAs host slot in 2024 and 2025; Gwilym Mumford gave Tennant a middling review, calling him "a game host, a willing song and dance man, but he definitely needs more help from whoever’s writing his gags. " Joanna Lumley’s 2019 turn prompted a headline asking if she was "the worst Baftas host of all time?" and described watching on TV as excruciating, with bad jokes and an audience responding in ominous silence. Organisers later brought in Graham Norton in 2020, praised as "a safe pair of hands, " and Rebel Wilson in 2022, credited with rescuing the show.
Industry advice on presenting and the practical work behind hosting
Actors and presenters who have taken on awards shows stress preparation and live-performance experience. Alice Lowe, who presented three London film critics’ awards with her acting partner Steve Oram, said she does not find the job daunting if you are used to live work and reiterated that "the trick is not being so annoying that people hate you. " Lowe says she watched the nominated films, learned how to pronounce nominees’ names and ran jokes past organisers to avoid embarrassments such as John Travolta’s infamous 2014 mispronunciation of Idina Menzel as "Adela Dazeem. " Anna Smith, presenter of the Girls on Film podcast and chair of the London film critics’ circle from 2014 to 2020 who helped hire Lowe and Oram, said hosts should set the tone, keep the event running to time, and be familiar faces prepared to do their research. They do not necessarily need to be stand-up comedians, but they do need a sense of humour, charisma and to be relaxed in front of a large audience of celebrities.
alan cumming’s night combined all of those pressures — live comedy, high-profile guests including Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan and Emma Stone at London’s Royal Festival Hall on 22 February, and unexpected interruptions that he had to manage on the fly.
