Alan Cumming asks for understanding after John Davidson outbursts at Baftas
alan cumming asked the audience for understanding after several audible outbursts from Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson interrupted the BAFTA Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, 22 February 2026.
Alan Cumming addresses the audience
Cumming paused the ceremony to explain the disturbances and to thank the crowd for their patience. “You may have noticed some strong language in the background. This can be part of how Tourette’s syndrome shows up for some people as the film explores that experience, ” he told the room, which included the Prince and Princess of Wales. He later added: “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. ”
Outbursts heard across the ceremony
Interruptions were audible during the live event—heard both in the Royal Festival Hall and on television when they were broadcast. Shouts included “shut the fuck up” during an introductory speech from BAFTA chair Sara Putt and “fuck you” as the directors of Boong accepted the award for best children’s and family film. During the presentation of best visual effects by Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo, someone in the audience uttered the n-word. At other points people could be heard shouting “boring” and “f***. ”
Who John Davidson is and his link to I Swear
John Davidson, introduced at the start of the night as “John Davidson MBE, ” is the inspiration for the film I Swear. The floor manager told the audience: “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 syndrome at the age of 25 and his symptoms first began when he was 12; his symptoms include tics and uncontrollable outbursts, often involving cursing.
Ceremony context and the film’s awards
I Swear follows Davidson at age 25 and features Robert Aramayo in the role of Davidson, after the campaigner’s earlier appearance in the documentary John’s Not Mad. The film was written, directed and produced by Kirk Jones and was up for five BAFTAs, including best leading actor for Aramayo and best supporting actor for Peter Mullan; it was also up for best original screenplay and casting, with casting winning a BAFTA. The film was in contention for outstanding British film. Robert Aramayo also received BAFTA’s EE Rising Star award; collecting that prize he said John Davidson is “the most remarkable man I ever met” and praised Davidson’s work educating others about Tourette’s, though the speaker’s remarks in the provided context cut off with the fragment “Esp” (unclear in the provided context).
Departure, guest status and the broadcast
The outbursts 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. A source had earlier described Davidson as an invited guest and said he would not be asked to leave under any circumstances. BAFTA did not respond to comment on whether the interruptions would be removed for the televised show, which is due to air on One in the U. K. with a two-hour delay and will be available on BritBox International in the U. S. and other international territories.
alan cumming, who took over hosting duties following a two-year stint by David Tennant and is known for his work on Traitors US, continued with the ceremony; Robert Aramayo would later go on to win the Best Actor prize for his role in I Swear. Celebrities in attendance at the Royal Festival Hall included Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B Jordan and Emma Stone.
The live event took place hours before the delayed broadcast, and the scheduled televised showing on One and the availability on BritBox International are the next confirmed public airings tied to how the ceremony will be seen by wider audiences.
