THE day to day experiences of a 12-year-old Borders schoolboy with Tourette Syndrome are to be highlighted in a new television documentary, due to be screened early next year.

The film for the BBC explores the blossoming relationship between young Rory Brown from Ancrum and fellow sufferer John Davidson from Galashiels who has devoted most of his adult life to raising awareness of the incurable neurological disorder.

Both Rory and John share the most severe form of the condition – known as coprolalia – which manifests itself not only in involuntary movements or tics, but also in bursts of uncontrollable swearing.

For 45-year-old John, the caretaker at Langlee Community Centre, the new film will be the fifth in which he has starred.

It all began in 1989 when the BBC screened “John’s Not Mad” which explored the life of the teenager, then a pupil at Galashiels Academy, through the prism of his family, friends and community, focusing on how they coped with the misunderstood disorder.

In 2002, the producer/director partnership of Min Clough and Todd Austin created a follow-up BBC documentary “The Boy Can’t Help It” catching up with John as a 30-year-old.

And in 2009, the now 37-year-old featured in another Clough/Austin production for the BBC “Tourettes: I Swear I Can’t Help It” as he continued to cope with the disorder and, by then, had become what he describes as a “celebrity sufferer” and had launched the Borders Action Group of Tourette Scotland.

“I suppose I achieved a kind of cult status as a result of the three films which, certainly with the last two, helped build my confidence when I held workshops and delivered presentations on living with the condition,” said John.

“But I still felt they were being seen by many people as comedic entertainment rather than for their main purpose of increasing understanding and empathy from the viewing public of something which can be so harrowing for those affected and their friends and families.

“Ask anyone what is the funniest illness or condition and most will still answer Tourette’s.”

He believes that misconception was reinforced by the 2007 Channel 4 film Tourette de France which saw the comedian/actor Keith Allen accompany a group of Scottish people with Tourette’s, including John, to the Paris hospital where Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the physician who in 1885 published the first accounts of patients with the condition, practised.

“I really wish I hadn’t done that one,” reflected John. “It was much more about Keith Allen than about promoting understanding of Tourette’s.”

John, however, is confident the new film – with the working title “The Boy Still Can’t Help It” and in which he is reunited with Clough and Austin - will have a positive impact.

“Min and Todd are BAFTA winning documentary makers who I trust implicitly,” said John. “Yes, there will be funny moments – you need a sense of humour just to get through life if you have Tourette’s – but there will be a serious message.”

Rory Brown was aged nine and at primary school when he first displayed the symptoms of Tourette’s.

“At first the tics were quite mild but as time went on they got much worse,” explained Rory’s mum Lisa. “About a year ago when he was in primary seven, they reached what I would call crisis point, and that’s when we contacted John Davidson.

“Rory’s dad Gordon had once interviewed John for a local newspaper article so we knew of his reputation as an expert. We just wanted some help and advice on how Rory could cope.

“John told us he believed Rory’s condition was exacerbated by his impending transition from primary school to Jedburgh Grammar. He came to meet Rory and the pair immediately hit it off.

“John, whom Rory now considers a favourite uncle, has been an inspiration in the role of mentor.”

Lisa revealed that, as a result of his coprolalia, Rory has been asked to leave local shops and was recently told to get out of the local swimming pool in Jedburgh by an employee unaware of his condition.

“John immediately visited the pool to explain the situation and has been assured that all members of staff are now aware of Rory’s Tourettes,” she told us.

“As we expected, Rory really struggled when he went up to Jedburgh Grammar in the summer, but, again, John has been down to the school explaining to pupils about the need for understanding and acceptance. John commands terrific respect.

“Rory has also had fantastic support from the school, particularly from Gemma Gilroy, the principal teacher of pupil support, who has recently arranged for him to have 25 hours a week of additional needs support.”

The film, shot in Galashiels and Jedburgh, will be screened first on the online channel BBC3 at the end of February and will later be aired on BBC 1.