8th June 2026

ITV today announces a brand new two part series, Freddie Flintoff: Understanding Tourette’s (w/t). Inspired by the highly acclaimed BAFTA winning film,‘I Swear’, Freddie Flintoff will travel around the UK meeting people living with Tourette’s.

In the programme, Freddie sets out to understand what life is like for individuals and their

families living with Tourette’s, and challenges the misconceptions and stigma around this

often-misunderstood condition. Spending time with young people who are at different stages

of their journey – from those who are trying to get a diagnosis to those who have been living

with the condition for many years.

Produced by 72 Films, working in partnership with the charity Tourettes Action, the highly

emotive series will reflect varied experiences of Tourette’s – from more visible tics to those

that are less obvious but no less challenging, revealing aspects rarely seen on screen and

challenging the idea that it is simply a condition defined by swearing. Its effects are much

more fundamental and varied. The series looks beyond headlines and assumptions to offer a

clearer, more truthful understanding of the condition – bringing audiences closer to the reality

of living with it and the practical ways those living with it can overcome many of its

challenges.

Freddie Flintoff said: “Working with young people has always been a huge passion point

for me, and Tourette’s is a condition that primarily starts in childhood. The thought of kids

isolating themselves and facing such strong stigma both breaks my heart and resonates

deeply with me – after my accident, I wouldn’t leave my own house and that’s a feeling I

would never want anyone, let alone a kid, to go through. The events at the BAFTAs Film

Awards and the online discourse that followed only emphasised how much stigma is still out

there – whilst the film made such positive strides for this community, these secondary

responses seemed to set those advances right back. If there is any way I can help those

affected, working directly with them and experts in the field, and also help spread awareness

and push for change, then that is what I’ll do. I hope this community will bring the change

and understanding they deserve.”

Tourettes Action CEO Emma McNally said: “We’re looking forward to working with

Freddie and ITV on this important new series and helping to ensure that the voices of the

Tourette’s community are heard authentically. Too often in the past, portrayals of Tourette’s

have focused on shock factor or humour, which can reinforce misunderstanding and stigma.

By showing the different ways Tourette’s can present, this series has the potential to help all

members of the community feel seen, supported and validated, regardless of how their

Tourette’s affects them.”

The 2 x 60′ series for ITV was commissioned by Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment,

Reality & Daytime Commissioning ITV and Joe Mace, Entertainment & Reality

Commissioning Editor ITV. Executive Producers for 72 Films, a Fremantle company, will be

Creative Director, John Douglas, and Clare Cameron. The series producer for 72 Films is Alice Keane. Fremantle is handling international distribution for the series.

Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment, Reality & Daytime Commissioning ITV said:

“We are incredibly proud to be working with Freddie Flintoff and Tourettes Action to bring this

compelling programme to viewers. Following the powerful impact of ‘I Swear’ and the

national conversation that followed, we felt it was important to commission this series to

provide a deeper and truthful understanding of Tourette’s.

Executive Producer for 72 Films, Clare Cameron said “We are so pleased to be working

with Freddie on this vital, yet heart-warming, series. Freddie’s warmth, empathy, and

genuine passion for hearing young people’s personal stories will bring a real depth to

exploring this complex and often misunderstood condition.”