The concept of a Tourette's sufferer who wants to be a teacher sounds tailor made for the Jack Black / Farrelly Brothers school of comedy.

But *@*!, true stories like this deserve to be taken seriously.

That's the case with this drama from the Hallmark Hall of Fame, which refreshingly manages to get its message of acceptance across without being overly preachy.

It's also well judged, well paced and well cast. Front of this particular class is James Wolk as Brad, the unfortunate who goes through life emitting peculiar and completely involuntary noises.

Played as a nipper by Dominic Scott Kay (who also played Orlando Bloom's character as a nipper in Pirates Of The Caribbean 3), Brad is an ideal target for bullies but a less than perfect pupil.

But as general ignorance holds him back, a change of school - and specifically its principal, Mr Meyer (Mike Pniewski) - inspires him to make something of himself and educate others.

As in real life, you need to get past a person's little tics and yips before you can get to the bottom of their character and Wolk does an admirable job in finding the real Brad.

Nobody is a saint, a fact recognised by the entire cast. Williams and Heaton are suitably flawed as Brad's separated and occasionally exasperated folks while Sarah Drew also has to deal with his foibles as the girl who might - just might - be 'the one'.

Full marks for credibility.