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it'll melt your heart

First Dates hopeful with Tourette’s has found love… despite sticking his middle finger up at his date dozens of times

Lovable Irish chappy Damian stole the nation's hearts... and his hunky date's

A LOVABLE Irish joker who suffers from Tourette's has managed to find love, despite swearing and sticking his middle finger up at his date dozens of times.

Damian Friel, from Derry, stole the nation’s hearts when he appeared on First Dates earlier this week – and apparently we weren’t the only ones who found him endearing.

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Damian (left) developed Tourette's three years ago... but says he has since come to terms with the conditionCredit: Channel 4

The 25-year-old was dealing with more than just first-date nerves, after admitting his condition worsened with worries.

The mental health nurse had a breakdown after splitting from an ex-boyfriend in 2013, and is was then that the ticks first started.

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 Nerves make the condition worse... and Damian ticked throughout his dateCredit: Channel 4

Speaking on Channel 4’s First Dates, Damian explained: "I couldn’t even speak because I was ticking constantly.

"I remember my dad getting really upset and I could tell that he was trying to hold back tears and so because of that I thought the best way to deal with that was to joke about it."

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He was out with hunky date Kai... who was far from put off by Damian's swearingCredit: Channel 4

He added: “It’s like having this constant companion follow you around that upsets you, that makes you laugh.

“It’s when it catches you unawares…”

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Damian, from Brighton, started ticking as soon as he appeared on the show – causing tactful barman Merlin to enquire about his condition.

Apparently, ‘I’ve got a gun’ is a common comment for Damian to make - while viewers heard him exclaim 'gay boy', 'lesbo', 'ginger', and 'kitten f***er' in the packed out restaurant.

At one point while waiting for hunky date Kai, Damian said: “I’m on loads of drugs", before adding: "I’m not actually by the way,” and laughing.

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AwwwwCredit: Channel 4

Speaking candidly for the cameras, he admitted: “It makes me really nervous that someone could just see the Tourette’s and think ‘oh dear Jesus Christ’ and walk away.”

Damian described his date Kai, a 31-year-old part-time model and businessman from Manchester as ‘out of his league’, but the pair hit it off immediately.

And luckily Damian’s fears were unfounded – and the pair have been dating ever since.

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