Backticks breaking complex joins when using Active Record

[eluser]Nathan Pitman (Nine Four)[/eluser]
Sure though it's a little divorced from my original question now here it is for reference:

Code:

SELECT c.id,
   (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM clients_programmes cp
      WHERE (cp.client_id=c.id) AND (c.account_type='online') AND (c.active=1) AND ((cp.used > cp.the_limit AND cp.hold=0) OR (date_add(cp.date, interval 1 YEAR) < date(now()) AND cp.the_limit > 1))) as attn,
   (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM clients_programmes cp
      WHERE (cp.client_id=c.id) AND (cp.p_type <> 'none' AND cp.p_close_reason = 'none')) as approvals
FROM (`clients` c)