Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gatesis an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly. Gates used the McGuire Programme to manage the problem and is now a speech coach with the programme...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPop Singer
Date of Birth12 July 1984
CityBradford, England
life people remember saw stammer stand time worked
Before all this happened, I always used to see my stammer as being a negative, all my life, but then when I went on 'Pop Idol,' and the first time I saw it on television, it was really, really bad, but also it made me stand out; it made people remember me. So for the first time in my life, it worked to my advantage.
music name speech until
My speech is really important to me, but the thing is at the moment it can't be more important than my singing. Until I'm an established name all over the world, my speech won't be more important than my music.
bit daunting songs
Sharing the stage while singing my songs was a bit of a daunting prospect.
business continue involved musical release successful
I'm very driven, and I always have been. So I'd like to release a successful album, continue in musical theatre, and be more involved in business.
bombed love
I really love it in Belfast. I always stay in the most bombed hotel, the Europa!
breathing caused erratic smooth stammer
Breathing is fundamental to speech. A stammer is caused by erratic airflow, so if you have a smooth airflow, you have smooth speech.
age chose felt whether
At the age of 13, I felt it was up to me to decide whether I wanted to go to church or be with my mates, and I chose to go to church.
life stammer
Speech and having a stammer is obviously a big part of my life.
bad centre good
I was always used to being centre stage - something that had its good and bad points.
wants
I always wanted to be with a woman who has the same mindset and wants to look after me like my mum.
finally freedom liberating speak
Finally having the freedom to speak is a really liberating feeling.
positive technique
On the McGuire course, there's a technique called 'cancellation' where negative experiences are replaced with positive ones.
actual best business found music photo rather shoots
In the music business, I found it was much more about interviews, photo shoots and appearances rather than actual performing, which I do best.
baggage emotional stammer uphill
Living with a stammer is difficult. It's a daily uphill struggle with emotional baggage weighing you down. You can't be the person you want to be.