We have all known about Gareth Gates and his stammer since he first appeared on Popstars back in 2000 and we have admired him for trying to overcome his speech impediment through training.
However, today the handsome singer revealed that even now he still has problems with his speech and that his stammer has left him feeling “lonely and isolated”.
Viewers were touched by his admission, tweeting how proud they were of him, calling him “inspirational” and describing him as a “beautiful soul”.
But in spite of his own problems he has decided to set up a school to help children in his position so that they can live happier lives and not feel isolated from their mates.
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Speaking to Christine Lampard on Lorraine, he explained that when he is putting on another persona he appears to lose the stammer.
So when he is singing in shows like Footloose, which he is currently starring in, speech comes a lot easier to him.
“I’ve had this idea to open a stammer school for some years now to help children who share the same affliction as me and to teach them that there’s lots of people in this boat,” he told Christine.
“As a child I didn’t know anybody else who stammered so it was a very lonely place.”
He added: “What I’m trying to achieve with this school is to break this isolation.
“[I want to] teach them I’m like you guys and there’s lots of other kids like you guys. Hopefully that will install confidence in them.”
The first three day course starts in November 9 will be hosted by speech experts and Gareth himself.
Although over the years Gareth’s speech has improved greatly, he admits that the battle is an ongoing one.
“It’s a battle for me still every day,” he said. “Sometimes my speech is great and other times it’s awful.
“It’s just to teach these kids that even on those days when you’re finding it hard that’s ok. The sooner they accept that the better for them.
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“My gift in life is the fact I’m able to sing and I think without that growing up especially I would have really struggled, it was my chance to shine, and my only form of expression.”
Gareth went onto tell Christine that his school days were tough and hopes that he is able to make people be more accepting about people with stammers.
“School was really hard as I wasn’t able to talk at all. It’s hard at school as kids get bullied because of these things and I’m trying to raise awareness as well so that the country knows a little bit more about this thing called the stammer and I think it will help more children out there.”