Gareth Gates has confessed he was more terrified of talking to telly presenters Ant and Dec than singing on stage.
The former Pop Idol winner says his stutter left him shying away from fame for the past 20 years because he was too scared to speak.
But after winning SAS: Who Dares Wins last year he has finally faced his demons and given him the strength to do his upcoming tour.
READ MORE: X Factor icon Gamu Nhengu unrecognisable 14 years after ditching fame for regular job
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Gareth, 39, said: “I have never really been confident when it came to being famous or a celebrity. Being in the public eye is all about being on TV and doing interviews but I’ve always shied away from that.
(Image: Internet Unknown)
“I am terrified of speaking situations. I would actually rather be in the safety of my own comfort zones rather than be famous.
“It is a constant battle but you just have to be mentally strong. It is hard mentally because it is relentless. But I have a newfound confidence and belief in myself due to SAS. I feel like if I can do that I can do anything.”
Gareth was just 18 when he became an instant superstar after finishing runner-up on Pop Idol back in 2002.
He became an instant fan favourite due to his stutter and boyish good-looks.
But while the other contestants were nervous about singing live each week Gareth was terrified about his post performance interview.
(Image: PA)
He said: “I wasn’t scared of singing in front of millions of viewers, I was more scared of chatting to Ant and Dec after the performance. The singing part was the easy part.”
Gareth has also said Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell was a huge support to him on the programme, despite facing criticism from former X Factor contestants who claim there was a lack of care for their welfare.
He said: “Simon helped me so much in the early days of Pop Idol. He helped me relax because I got so wound up. Simon and I text each other every now and then. He helped me so much I have a lot to thank him for.”
A newly confident Gareth is kicking off 2024 with a UK headline tour which starts later this month. And he revealed his 14-year-old daughter, Missy, could eventually follow in his foot-steps.
(Image: Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock for Channel Four)
He said: “She has a great voice and is very talented so watch this space. She will go to stage school because she loves it. I am concerned about social media and trolling but of course I will support her if that’s the career she wants.”
Tickets for Gareth’s headline shows are now on sale.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
