Gareth Gates began his career in 2002 when he became the runner-up on the ITV show Pop Idol. His debut single "Unchained Melody" went to number one on the UK charts and he went on to have several other top singles. In addition to his music career, Gates has also starred in several West End musicals. He has done charitable work helping people who stutter since overcoming a stutter of his own. Gates has won numerous awards both in the UK and overseas for his music and contributions to charities.

1. GARETH GATES
Olivia Mason

2. WHEN AND HOW DID GARETH GATES
CAREER BEGIN?
 He was the runner up of the ITV program Pop idol and he sold
over 3.5 million records in the UK. He was signed with the label of
Sony Music Entertainment from 2002-2008 then RCA records from
2010 onwards. In 2009 he moved into musical theatre playing the
title role in the west end production of Joseph and the
Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Adelphi Theatre, then he
completed 18 months as Marius in West end production of Les
Miserable, then Loser Ville, Legally Blonde and Boogie nights the
musical

3. WHAT SONGS DID HE SING ON POP IDOL
AND HIS MOST POPULAR SONGS?
 In his audition he sang “Flying without wings” by Westlife and his
first single was his cover of “Unchained melody” which entered
the UK singles chart at number 1. The single went double-platinum
and was voted 2002’s record of the year. This was
followed by his next number-one single “Anyone of us (stupid
mistake)” His third single, a double A-side "Suspicious Minds"/"The
Long and Winding Road", a duet with Pop Idol winner Will Young,
also reached number one. His fourth, "What My Heart Wants to
Say", reached number five. Gates's debut album What My Heart
Wants to Say achieved first week sales of 100,000 copies, peaking
at number two in the UK Albums Chart, and eventually earned
double platinum status in the UK.

4. WHAT CHARITABLE WORK HAS HE
DONE?
 Since he had a speech pediment which he managed to control
he qualified as a speech coach and latterly as a course instructor
with the McGuire Programme where he helps those with
stammers similar to his own.
 Gareth had his own TV show called “Stammer House”/”Stop my
Stutter”
 He spoke to MPs as part of a briefing on a communication
disability hosted by Royal College of Speech and Language
Therapists.
 He is a patron of the HIV/AIDS charity Body and Soul and of the
Bobby Moore Fun which supports research into bowel cancer.

5. AWARDS GARETH HAS WON IN THE UK
 The Record of the Year 2002: "Unchained Melody"
 Smash Hits Awards 2002: best male, best hair, best newcomer,
most fanciable male
 Smash Hits Awards 2003: best male, best single ("Sunshine")
 Young Achievers Yorkshire 2002
 Special award for service to Yorkshire 2002
 Giving Voice Celebrity Ambassador award. October 2011

6. AWARDS HE WON OVERSEAS
 MTV Asia: Best International Male 2003/2004
 MTV China: Best International Male 2003/2004
 MTV Taiwan: Best International Male 2003/2004
 TMF Belgium: Best International Pop
 MTV Taiwan: Inspiration to Youth
 G-Music (Taiwan): Best International Artist 2003
 Hit FM: Best single of 2003 (AOU)

7. IMAGES OF GARETH GATES