Ed Balls couldn’t hold back his tears as he emotionally interviewed Gareth Gates about his stammer on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday.
The presenter and former Labour cabinet minister, 56, who has previously spoken about his ‘decade-long struggle’ with a stammer, described Gareth, 39, an ‘inspiration’ after he was last week unveiled as the winner of this year’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Speaking alongside co-host Susanna Reid, Ed credited the singer and actor for ‘showing him how’ to be in the public eye with a speech impediment.
Breaking down in tears, Ed said: ‘You inspired me, you really did. I thought if Gareth Gates can do this, I can too.
‘I thought if he can be public, I can be public and it was really hard but I did it because you showed me how to do it.’
Emotional: Ed Balls couldn’t hold back his tears as he emotionally interviewed Gareth Gates about his stammer on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday following his own 10-year battle with the speech disorder
‘Inspiring’: The presenter, 56, described Gareth, 39, an ‘inspiration’
Giving Ed a hug, Gareth replied: ‘Thank you for saying that it means a lot. Bless you. Just never give up!’
He added: ‘I’ve proved to people you can have an affliction and don’t let it dictate who you are. Your able to achieve whatever you want in life. You just have to be strong.
‘My speech is massively affected if I’m tired, stressed. Under pressure. That’s the nature of the show [Celebrity SAS]- to push you to your limits. It was hard. I’m much more confident now. I got quite a lot out of the show’.
Gareth, who was runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol in 2002, went on to say that he was ‘pleased’ to have a stammer when he was finding fame.
He added: ‘It made me stand out from the crowd. I was actually pleased I had a stammer!
‘It is a battle every day. You aren’t able to be the person you want to be. You’re held back by your affliction. It’s made me a lot stronger person.’
Last month, Gareth became emotional while talking about growing up with a stammer on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
A tearful Gates, who finished second to Will Young on Pop Idol in 2002, said: ‘For me, growing up was hard – at school, having a stammer.
‘School was just… [I was] verbally abused, physically. Lads just holding me down and shouting things,’ said Gareth who occasionally took breaks to wipe tears from his eyes.
‘You showed me how to do it’: Ed credited the singer and actor for ‘showing him how’ to be in the public eye with a speech impediment
Breaking down in tears, Ed said: ‘You inspired me, you really did. I thought if Gareth Gates can do this, I can too. It was really hard but I did it because you showed me how to do it’
Giving Ed a hug, Gareth replied: ‘Thank you for saying that it means a lot. Bless you. Just never give up! I’ve proved to people you can have an affliction and don’t let it dictate who you are’
‘I think that’s why I’m here, to show myself that I am stronger, and that hopefully this time, I won’t break.’
Last week Gates was announced the winner of the 2023 military-style series, beating competitor, the disgraced former health secretary Matt Hancock.
Discussing how much winning a reality TV show means to him, he said: ‘When I was a 17-year-old boy, I entered a TV talent show. I made the final, but didn’t win.
‘But 20 years on, I wanted to prove to myself that I am strong and I can make it right down to the end and hopefully even win.’
He later described the win and glory as ‘cathartic’ over two decades after losing to Will on the show.
He said: ‘I thought at last, I’ve actually won a talent TV show and not came second this time. It was a massive weight off my shoulders. I’ve finally redeemed myself from being the biggest loser in the UK back in 2002.’
After Pop Idol, Gareth went on to score several big hits, including the million-selling cover of Unchained Melody and Stupid Mistake.
He made a return to TV in recent years, including competing on Dancing on Ice, The Big Reunion and now, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Gareth beat fellow recruits Matt Hancock , 45, and Danielle Lloyd , 39, after the other sixteen celebs failed to make the final.
Chief Instructor, Billy Billingham MBE QCB and his team of Directing Staff (DS), Foxy (Jason Fox), Rudy Reyes and Chris Oliver decided that Gareth was the only celebrity who had the mental and physical strength and resilience to pass the course.
After his name was announced a shocked Gareth become emotional and said: ‘Thank you, staff. Wow. Thank you.’
Overcome: It comes after Gareth broke down in tears as he successfully completed the Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins training course
Success: Chief Instructor, Billy Billingham decided that Gareth was the only celebrity who had the mental and physical strength and resilience to pass the course (L-R) Matt Hancock, Gareth Gates, Danielle Lloyd
