Interviews are part and parcel of being a pop star. But for Gareth Gates, they were torture. His stammer was so bad that a pen and pad were his means of communication.

"It's hard not being able to speak. People who are fluent take speaking for granted," he says.

"I was looking through one of my cupboards the other day and there were just pads and pads of notes where I had tried to say something and couldn't, so I had to write things down and show them to people. I always got by. But it was quite soul-destroying."

A lot has changed in the past three years. After an extended break from the music scene, the former Pop Idol star is back with a new sound, a new image - and a voice at long last, thanks to intensive speech therapy.

"No one has ever been able to associate Gareth Gates the singer with Gareth Gates the personality, because there has never been a personality - there has just been this void," he says. "Now I can express myself."

The new 22-year-old Gareth is articulate, confident and brimming with enthusiasm about his relaunched career. The pop has been replaced by acoustic melodies, and success beckons once again.

Gareth shot to fame as a spiky-haired 17-year-old from Bradford in the 2002 series of Pop Idol. The former cathedral chorister melted hearts with his performances on the TV talent show.

He lost out in the final to Will Young, but stardom was assured. Debut single Unchained Melody went straight to the top of the charts. Three other No 1s followed and his debut album, What My Heart Wants To Say, was a hit.

Gareth sold 3.5 million records around the world, bagged a string of awards, and hordes of screaming girl fans followed him wherever he went. His squeaky-clean image was dealt a serious blow when glamour girl Jordan revealed she'd had a three-month affair with Gareth when she was pregnant. He denied it repeatedly, but was forced to come clean when she did a kiss-and-tell.

"I have no idea why she felt compelled to sell her story," he says. "I haven't (spoken to her about it), but when I get the opportunity to see her face-to-face, I will. She was a very nice girl and we had some nice times. I don't regret my relationship with Jordan at all - my only regret is the way I handled it."

Gareth is now happily settled with girlfriend Suzanne Mole, a dancer from Newcastle who is nine years his senior.

For now, he is concentrating on his new musical direction, with the forthcoming album Pictures Of The Other Side.

The worst part of the saga was telling his devoted parents, Paul and Wendy, that he had lied to them.

"I think everyone's got things in their life that they don't want their parents to find out at that age, and that was one of them," he admits.

Record sales dipped soon after, and he was dropped by record label Sony BMG and mentor Simon Cowell.

"I was a bit gutted," he confesses. "I was disappointed they didn't stand by me. But it's funny how life goes because I'm now in a much better position. I've broken out of that mould, signed a new deal and have a creative freedom that I'd never have got if I'd stayed where I was. I'm glad it happened."

Reflecting on his early career, Gareth admits: "I was only 17 and I didn't have a clue about the music industry. I didn't know what sort of artist I wanted to become or what records I wanted to make, so I was happy to do anything.

"Looking back, I don't feel embarrassed about any of it. Pop Idol gave me a platform and that was great. I had a lot of success. I've had a great life.

"But I was never passionate about it. I didn't really believe in what I was singing. The label would say, 'There's your next single, Gareth', and I'd sing it.

"That's why I was happy to have a break and just gather my thoughts on what I wanted to do."

Fame had its upsides for the young star, especially those female fans.

"Don't get me wrong, for any young lad it was great," he says. "The sort of hysteria that surrounded Pop Idol and me as an artist was absolutely crazy.

"There have been Pop Idols and X Factors since but I don't think any has gripped the nation like mine and Will's did."

Was he ever tempted to become more than friendly with any fans?

"Who knows?" he says, then adds with a cheeky grin: "I know..."

Gareth did a lot of positive things with his time away from the music business. For the first year he focused on speech therapy course The McGuire Programme, becoming a mentor for other stammerers, of which he is very proud.

It's an ongoing process ("I'm certainly not cured," he says), and at some points during the interview, he is clearly concentrating hard on what he wants to say, but he doesn't stutter once.

Time off also gave him the chance to write new material. But three years is a long time and to be cast out into the pop wilderness must have been tough.

"Sometimes I've been quite envious of some people on TV thinking, 'I want that'," he concedes. "I missed performing. It's what I do best and without that, you find yourself just moping around."

Gareth is now happily settled with girlfriend Suzanne Mole, a dancer from Newcastle who is nine years his senior. They met on a TV show and have been together for four years, sharing his luxury London pad, but he denies that a proposal is on the cards.

"If I do, she'll be the first to know - that's the official line! I'm happy and we'll see what happens."

However, he definitely sees marriage and children as his future.

"The way I've been brought up, that's what it's about for me. It doesn't suit everybody, but for me life is about marriage, lots of kids, a massive house. If that's what my life is like, I'll be happy."

For now, Gareth is concentrating on his new musical direction, with the forthcoming album, Pictures Of The Other Side. This time, there will be no spiky haircuts, no elaborate videos and no dance routines.

"I won't be dancing - I did some of that on previous tours and never again. I'm no dancer," he laughs, before adding, "I've finished with trying to do stuff I'm not good at.

"Just give me a mic and a piano these days, and I'm happy."

Real name: Gareth Paul Gates Birthdate: July 12, 1984 Significant other: Has been dating dancer Suzanne Mole for four years Career high: Going straight to No 1 with debut single Unchained Melody Career low: The Jordan affair Famous for: Stammering Words of wisdom: "I'm finally making the music I always wanted to make."

ends