POP star Gareth Gates was the centre of attention when he compered a public speaking exercise for people with speech impediments in Bournemouth.

Gareth, 22, was the beaten finalist in 2002 television talent competition Pop Idol but won the hearts of a nation by battling to overcome his stammer.

And on Saturday the heartthrob was in the Square as part of the McGuire programme, which encourages its students to confront their difficulties in various ways.

"Having a stammer is harder than anyone can ever imagine so it is great that these students have had the confidence to stand up and speak to the public," he said.

The pop star, who had a number one in 2003 with Spirit in the Sky, qualified as a coach for the McGuire programme two years ago and now leads groups as part of an intensive course designed to control stammers and stutters.

On Saturday, 13 new graduates from the Bournemouth McGuire programme addressed large crowds of fellow students, supporters, Christmas shoppers and autograph-hunters outside Debenhams department store.

Sporting a new mature image without his trademark spiky hair, Gareth clapped and encouraged McGuire students as they confronted their public speaking fears in front of a supportive audience.

Earlier in the week, students were asked to speak to 100 strangers as part of a confidence-building exercise. One McGuire graduate, 24-year-old Ciaron McNicholas, now splits his time between coaching students and working as an operator at a taxi firm in London.

"I would never have been able to get a job answering the telephone if it wasn't for McGuire," he said. "It has really transformed my life."

Gareth's pop career has in the past been overshadowed by his speech problems but he was keen to separate his work as a tutor from his impending comeback efforts.

"I want to keep the showbiz side of things out of this," said the singer, who was being filmed by ITYV television cameras for his own documentary, due to be broadcast on ITV1 on December 16, the day of the X-Factor television final.

A new album is on the way, details of which are being kept secret.