Pop Idol Gareth Gates could soon be manning his own telephone hotline to help stammerers win a war of words.

The Bradford star, who has struggled to overcome his own stutter, is about to sit final speech exams which will qualify him to help others who are verbally challenged.

Gareth, who has almost beaten his speech defect, has been a student on the internationally acclaimed speech improvement McGuire Programme for the past two years.

Thanks to the programme and his personal speech coach Michael Hay, Gareth has learned how to get his words out by using a breathing technique.

A spokesman from 19, the company which manages the celebrity teenager, said he was "very excited" about helping others by becoming a phone counsellor but had no plans to make it his full-time job.

Gareth has already been helping new McGuire students since last summer at sessions where a main instructor leads the lecture and advanced students sit in a line facing newcomers to go over specific points one-to-one.

Iain Mutch, who is McGuire's Northern Regional Director, said Gareth had so impressed his teachers that they recommended he sit the coaching exams in April.

If he passes the exams he will then be able to run coaching sessions on McGuire courses and become a telephone support coach for beginners who have just completed their first course.

A delighted Gareth said: "I never even dreamed that I'd be in a position to teach other people to speak better.

"I'm really proud and also a little bit nervous if I'm honest. I just hope that my exams go well and that I can pull it off. I've been working really hard, so fingers crossed!"

Mr Mutch said: "Gareth could be given students for phone support who have had similar speech problems to him or who live nearby. But we'll be able to suss out any fakes.

"He'll probably get a mobile just for the helpline - it won't be the same phone he uses for his personal life."

Mr Mutch said course directors were used to being pestered by "very crafty" people faking speech impediments in the hope of getting booked on to a course with Gareth.

"We know what to look out for and they don't get past us," he added.

After the coaching exams, Gareth will go on to take his instructor's test and, if he passes his internship, he will be able to lead four-day courses and teach the programme in the UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

But Mr Mutch warned that the 19-year-old celebrity would not pass purely because of his star status.

He said: "He won't pass just because he's Gareth Gates, the pop star. I'm sure he will pass on his own achievements and become a successful phone coach.

"I can't see him becoming an instructor giving lectures and leading courses just yet because of his famous lifestyle, but maybe it's something he'll follow up when he's older if he wants a change of career.

"Gareth's always said he is so grateful to the programme and wanted to give something back by helping others.

"He's got this far because of his sheer hard work and determination to succeed."