Michael, from Thornliebank, Glasgow, has helped Gareth to overcome the worst of his stammer and to do interviews on radio, TV and with newspapers and even to buy a pint of milk.
For much of our 20 minute chat Gareth spoke freely and easily without tripping on words.
When it came to consonants he found hard to pronounce such as G, R, L, W or M, he made a sound like a sigh,blowing out air before he attacked the troublesome sound. Other letters were sometimes shouted out as a way of keeping up with what he was thinking.
The tricks he's learnt worked and he answered everything. There was no giving him the questions before we spoke or pauses as he worked out what he wanted to say.
He has come a long, long way from the young hopeful standing in front of the Pop Idol judges not being able to say his name.
Gareth said: 'I'm on The McGuire Programme which is a support network which is fantastic.
'We all help each other. 'The whole course is run by recovering stammers. We've all been in the same boat and place and help each other through our own experiences.
'Michael's given me extra confidence.
'He had a stammer and is working on his speech as well as helping me.
'He's tried to get me into a kilt. He hasn't managed it yet, but maybe it'll happen when I come to Glasgow.'
