0:00:02 > 0:00:06Finding the right words to say how you feel can sometimes be hard,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11but what if you're one of Britain's 600,000 stammerers?
0:00:11 > 0:00:19THIS PROGRAMME CONTAINS SOME STRONG LANGUAGE
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Stammering is a debilitating affliction
0:00:21 > 0:00:24which impacts their lives every single day.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26He is so nervous about saying his vows
0:00:26 > 0:00:28and doing a speech at the wedding.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33I need, I need a voice. I need to be heard.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36But now, to tackle their stammers head on...
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Stammer... Stammerer. I can't even say it.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42..they've enrolled on an intense four-day speech therapy course
0:00:42 > 0:00:44run by Gareth Gates.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Hit these sounds. Imagine you're knocking these words down.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51At the end of the course, they'll have to face an audience
0:00:51 > 0:00:53and deliver a fluent speech.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Er... Er...
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Gareth's job is to make that happen.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Don't give a shit about anybody.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04It's about you now and it's about you overcoming this.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09But can he teach them to break a habit of a lifetime...
0:01:09 > 0:01:10For ... sake.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I understand how frustrating it is, I completely understand.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16..And confront their greatest fears...
0:01:16 > 0:01:18SHE SOBS
0:01:18 > 0:01:22..To transform their lives for ever?
0:01:22 > 0:01:27I...genuinely really want this.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30This programme contains some strong language.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38My name is... Sim...
0:01:38 > 0:01:40m-m-m-m...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42..mon
0:01:42 > 0:01:44R...
0:01:50 > 0:01:53HE CONTINUES TO STAMMER
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Robinson.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Simon has had a severe stammer his whole life.
0:02:01 > 0:02:07Sometimes I felt as though I've...
0:02:07 > 0:02:11been through hell and...
0:02:11 > 0:02:14hell and...
0:02:14 > 0:02:18back with this.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22That's really good, Libby, that's lovely. Try again.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Print it straight away again.
0:02:25 > 0:02:2925-year-old Sarah Webster has also stammered since early childhood.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33It has affected every aspect of her life,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37including her decision to become a nanny.
0:02:37 > 0:02:43For me, it's about the interaction with the ch-ch-ch-children,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and when I'm with them, I'm just so much more at ease.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50That's come out well.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54I feel that my stammer d-d-d-does
0:02:54 > 0:02:57not play such a large...
0:02:57 > 0:03:00does not affect me so much at all.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09But even her choice of job is not without complications.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13There are certain words that I know that I will stammer on,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16for instance the word n...
0:03:16 > 0:03:18n-n-n-n-n...
0:03:18 > 0:03:22I can't say it.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25N... Nannying.
0:03:25 > 0:03:31I try and use... Well, I try and avoid that word
0:03:31 > 0:03:35so that I don't have to embarrass myself.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39But now Sarah and Simon are embarking on
0:03:39 > 0:03:42an unusual speech therapy course called the McGuire Programme.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49I've had quite a few years of s...
0:03:49 > 0:03:55speech therapy,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59and it hasn't ever helped.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02This r...
0:04:06 > 0:04:10..really is m...
0:04:10 > 0:04:13..my last hope.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22The programme takes a radical approach to speech therapy.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24Its courses are just four days long
0:04:24 > 0:04:27and are run exclusively by people who stammer themselves.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Sarah and Simon's course leader is the actor,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35singer and voice coach, Gareth Gates.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38The course is a very intense four-day programme,
0:04:38 > 0:04:43and it's about us giving these guys everything they need
0:04:43 > 0:04:46to help gain control of their stammer.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Gareth also grew up with a stammer.
0:04:50 > 0:04:55It was the McGuire Programme which turned his life around.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59The thought of a stammerer helping to coach and teach other stammerers
0:04:59 > 0:05:01to speak is quite mind-blowing,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04and I reached a certain level on the programme
0:05:04 > 0:05:10where I thought, maybe it's time to give back, and I absolutely love it.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14Joining Sarah and Simon on the course
0:05:14 > 0:05:16are students from across the country,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19including Matthew, Rory, and Mohammed.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24My challenge is to take these people and to equip them
0:05:24 > 0:05:28with the tools and techniques that they need to transform their lives.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Thank you. Welcome, new students.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36This is the last time that you guys will be speaking like this,
0:05:36 > 0:05:41and from this moment on, you're going to be speaking with so much control.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Am I nervous about it? Of course.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48There's a lot of pressure on me, but I want it to be a success
0:05:48 > 0:05:52because I know how much of a difference in life it will make.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57It's the night before the course begins.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00In four days, the new students will be expected
0:06:00 > 0:06:03to deliver a fluent speech in front of an audience.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07But right now, that seems like a long way off.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Do you have any brothers or sisters?
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Yes. I have...
0:06:12 > 0:06:14three br-br-br...
0:06:14 > 0:06:18b-b...
0:06:18 > 0:06:22I, um...
0:06:22 > 0:06:27Two sisters and three b-b-brothers.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Um, I... I'm...
0:06:30 > 0:06:33I'm...
0:06:35 > 0:06:37I am 20 years old.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42My address is f-flat...
0:06:42 > 0:06:4455.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46I am...
0:06:48 > 0:06:51HE STAMMERS
0:07:00 > 0:07:01..L...
0:07:01 > 0:07:07Live in Skip...ton.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11Well done, mate. Well done, fella!
0:07:11 > 0:07:13APPLAUSE
0:07:13 > 0:07:18I tensed up and...my eyes shut.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22I found it hard.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Really hard.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Simon lives in North Yorkshire
0:07:30 > 0:07:34with his partner, Sarah, and their two children.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38Ride l...
0:07:38 > 0:07:43like the wind, Bullseye.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Being a parent who stammers brings its own worries.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51Simon often gets scared that it'll affect the children's speech,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53like reading bedtime stories.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58He prefers me to do things like that because it'll take him
0:07:58 > 0:08:02so much longer, and I can see him getting frustrated with himself.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07It does upset me as well, how frustrating it must be for Simon.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Shall we...
0:08:15 > 0:08:16..colour some more?
0:08:16 > 0:08:21Next year, Simon and Sarah are planning to get married.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26He's nervous about saying his vows and doing a speech at the wedding,
0:08:26 > 0:08:31but he can't give up on doing things just because of his stammer.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36To infinity and b...beyond!
0:08:36 > 0:08:41To overc-c-come
0:08:41 > 0:08:46and be able to...
0:08:46 > 0:08:53control...my...
0:08:53 > 0:08:56stammer, it would m...
0:08:56 > 0:09:01mean everything.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06It's day one of the course.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10This morning, Gareth will begin to rebuild the new students' voices.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13But first, he has to break down their old ones.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Now is a brand new start. We're going to strip back everything.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20We're going to learn to talk again,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23starting with learning a new way of breathing.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28Every time somebody speaks, it starts with a breath,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31so that's what we'll address first and teach them a new,
0:09:31 > 0:09:37more powerful way of breathing that will assist a new speaking technique.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41To help the new students get a feel for this,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43they wear belts around their chests.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49When we breathe in, the ribs move out.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52We breathe out, the ribs move in.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55So we breathe when we want to breathe.
0:09:55 > 0:10:00We speak when we want to speak. We're no longer dictated by our stammers.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02This technique is called costal breathing.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06So breathe in three, two, one, and breathe.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09If they can master it, Gareth believes the most severe stammer
0:10:09 > 0:10:12can be brought under control.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15Really fill those lungs so they can't be filled any more.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20But it involves reprogramming everything they know about speech.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23For so long, the stammer's dictated who they are
0:10:23 > 0:10:26and when they speak and how they speak.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29ALL BREATHE DEEPLY
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Now it's about those individuals taking control themselves.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34ALL BREATHE DEEPLY
0:10:34 > 0:10:38The new students will spend up to 12 hours working on this new technique.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40ALL BREATHE DEEPLY
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Good.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46It's really important that we just start to be disciplined
0:10:46 > 0:10:53and committed to ourselves, and we start to follow directions.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55So nobody talking at all.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00It's important that the new students do not talk
0:11:00 > 0:11:03because it's just second nature for them
0:11:03 > 0:11:06to talk the way they've spoken all their lives.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09So we ask them not to talk at all
0:11:09 > 0:11:13so that they don't slip back into those old habits.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Living with a stammer is real hard work.
0:11:17 > 0:11:22It's frustrating, soul-destroying -
0:11:22 > 0:11:26you can't be the person that you want to be.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29I made out I didn't know the name of my school for years...
0:11:29 > 0:11:31People would ask me, "What school do you go to?"
0:11:31 > 0:11:34"Oh, I can't remember,"
0:11:34 > 0:11:40..to save the humiliation of going L-L-L-Lower Fields, you know?
0:11:40 > 0:11:44And I'd rather look stupid and dumb and thick
0:11:44 > 0:11:48as opposed to stammer in front of people.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52And again, that's quite hard.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53I...
0:11:53 > 0:11:58really want to help people who are...um...um...
0:12:01 > 0:12:04..who are really in need.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Gareth has come a long way since the 17-year-old schoolboy
0:12:07 > 0:12:08first stepped onto our screens.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11'My name's...'
0:12:11 > 0:12:13er...
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- Aw, come on!- Just take your time.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22"Gareth Gates" is what I was trying to say.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26And watching that, I hardly recognise myself.
0:12:26 > 0:12:27When you're ready.
0:12:27 > 0:12:33# Everybody's looking for that something... #
0:12:33 > 0:12:36You are 100% coming to London.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38- Yes!- Yes!
0:12:38 > 0:12:40CHEERING
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Gareth's overnight success was a dream come true,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46but it also put his voice under the most intense pressure.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50I've always had great confidence in delivering a song,
0:12:50 > 0:12:54but it was the everyday life stuff that I struggled with.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57He enrolled on the McGuire Programme...
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I...
0:13:00 > 0:13:02..and has never looked back.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Life for me these days is much better than ten years ago,
0:13:06 > 0:13:09and I can now be the person I want to be.
0:13:11 > 0:13:16So on the board there is this basic cycle of speaking.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18This is what we follow every time we speak.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Once they've got to grips with the new way of breathing,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25we will add sounds to that, but there's a perfect timing point
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and if they miss that, the technique won't work.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35The perfect timing point where we speak is now. OK?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38In three, two, one...
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- ALL:- Ah. - Good.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43We'll say every sound of the alphabet
0:13:43 > 0:13:48so that it affirms to themselves that they can say every sound.
0:13:48 > 0:13:49- ALL:- Kuh.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Juh. Puh.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58Good. Hit these sounds. Imagine you're knocking these words down.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- ALL:- Alpha. Foxtrot.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03India. Juliet.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Mike.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Good. You can say every sound.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12So it's not a physical defect.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16It's just the building up of negative experiences,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19negative associations.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23Stammering is thought to be brought on by a number of different causes.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26For some, it's to do with the way the brain processes speech.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29For others, it could result from trauma,
0:14:29 > 0:14:32but in some cases, it may also be hereditary.
0:14:32 > 0:14:37For 16-year-old Rory Melly, stammering runs in the family.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Rory's been stammering since he was three years old.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46It was like all of a sudden in one sentence one day.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51He was trying to ask me something and he just started stammering.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55And coming from a family who stammer, it was quite a shock.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01There's one very special person that guides the orchestra. Who is he?
0:15:01 > 0:15:02Rory.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Is... Is it the...?
0:15:06 > 0:15:10- I'm sorry. The conductor. - The conductor. Excellent.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14'On various occasions at school, I have been called a few names.'
0:15:14 > 0:15:16A recurring one is...
0:15:18 > 0:15:25...Stutterhead. And another one is...Stammerboy.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29And another one is Mr Beatboxer. You know?
0:15:29 > 0:15:34As a beatboxer would go, chucca-chucca, and stuff like that.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36But like Gareth,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40there's one area of Rory's life where he is remarkably stammer-free.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Hey there, teenage Baltimore! Don't change that channel,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46because it's time for the Corny Collins Show.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48'I take my acting on stage'
0:15:48 > 0:15:53as...as...a bit of an escape, really.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55An escape from who I am.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57'When I'm performing on stage,
0:15:57 > 0:16:01'I'm not playing Rory Melly, a little stammerboy,'
0:16:01 > 0:16:05I'm playing someone else completely different
0:16:05 > 0:16:09with a different background, a different history, different feelings
0:16:09 > 0:16:11and different thoughts.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14# Oh, they drive to the coast and leave the squares behind
0:16:14 > 0:16:17# And they shiggy, shiggy, shiggy like they're losing their minds... #
0:16:17 > 0:16:19It's great because he's, like,
0:16:19 > 0:16:22totally fluent on the stage, speaking,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and the last play he was in, I thought,
0:16:25 > 0:16:29"It'd be great if he could just speak like that the whole time."
0:16:29 > 0:16:33It doesn't work like that, unfortunately.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36I really want to make a career
0:16:36 > 0:16:40ou-out of singing and acting,
0:16:40 > 0:16:46but my fear is that if... if my stammer doesn't improve,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50then...then employers won't hire me.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52# Kids in town. # ALL: Woo!
0:16:54 > 0:16:56It's the end of day one.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00When the students arrived yesterday, Gareth videoed them all.
0:17:00 > 0:17:05Last night, we asked you guys to tell us your name,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08to which all of you struggled.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11My name is S-S-S...
0:17:11 > 0:17:15Sar-Sar-S...
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Sarah Web-Webster.
0:17:18 > 0:17:24But since then, Gareth has been drilling the new technique solidly.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27So now we're going to give you new students
0:17:27 > 0:17:31an opportunity to stand up and cancel out that situation.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Whenever you're ready, there's no order again.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Sarah Webster.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Well done. Well done. Stay stood.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Well done. Incredible. Well done, Sarah.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59Rory Melly.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16Simon Robinson.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Stay stood. Stay stood.
0:18:18 > 0:18:23Well done. What a transformation. Well done, mate.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Today was long hours. It was hard work.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29And they've made a great improvement,
0:18:29 > 0:18:34but I don't want them to think that, "Ooh, I've done it now,
0:18:34 > 0:18:36"so I can sit back and relax and become complacent."
0:18:39 > 0:18:43I just need to continue... to work hard
0:18:45 > 0:18:47..and hope that...
0:18:50 > 0:18:52..I'll be able to get...
0:19:00 > 0:19:01..s-s-s-s.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06S-s-s... Oh, I can't say the word.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12I can't take this. Sorry.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21The new students have taken the first step
0:19:21 > 0:19:23towards finding their voices.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Are you finding you're gradually getting used to the technique?
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Yes, slowly.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36'It's important to highlight that this method is certainly not a cure.'
0:19:36 > 0:19:39It's something they'll continually need to work on,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43like I do, every day,
0:19:43 > 0:19:44'and that's what will determine
0:19:44 > 0:19:47'whether they have continued success or not.'
0:19:47 > 0:19:49- ALL:- Ah. - Good.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51- ALL:- Guh. - Good.
0:19:51 > 0:19:57What we want you to do is try and speak in a controlled way.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58Exaggerate it.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03It's all about using this new method, this new way of speaking.
0:20:03 > 0:20:08Let's not use any more than four words per breath. No more.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09Go now, please.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12I...
0:20:12 > 0:20:14hope to become...
0:20:14 > 0:20:19a sp-sp...
0:20:19 > 0:20:21sports therapist.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Mohammed is a trainee physiotherapist.
0:20:25 > 0:20:31Whenever I'm in the practicals, I'll get nervous
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and then I'll probably just, like, stammer.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38Talking to patients is an essential part of the job.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41If Mohammed can't do that, it might mean a change in career.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46- How's your day been?- Yeah, OK. Lots of teaching today.- That's good.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51I know what I'm doing, but it's just the struggle of trying to say it,
0:20:51 > 0:20:52and if I can't say it,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55then they think that I don't really know it.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57I do, but then my stammer gets in the way.
0:20:57 > 0:21:03We'll mainly focus on the hamstrings and the...er...the...the...
0:21:05 > 0:21:09..quadriceps and maybe do the IT band as well.
0:21:09 > 0:21:14To overcome my stammer would really help me with my...with my...
0:21:14 > 0:21:19with my...career, cos I could do the jobs that I want to do.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24'But if I didn't, it would make me get a job'
0:21:24 > 0:21:27that doesn't involve talking, and that would be it.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32The students are continuing to work hard on their technique.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34But Gareth has noticed
0:21:34 > 0:21:37some are finding it more difficult to adopt than others.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Simon Robinson.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Simon on Wednesday was the most overt.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45'But often they're the easiest to crack,'
0:21:45 > 0:21:49because there's less things happening up here
0:21:49 > 0:21:51and it's more just, "This is how I am.
0:21:51 > 0:21:57"It's very clear that I've this real problem so I'll just do anything."
0:21:57 > 0:22:01"Show me what to do." Whereas, I think, with Sarah,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05she's always managed to be fluent in situations in life.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10When you say a word, so like buh,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13and then "breakfast",
0:22:13 > 0:22:15why don't you just stop on the word
0:22:15 > 0:22:18when you know it's going to be difficult?
0:22:18 > 0:22:21'I can see her questioning - "Why are we doing this?'
0:22:21 > 0:22:24"Is this much better than how I was speaking before?"
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Well, right now, maybe not, because it's quite mechanical,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29but it's a means to an end.
0:22:29 > 0:22:36Cos then people are going to know... still know you stammer.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40She's not vocalising that yet, but I can see it.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43And covert stammerers do that.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Gareth decides to take Sarah to one side for some individual coaching.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54The way that you're using the technique is great.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56I still feel you can be...
0:22:56 > 0:23:01MORE exaggerated, LIKE I'm being now.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Gareth Gates.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05Bradford.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Sarah Webster.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Suffolk.- Good.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14What sort of muh...
0:23:14 > 0:23:16music do you like?
0:23:16 > 0:23:19All...
0:23:19 > 0:23:23- ..k...- Release the air.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25..kinds of music.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- KINDS again.- KINDS of music.- Good.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33I just can't do... Can't get...can't get...to grips...
0:23:33 > 0:23:36With the breathing?
0:23:36 > 0:23:39With... Sounds...
0:23:39 > 0:23:42so mechanical. But I'm trying to.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Good. Well, that's all we're asking just now.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50It's harder to take those steps backwards
0:23:50 > 0:23:52and speak mechanically, of course it is,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56because you've spent years of trying to make people think you're fluent
0:23:56 > 0:23:59and you don't have this problem and this affliction.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03And I understand how frustrating it is. I completely understand.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05We've all been there.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Trust me, if you persevere with this,
0:24:09 > 0:24:11you will see results.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14- Thank you.- Cool.
0:24:16 > 0:24:21As a covert stammerer, Sarah tries to conceal it from others,
0:24:21 > 0:24:26especially around her family and boyfriend - carpenter Will.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31I've l-l-l-learnt to live with a stammer now for 25 years.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34So a couple more.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36'She's become quite good at hiding it'
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and very good at thinking on her feet
0:24:39 > 0:24:42to try and find different words.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46'It's obviously not a great way of dealing with it
0:24:46 > 0:24:49'cos quite often her sentences don't make the best of sense'
0:24:49 > 0:24:53when she's desperately searching for a different word
0:24:53 > 0:24:56rather than use a word she'd struggle on.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00But hopefully with the programme, she can get past that
0:25:00 > 0:25:03and use any word she wants to use.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06'I'm quite happy when I'm speaking to my friends and family
0:25:06 > 0:25:09'and I'll be able to speak quite fluently, really.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'I'll just have the odd stammer here or there.'
0:25:12 > 0:25:17But I just want to be able to speak fluently at all g-g-g...
0:25:17 > 0:25:23given times, not just when I'm in my c-c-comfort zone.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26As a nanny, Sarah works with children every day,
0:25:26 > 0:25:30but her real dream is to become a teacher.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33When I first came out of university
0:25:33 > 0:25:36this t-t-teacher said to me,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40"You'll never be able to become a teacher because of your stammer.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42"You'll just be..."
0:25:42 > 0:25:46They said, your life will be a m-m-m-misery
0:25:46 > 0:25:50because you'll be r-r-r-r...
0:25:50 > 0:25:53SHE CONTINUES TO STAMMER
0:25:53 > 0:25:57..ridiculed by the children.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59So to be able to over...
0:25:59 > 0:26:02to be able to not have this stammer -
0:26:02 > 0:26:05that would just be amazing.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Another long day on the course has reached its final session.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16One of our biggest challenges and fears is the phone.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21And so we're going to really focus on facing that fear head on.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23When the students leave the course,
0:26:23 > 0:26:27they will be expected to make phone calls every day.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Until now, 28-year-old Londoner Matthew Oghene
0:26:31 > 0:26:34has avoided the phone at all costs.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36Would you like to make a phone call for us?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Would you ask for...
0:26:38 > 0:26:42- Somerfield's supermarket in Birmingham?- OK. OK.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44- Thank you.- It's ringing now.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49He-hello. Is it...
0:26:49 > 0:26:54p-p-possible to have the phone number
0:26:54 > 0:26:58for the S-S-Somerfield's
0:26:58 > 0:27:01in B-B-B...
0:27:01 > 0:27:04HE CONTINUES TO STAMMER
0:27:08 > 0:27:14Oh, for fuck's sake. ..in B-B-BBirmingham, please?
0:27:14 > 0:27:18That's enough, mate. Thank you. What do you do for a living?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20I work as a...
0:27:20 > 0:27:25professional artist's m-m-model.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29And what does that involve?
0:27:29 > 0:27:34That basically involves me
0:27:34 > 0:27:38posing for artists in the nude.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Are you warm enough?
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- So you must work out, then?- I do. I do. I do work out a lot, yeah.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Matthew has been modelling for eight years.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02Finding a job where his body could do the talking came as a revelation.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I thought, "Well, I don't have to speak here."
0:28:05 > 0:28:11"I'm just laying down nude on the sofa or sitting on the chair."
0:28:11 > 0:28:15And that sort of ap-appealed to me.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20Matthew's lack of confidence in his voice
0:28:20 > 0:28:23could hardly be in starker contrast to his life as a model.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26He even takes bookings for hen parties.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Having my clothes off, I have a sense of power
0:28:29 > 0:28:36that I can't get when I'm speaking.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40- You're very muscular.- Thank you. I get that a lot from people.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42His career may be flourishing,
0:28:42 > 0:28:46but his ambitions stretch further than disrobing.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49I feel that I'm...
0:28:49 > 0:28:54I'm, like, using this as a sort of...
0:28:54 > 0:28:58you could say a d-d-distraction, in a way.
0:28:58 > 0:29:04It's, like, how I look can only get me so far.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09If I had more control over my speech, I would go into acting,
0:29:09 > 0:29:12but I need...I need a voice.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16I need to be...to be...heard. Yeah.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21How are you?
0:29:21 > 0:29:22Well, thank you.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Matthew Oghene.
0:29:24 > 0:29:25Simon Robinson.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30My last holiday was in...
0:29:30 > 0:29:34The Isle of Wight.
0:29:34 > 0:29:35I'm excited.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37I love cooking.
0:29:37 > 0:29:38Once a fortnight.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40Well, thank you for calling.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42It's been nice.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- Bye for now.- Bye for now.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Bye for now.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47'Bye for now, cheers, bye.'
0:29:47 > 0:29:51That call was like a dream.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55It was like it wasn't me speaking.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59But it... Cancel that. But it...
0:30:00 > 0:30:03C-c-c-c...
0:30:07 > 0:30:09C-c-c-c...
0:30:11 > 0:30:16Cancel that. But it was me speaking.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21It's day three of the course.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Gareth wants to take the new students and their fledgling voices
0:30:25 > 0:30:27to a more challenging environment.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31Speaking in the room now is becoming a comfort zone for them.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34They're getting used to it. It's familiar. It's the same faces.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36Now what we're going to do is take them out of that
0:30:36 > 0:30:39and place them out on the street.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Today, the new students will each have to approach
0:30:42 > 0:30:44and speak to 100 members of the public.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Does anybody know the way?
0:30:47 > 0:30:49Not an easy task if you've spent your whole life
0:30:49 > 0:30:51shying away from strangers.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56Guys, this is the moment that we put all of our hard work into practice.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59This is what we've been working up towards.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03What we're essentially asking these new students to do
0:31:03 > 0:31:06is walk up to someone and say, "I have a problem.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10"I have a stammer." And it's really tough, but it's necessary
0:31:10 > 0:31:13and it's what has to be done.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17If you have problems - which I'm sure you will in the first few -
0:31:17 > 0:31:22just persevere and allow your coach to coach you through that.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26I have every faith that all of you are going to really, really shine,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29and this is your moment to shine, OK?
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Each new student has been paired
0:31:32 > 0:31:35with a more experienced member of the programme,
0:31:35 > 0:31:36but it's up to them to do the talking.
0:31:36 > 0:31:40- You don't know...- You need to be a little bit more assertive.
0:31:40 > 0:31:44..what people are going to say or how they're going to react.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46I've been dreading coming out here
0:31:46 > 0:31:51and admitting to people that I stammer.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Excuse me, please.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58I'm a recovering stammerer... stammerer...
0:31:58 > 0:32:02I'm trying hard with the technique
0:32:02 > 0:32:05and....and...
0:32:05 > 0:32:08I'm still f-finding it hard
0:32:08 > 0:32:13to a-a-accomplish it.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Stammerer. Stammer. Stammerer.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20I can't even say that word. I'm a recovering stammerer. Stammerer.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23I'm just so nervous for Sarah at the minute.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26She's having problems and struggling using the method,
0:32:26 > 0:32:28and I think she's still battling
0:32:28 > 0:32:31with whether this is a better way of speaking
0:32:31 > 0:32:33than her old way of speaking.
0:32:33 > 0:32:38I didn't think it would be this difficult. I thought I could do it.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40You've only done two. It's going to get easier.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42Can I have a few minutes?
0:32:42 > 0:32:45Sarah's not the only new student finding it difficult.
0:32:45 > 0:32:46Obviously not.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Do you have a second, please?
0:32:50 > 0:32:52I'm on a s...
0:32:52 > 0:32:56You can't even talk, man.
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Excuse me, ladies, I'm trying to find the KFC.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02How are things going, Matthew?
0:33:02 > 0:33:06It's tough, man. I just need to accept
0:33:06 > 0:33:12that some people are just not going to talk to me.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Excuse me, ladies.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18And I am finding it hard to deal with it.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Excuse me?
0:33:20 > 0:33:21No. Thank you.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Could I have a moment of your time, please?
0:33:30 > 0:33:31My name's Rory.
0:33:31 > 0:33:37The thing I am most nervous about today...
0:33:37 > 0:33:39'is people laughing at me.'
0:33:39 > 0:33:43The programme teaches people...
0:33:43 > 0:33:48how to cope with their stammers.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50Happy with that?
0:33:50 > 0:33:54A bit discouraged that they laughed.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58There's one student who's in his element.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01Excuse me? Do you have the time, please?
0:34:01 > 0:34:02'Simon's just flying.'
0:34:02 > 0:34:04He really, really is.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07And now that he's found his voice, you can't shut him up!
0:34:07 > 0:34:13Do you have the time, please? I'm on a speech therapy course.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16'All of his life he's been bottling it up,'
0:34:16 > 0:34:20and for him to actually be the strongest out here today
0:34:20 > 0:34:21is just incredible.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Thank you for your time. Thank you very much.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Absolutely brilliant.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29- How good was that? - Excellent.- Well done.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32Just down the street, Mohammed has also hit his stride
0:34:32 > 0:34:36and come up with a cunning way to reach his 100 contacts.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40I'll start with this end. Mohammed Shafi.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42Nice to meet you.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Mohammed Shafi.
0:34:44 > 0:34:46How you getting on, Mohammed?
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Mohammed Shafi.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50It's really good. 'Mohammed Shafi, nice to meet you.'
0:34:50 > 0:34:56I'm building confidence every time. 'Mohammed Shafi, nice to meet you.'
0:34:56 > 0:34:5999% of the people that I've talked to
0:34:59 > 0:35:01have been really positive with me.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03Excuse me, please.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07The new students are gradually finding their voices,
0:35:07 > 0:35:10but Sarah is still battling her nerves.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Excuse me, please.
0:35:12 > 0:35:17- Oh, my god!- Don't worry, don't worry. You said, "Excuse me..."
0:35:17 > 0:35:19They just think I'm strange.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22Deep breath. Nobody thinks you're strange.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Don't give a shit about anybody.
0:35:25 > 0:35:29It's about you now, OK? And it's about you overcoming this.
0:35:29 > 0:35:33So don't care what people think. The task is for you, OK?
0:35:33 > 0:35:34I just felt that they...
0:35:34 > 0:35:40Some people, because I'm speaking in this way, they think I'm odd.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Is that any odder than...? HE STUTTERS
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Believe in yourself. I'm so excited. I'm so excited for you.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52But it has to be like that every time.
0:35:52 > 0:35:57- OK.- OK again. Louder.- OK. - Good. OK. Have fun.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59- Right. - We're just going to go for it.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02We're going to jump over the edge of the cliff, yeah?
0:36:02 > 0:36:04Oooh, I'm nervous.
0:36:04 > 0:36:07Don't worry. I felt sick on my first one. Like, absolutely...
0:36:07 > 0:36:11- I just want to walk away. - Yeah. But that's avoiding,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14and that's what we've been doing all our lives.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17So now's the time to do it. Yeah?
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Finally we're starting to see some courage being plucked up
0:36:20 > 0:36:22and it's really, really good.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24- Do you want to try it first? - I've got to do it.- Just do it.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27Excuse me, please.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30I'm a recovering stammerer...
0:36:30 > 0:36:33working hard on my speech.
0:36:33 > 0:36:38Can I introduce myself, please?
0:36:38 > 0:36:42Of course you can.
0:36:42 > 0:36:43Sarah Webster.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47- It's nice to meet you, Sarah. - Thank you for your time.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50You're very welcome.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53- Oh, wow.- They were nice. - That was amazing.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56So proud of you. I've been watching you. Well done.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58Incredible. Well done.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02Once she's got over that first hurdle, there's no stopping her.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Excuse me, please.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09I'm a recovering stammerer working on my speech.
0:37:09 > 0:37:15C-Can you tell me where Tesco's is?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18She even plucks up the courage to announce herself to an entire shop.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21Excuse me, please!
0:37:23 > 0:37:25I'm a stammerer,
0:37:25 > 0:37:30and I've been set a challenge to sp...
0:37:30 > 0:37:35speak to 100 p-people
0:37:35 > 0:37:39to reduce my f-fear of speaking.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45Can I tell you all my...my name?
0:37:47 > 0:37:49Sarah Webster.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53Thank you for listening.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:37:55 > 0:37:59- That was...- That was good.
0:37:59 > 0:38:05Quite a relief to get... I managed to get everyone's attention.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09It was a big thing.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17It's the final day of the course,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20and there's one remaining task facing the new students.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21How are you feeling?
0:38:23 > 0:38:24Quite nervous now.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26No holding back.
0:38:26 > 0:38:27That's the one.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30The last four long days of focus and concentration
0:38:30 > 0:38:33have been building up to the students delivering a speech
0:38:33 > 0:38:35in front of an audience,
0:38:35 > 0:38:39which includes members of their families.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43You will be fine. You really will be fine.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46And for some, the pressure is just too much.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49SHE SOBS
0:38:49 > 0:38:51I can't. It's too intense.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03I just can't do it, but I'm trying.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06I can see why you're upset. Absolutely.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Do you want to use the method?
0:39:10 > 0:39:15- I do.- OK, so you're not just saying, "I've had enough of this.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19- "It's not working for me. I'm going to jack it in."- I want this, yes.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22OK, cool. What are your concerns?
0:39:22 > 0:39:25People back home thought
0:39:25 > 0:39:33I didn't even have a stammer because I did such a good job of hiding it,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36and now it's going to be so obvious.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41So you're scared you're always going to have to speak like this?
0:39:41 > 0:39:43- Yes.- Very mechanical.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47I don't speak like...that... all the time any more.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Why? Because I've been on the course ten years.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53You've been on three days, OK?
0:39:53 > 0:39:55This is the start of a long, long process.
0:39:55 > 0:40:02I...genuinely really...want this
0:40:02 > 0:40:06and I really don't want to go back to...
0:40:06 > 0:40:08Wednesday night.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11That's what I'm scared of.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13'She's obviously going through a lot,'
0:40:13 > 0:40:16and there's lots of torment in her mind still.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18She's still asking lots of questions,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21even though she's proven to herself that it works.
0:40:21 > 0:40:27Yeah, she's still having doubts, and I just feel for her.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Back in the room, the audience are waiting for the speeches to start.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33For the first time for some of you guys,
0:40:33 > 0:40:37you'll see your loved ones speak and have a voice
0:40:37 > 0:40:41and be the person that they've always wanted to be.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44So welcome Matthew.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46APPLAUSE
0:40:52 > 0:40:55In the past...
0:40:55 > 0:40:59people have looked down on me
0:40:59 > 0:41:02because of my stammer.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06Now, I have a voice
0:41:06 > 0:41:11and I'm very, very proud of that.
0:41:11 > 0:41:17Matthew Oghene, recovering stammerer.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19CHEERING
0:41:21 > 0:41:26I feel more in control of my voice now.
0:41:26 > 0:41:31And on Wednesday night...
0:41:31 > 0:41:36it seems like that was a different person.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40APPLAUSE
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Good afternoon, everybody.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Throughout my life, I couldn't even say my name.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52I was ashamed to talk to people.
0:41:52 > 0:41:56I've also been scared to do what I'm doing right now.
0:41:56 > 0:42:01These are big achievements that I never imagined doing.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05I can't shut up now.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08THEY CHUCKLE
0:42:08 > 0:42:13This is the proudest moment of my life.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Mohammed Shafi. Thank you.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19CHEERING
0:42:19 > 0:42:22'After today, I'll be going out into the real world,'
0:42:22 > 0:42:27so I hope this is a step in the right direction.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:42:31 > 0:42:34This time last week...
0:42:34 > 0:42:38my only true place of comfort...
0:42:38 > 0:42:42was on the secondary school stage.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49But beyond the stage, I was very scared.
0:42:50 > 0:42:55I would like to thank... Gareth Gates...
0:42:57 > 0:43:00..who I have looked up to ever since I was six.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Thank you very much.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06CHEERING
0:43:10 > 0:43:12Next to speak is Sarah.
0:43:38 > 0:43:43Ever since I...remember,
0:43:43 > 0:43:46I have struggled
0:43:46 > 0:43:50and been embarrassed
0:43:50 > 0:43:52about my stammer.
0:43:54 > 0:43:58And hopefully one day, with sheer determination,
0:43:58 > 0:44:06I will become a more confident and eloquent speaker
0:44:06 > 0:44:09and do what I want to do.
0:44:09 > 0:44:13Thank you for listening.
0:44:15 > 0:44:17CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:44:21 > 0:44:24'I'm a really determined person,'
0:44:24 > 0:44:27so I really want to stick... stick with it,
0:44:27 > 0:44:32but it's a technique where I have to put my all into it
0:44:32 > 0:44:35and strip it right back to the bare basics
0:44:35 > 0:44:38before I can progress any further.
0:44:38 > 0:44:41The final student is Simon.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44Four days ago, his stammer was so severe
0:44:44 > 0:44:48he blocked over every word he said.
0:44:48 > 0:44:50Can you tell me your name, please?
0:44:50 > 0:44:55Um...um...
0:44:56 > 0:45:01My...name is...
0:45:01 > 0:45:03Simon Robinson speaking.
0:45:07 > 0:45:12A few days ago...I would never have imagined myself...
0:45:12 > 0:45:16being in full control of my stammer.
0:45:18 > 0:45:23I have learnt how to...sound sexy.
0:45:25 > 0:45:27'It just feels so magical.'
0:45:28 > 0:45:33Now that I can control... everything I say.
0:45:33 > 0:45:39But most of all, I can now...say my wedding vows.
0:45:42 > 0:45:44Thank you.
0:45:44 > 0:45:45APPLAUSE
0:45:45 > 0:45:51Over the past few days, I have held back a few tears,
0:45:51 > 0:45:55but looking back...
0:45:55 > 0:45:59it's been worth every second.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02For the children to be able to sit at night
0:46:02 > 0:46:07and have their daddy read a book to them, it's just...
0:46:07 > 0:46:08amazing.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11I can't describe how...
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Those goodbye speeches were just incredible.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18This is just the start of the process for them, though,
0:46:18 > 0:46:21and I know we keep on saying it over and over again,
0:46:21 > 0:46:24but they have to put the work in now.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27I'm just so proud.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39It's been a month since the course.
0:46:39 > 0:46:44In North Yorkshire, it's nearly bedtime for Simon's children.
0:46:44 > 0:46:47"That's a proper trumpet sound, Macca Pacca.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51"Boo wee boo wee woof.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56"Oopsie daisy, are you going to dance?
0:46:56 > 0:46:59"Macca Pacca, are you going to join in?"
0:46:59 > 0:47:02The last few weeks have been great, actually,
0:47:02 > 0:47:05especially reading to...the kids.
0:47:07 > 0:47:11I mean, that's something I've never been able to do properly.
0:47:11 > 0:47:16It's given me this whole new...me, really.
0:47:17 > 0:47:21And there's one more thing that Simon needs to do
0:47:21 > 0:47:23to make family life complete.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32You look good. Do you feel like you look good?
0:47:32 > 0:47:34I scrub up well.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36THEY LAUGH
0:47:36 > 0:47:40Now that I am able to say "I do" on my actual wedding day,
0:47:40 > 0:47:42I do feel great.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44I mean, before the course,
0:47:44 > 0:47:49it's something I would have never imagined saying fluently.
0:47:49 > 0:47:50I think I do.
0:47:50 > 0:47:52No!
0:47:52 > 0:47:56I never, ever thought it would be possible
0:47:56 > 0:47:58for Simon to speak fluently.
0:47:58 > 0:48:02Even now, I still get emotional that he can speak fluently,
0:48:02 > 0:48:05but to be able to do that on our wedding day,
0:48:05 > 0:48:07it's going to be amazing. I can't wait.
0:48:07 > 0:48:11I might just go and buy a Hawaiian shirt and just wear that.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13Don't you dare!
0:48:13 > 0:48:16It means the absolute world to me. It really does.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19I think that this will make such a big difference, it really will do.
0:48:19 > 0:48:23I mean, beforehand, I was blocking on every single word I spoke,
0:48:23 > 0:48:26and now I can say what I want fluently,
0:48:26 > 0:48:30and it's going to be fantastic, it really is.
0:48:30 > 0:48:35I just cannot wait for the actual wedding day now. Really can't.
0:48:35 > 0:48:36I do.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49Is it bad or is it just light pain?
0:48:49 > 0:48:53Mohammed has also found a renewed self confidence since the course.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58Today, he's on duty with his university football team.
0:48:58 > 0:49:02This is what I want to do one day for a real football team
0:49:02 > 0:49:06such as Manchester United, which is my favourite team.
0:49:06 > 0:49:12Because that is my dream job, so I'm gaining the experience right now.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15Before I would have... been scared to do this.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22As long as I keep putting the effort and the hard work in,
0:49:22 > 0:49:25it should pay off.
0:49:25 > 0:49:30It's really down to me to achieve what I want to do in life.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33There is still... quite a long way to go.
0:49:36 > 0:49:38Oh, good goal.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43That's 2-1 now. That's a good goal.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45Two good goals.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55In Scotland, it's been back to school for Rory.
0:49:55 > 0:49:59The bothy ballads were sang by the male farmers singing about...
0:49:59 > 0:50:00Farm workers, yeah.
0:50:00 > 0:50:05After having the stammer for so long, I feel fantastic
0:50:05 > 0:50:07that I can just speak freely.
0:50:07 > 0:50:13One of my friends told me that not only do I sound more confident...
0:50:16 > 0:50:18..but I look a lot happier as well.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20Our final answer is Gaelic, though?
0:50:20 > 0:50:22- Yeah.- OK, then.
0:50:22 > 0:50:27- Scottish ballad.- Are we sure that that's in English?- Yeah.
0:50:27 > 0:50:32And it makes me feel...really empowered to just keep going on.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38A few months ago, Matthew had given up on becoming an actor.
0:50:42 > 0:50:46But now, his dream is alive.
0:50:46 > 0:50:50This morning, he's in London's West End for an acting class.
0:50:50 > 0:50:52You're going to be improvising a scene.
0:50:52 > 0:50:55Two lovers sitting having dinner
0:50:55 > 0:50:59and the last line is going to be, "I'm leaving you".
0:50:59 > 0:51:01So how was your day?
0:51:01 > 0:51:03Long day, yeah. Like always.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05Nine to five, you know. Hard work.
0:51:05 > 0:51:10- It's been tough at work for you. - Very tough. Very, very tough.
0:51:10 > 0:51:12What about you?
0:51:12 > 0:51:14'It's been a revelation.'
0:51:14 > 0:51:19I don't even realise that I'm using the technique now,
0:51:19 > 0:51:22and it feels so good, yeah.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26Gareth has come along to offer some moral support.
0:51:26 > 0:51:30I think you need to get out of the house and do more work.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33That's really kind of you to say so.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37Well, I'm being honest, actually, you know?
0:51:37 > 0:51:39I'm leaving you.
0:51:39 > 0:51:43APPLAUSE
0:51:48 > 0:51:50- Well done, mate.- Thanks, Gareth.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52It was really, really fantastic. How did you find it?
0:51:52 > 0:51:58It's been amazing. I am starting to get used to the breathing now.
0:51:58 > 0:52:04Even in this environment, it's still holding up OK. Yeah, it's good.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08Any particular roles that you'd like to play?
0:52:08 > 0:52:11Um, yeah, I can see myself as a policeman,
0:52:11 > 0:52:14I don't know, on EastEnders.
0:52:14 > 0:52:18Brilliant. Working out what roles you want to play, that's good.
0:52:18 > 0:52:22In terms of dreams and ambitions, it's important that we have these,
0:52:22 > 0:52:26and I think with a little bit more work and a bit more dedication,
0:52:26 > 0:52:29I think you'll definitely be able to achieve some of yours.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32- Maybe one day we will see you on EastEnders.- One day!
0:52:32 > 0:52:34- As a policeman!- One day, yes.
0:52:42 > 0:52:43Of all the students,
0:52:43 > 0:52:47it was Sarah who found the course the most challenging.
0:52:47 > 0:52:51We had some real ups and downs on the course.
0:52:51 > 0:52:53How have you found things since then?
0:52:53 > 0:52:59It's been a tough few weeks, but I know it's going to take time
0:52:59 > 0:53:06to progress with my speech and move on from this mechanical form.
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Absolutely. We all have good and bad days.
0:53:09 > 0:53:13It's certainly not going to vanish, this stammer, all of a sudden.
0:53:13 > 0:53:16Sarah originally joined the course to give her the confidence
0:53:16 > 0:53:17to become a teacher.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23Teaching is something I've... always wanted to do.
0:53:23 > 0:53:31I'm feeling nervous, but I'm really keen to get in to...a classroom
0:53:31 > 0:53:34and see how my technique holds up.
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Today, she's got that opportunity.
0:53:37 > 0:53:40I love broccoli, too!
0:53:40 > 0:53:42It looks like a tree.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45I'm sure the fear is still very, very high.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47We have literally thrown her right in to the deep end,
0:53:47 > 0:53:51but she obviously has that determination.
0:53:51 > 0:53:53She wouldn't be here now if she didn't have that.
0:53:53 > 0:53:59Now, I've brought with me today, the story Fidgety Fish.
0:53:59 > 0:54:04"Tiddler was always fidgeting.
0:54:04 > 0:54:08"He wriggled and squiggled.
0:54:08 > 0:54:13"He trembled and shivered
0:54:13 > 0:54:17"and he shook and he quivered.
0:54:17 > 0:54:22"And out shot Tiddler!"
0:54:25 > 0:54:28I did it. Wow.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31Yeah, that felt really good.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34I relaxed into it,
0:54:34 > 0:54:37and I surprised myself.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41Well done, that was absolutely incredible.
0:54:41 > 0:54:46Seeing you there being with the kids and being so natural with the kids,
0:54:46 > 0:54:48it was really, really amazing to see.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52I built up all this worry and fear in my head,
0:54:52 > 0:54:57and I didn't have to spend time thinking of what words to avoid.
0:54:57 > 0:55:01It just took all that weight off my shoulders.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05- I'm so glad that I went out and did that.- Sure.
0:55:05 > 0:55:10And...able to prove to myself that...I can do it.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13It's very smooth inside, isn't it?
0:55:13 > 0:55:18In case Sarah has any doubts, Gareth has brought something to show her.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20Can you tell me your name, please?
0:55:20 > 0:55:23My name is...
0:55:23 > 0:55:29S-S-S-Sarah
0:55:29 > 0:55:31W-W-Webster.
0:55:31 > 0:55:35I'm a n-n-n...
0:55:35 > 0:55:38na-na-na...
0:55:38 > 0:55:40a nanny.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43You know, all that tension, it's hard to watch, right?
0:55:43 > 0:55:47And so that's why I urge you to not ever give in on this,
0:55:47 > 0:55:50because clearly it really, really works for you.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54So please don't ever give in. Please persevere.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57Yeah, stick with it and, yeah...
0:55:57 > 0:55:59Good. It's all about you now and how much you want it,
0:55:59 > 0:56:05- because you can do it and you WILL do it.- Hm. Yeah.
0:56:09 > 0:56:14Now for Sarah and for all the guys,
0:56:14 > 0:56:18it's about how they apply themselves in the real world.
0:56:18 > 0:56:20How much they practice. How much work they put in.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23Doing it every day, like I do, even now.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27They can achieve it and they WILL achieve it if they want it,
0:56:27 > 0:56:31and if they put that hard work in.
0:56:40 > 0:56:44Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd