A man who overcame a speech impediment has spoken out in the hope a new blockbuster film will inspire others to do the same.

The King's Speech went on general release in the UK last Friday, telling how wartime monarch George VI, known as Bertie, enlisted the help of unconventional therapist Lionel Logue to overcome a debilitating stammer, allowing him to give morale-boosting speeches to the nation.

The film has opened to critical acclaim, is the most nominated film in the upcoming Golden Globes and is already been tipped for the Oscars, most notably for its star Colin Firth – who plays Bertie.

And one mid-Somerset resident, who had a sneak preview of the film at the film's premiere last month, definitely thinks he deserves the plaudits.

Matt Wilton, of Ashcott, would know better than most if Firth's portrayal was true to life.

For decades – ever since secondary school – Matt's life was affected by his own covert-stammering, developing sophisticated avoidance techniques to stop him from having to even vocalise the sounds that he knew he would stutter over.

He would work unsociable shifts in the Street branch of Tesco, to reduce the number of people he would have to talk to and even purposely order the wrong drink in his local pub because he couldn't ask for what he wanted.

His turning point came after his mum read in a magazine in 1998 about the McGuire Programme, a therapy devised by American David McGuire four years earlier to combat his own chronic stammering.

Matt's younger brother Chris – who also had a stammer – decided to attend a McGuire Programme open day in Swindon and Matt went along.

Although Matt was not enthusiastic, with support from their parents both brothers signed up for the programme.

"I felt very negative," said Matt. "Nothing had helped me before so why should this? And the first day or so of the course I felt very low as I had to deal with what I really didn't want to."

The intense McGuire programme takes a multi-disciplined approach to the issue, teaching breathing techniques and retraining how to speak – including consciously focusing on articulating different sounds in words to overcome the physical symptoms - but also psychological methods to reduce the fear of stammering and help to rebuild self-esteem and self-confidence.

It is these emotional aspects that Matt remembers so well, the fear that prevented him from fully engaging with people.

Yet three days into the McGuire Programme – after his own turning point – Matt was taking to a soapbox in the centre of busy Swindon, his first ever public speaking role.

"It's a really hard few days, very intense, long hours and hard work both physically and emotionally. I remember how emotional it was standing on the box and talking for the first time. I don't really remember what I said but I could do it. It was so overwhelming."

And he returned to Somerset well on to the way to being a changed man and within a year he had been promoted, was taking on management roles at work, leading meetings and was looking at broadening his horizons even further.

Even now he says he has good days and occasional bad ones – especially during personal lows such as when he was battling two bouts of cancer – but with support he has gone from strength to strength.

"It was in the back of my mind that I wanted to help others. I went to New Zealand for three months and it was while I was over there that I set up a support group, having trained as a McGuire coach before I went," he explained.

After he returned, Matt trained as a youth worker and a football coach, working across the Mendips.

But all the while he was helping with McGuire courses and in 2003 he took the chance to become a regional director of the McGuire Programme and later a trained personal life and confidence coach.

His most famous client is the pop star Gareth Gates, whom he has helped for years, often attending his TV shows and public appearances to give extra support, and who has since become a firm friend, even asking Matt to be one of his best men at his wedding.

Gareth takes time out of his busy show and TV schedule to coach McGuire Programme courses for Matt.

And last month the pair were asked to attend the premiere of The King's Speech on behalf of the McGuire Programme and the charity Giving Voice, an organisation which helps raise awareness of all speech problems including stammering.

"I was very lucky to be invited and not only to see the film but also to speak to some really interesting people as well, such as the MP Ed Balls and even a former patient of Logue's.

"I found it interesting talking to him about the method Logue used to help him with his stammer.

"It will be a very emotional film for a lot of people, especially those who have not, as yet, sought help for their own stammering.

"Colin Firth really portrays well the fear and that awful feeling of having to speak. I remember that so well.

"I think this is really going to bring stammering out into the limelight, I hope it gives other people the inspiration to seek help.

"I find it very rewarding being a part of the process of helping other people to change their lives."