Pop star Gareth Gates has married his long-term girlfriend Suzanne Mole in a secret ceremony.

Bradford-born Gates, 24, who has been with dancer Suzanne for five years, proposed on New Years Eve. A spokesman for the Pop Idol star confirmed the couple tied the knot yesterday.

Gates met Suzanne, who is from Newcastle, at the Record of the Year awards in 2002, and the first rumours of marriage surfaced two years later.

His speech therapist, who helped the star beat his stammer, was said to have been chosen as his best man.

Gareth Gates and Suzanne Mole have tied the knot

When asked about marriage in April last year, Gareth said: 'The way I have been brought up, that's what it's about for me.

'It doesn't suit everybody, but for me life is about marriage, lots of children, a massive house.

'If that's what my life is like, I will be happy.'

Gareth and Suzanne's relationship was on the rocks at one stage when glamour model Jordan bragged in her autobiography that she had taken the pop star's virginity.

After initially denying their three-month affair, Gates confessed.

Gates shot to fame as a stammering teenager in the 2002 series of Pop Idol, when he finished runner-up to Will Young.

He went on to bag four number ones and sell 3.5million records worldwide.

However, in 2006 his career took a severe hit when he was dropped by his record company Sony BMG.

His attempts at a comeback haven't exactly fared well and his last album, Pictures Of The Other Side, limped in at a lowly No23 in the charts.

The newly-weds live together in a three-bedroom apartment in south-west London.