Paul Gascoigne has left fans deeply moved after an emotional television appearance in which he revealed that he still occasionally drinks alcohol, despite years of battling addiction.
The former England and Tottenham Hotspur star appeared on Good Morning Britain to promote his new autobiography, Eight, and opened up candidly about his ongoing struggles with sobriety and mental health.
Now 58, Gascoigne — affectionately known as “Gazza” — has spent more than two decades fighting alcoholism and depression since retiring from football.
During Monday’s 10-minute interview with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, the former midfielder appeared visibly emotional as he spoke about his setbacks, admitting that he has recently rejoined Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
“I can go months and months without bothering, and then have a two-day blip and then the consequences,” he said.
“And then I don’t like myself for a few days.
“I just get miserable and have to go to an AA meeting and just listen because you wonder what it is.
“It wasn’t until I first went to AA meetings that I realised I was an alcoholic.”
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Paul Gascoigne revealed trauma from his chilldhood during the interview
|ITV/GMB
Gascoigne’s honesty drew an outpouring of support — and concern — from viewers, with many expressing heartbreak on social media.
One X user wrote: “This interview with Gazza on Good Morning Britain is terrible.
“He’s been on the verge of breaking down several times. I really feel for him, but why have him on to talk about his heartbreak when he obviously can’t cope talking about it? Hope he will be ok. He’s a legend.”
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Paul Gascoigne is considered one of the best England players of all time | GETTYAnother praised the interviewers, writing: “This interview with Gazza has broken my heart. Conducted with such empathy and understanding without being patronising. What an amazing bloke.”
Gascoigne reflected on the challenges of living with addiction and described his relationship with alcohol as both destructive and deeply ingrained.
“Not really, I’ve done five years and four years [of trying to stop drinking],” he said when asked if he found it impossible to give up.
“It’s like anything else; if you sit in the barbers for long enough, you’re going to get a haircut.
“I did this book, Number Eight, to try and help others. It’s nothing about football; it’s what I put myself through.”
His book delves into not only his addiction but also the trauma and personal loss that have shaped his life. He spoke movingly about a childhood tragedy when a friend’s younger brother was killed in a car accident while under his care.
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England legend Paul Gascoigne has struggled with drink and drug addiction over the years | PA“He was only eight and I was 10,” he recalled.
“He ran in front of us and the car just hit him. I ran down and he died in my lap. I thought he was still alive because his lips moved a bit. That was his last movement.”
Gascoigne explained that the trauma haunted him for years, leading to severe anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behaviour.
“I ended up with noises and twitches,” he said. “It wasn’t until I really started getting involved with football that it started getting my mind off everything.”
Football, he said, became both his escape and his salvation.
“Playing the game took you out of this nightmare,” he said. “I couldn’t wait for Saturday because when I was on the pitch — where I think I was so good — those 90 minutes were my time.”