
Our modern game owes so much to Gazza... it's sad to see him grow more fragile by the day, writes OLIVER HOLT
In the context of the English game, no one did more to create the boom of the 1990s and lay the foundations for fabulous new stadiums and the rush of billionaires flocking to invest in, and profit from, our clubs than Paul Gascoigne.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
How the ABC bungled a $4billion payday - as Aussie show among the biggest in the world makes major move
The ABC has been left red-faced after the UK channel that airs Bluey announced it is set to make even more money off one of Australia's most successful cultural exports. This week, the BBC revealed plans to transform Bluey into a full-fledged lifestyle brand, marking another major commercial leap for the animated juggernaut. Alongside the expansion of its already booming merchandise empire, a Bluey feature film is now in the works, set to be released in 2027 and distributed globally by Disney. In just 2024 alone, Bluey was the driving force behind a bumper $4billion in commercial profits for BBC Studios through global licensing, product deals, and themed experiences. That staggering haul is more than four times the annual budget of the ABC, which is funded by the federal government and Australian taxpayers. The ABC was among the original co-commissioners of Bluey, which first aired in 2018, but failed to secure any significant merchandising deals. Despite being developed and produced in Brisbane by Ludo Studio, most of the benefits of show's commercial success has flowed offshore. Since its debut, Bluey has become a global sensation, celebrated for its heartwarming storytelling, gentle humour, and uniquely Australian character. Bluey-branded merchandise ranges from plush toys and puzzles to camping gear, clothing, and even nappies. In 2024, a large-scale Bluey-themed attraction, Bluey's World, opened in Brisbane, and was recently named one of Time Magazine's 'World's Greatest Places' for 2025. In the same year, Bluey was the number one most viewed show in the United States, recording more than 55billion minutes of viewing time on Disney+. 'From a retail sales standpoint, we are generating about £2.7bn in global retail sales across our entire portfolio and Bluey is a really, really big chunk of that,' Suzy Raia, who heads global consumer products at BBC Studios, told The Guardian. Yet despite its deep Australian roots, the ABC has reaped little financial reward from Bluey's explosive global success. As reported by The Courier-Mail in February, the ABC made no attempt to secure merchandising rights during the show's early development. Then-managing director David Anderson was present at the meeting where Bluey was first pitched to the network. 'We don't make money out of Bluey,' Anderson told the ABC in 2023. 'What Bluey does is provide joy to children and families all over the country and now all over the world. And that would be priceless.' In 2024, ABC Chair Kim Williams addressed the Australian Press Club, warning of declining public funding for the broadcaster and calling for greater government support. Just a few months later in June, the ABC slashed at least 50 jobs in a round of budget cuts, under the new leadership of Managing Director Hugh Marks. Among the casualties was the long-running current affairs program Q&A, once a flagship forum for national political and cultural debate. In an email sent to ABC staff, Marks justified the changes were part of the ABC stepping back from 'areas that no longer align with our priorities'.


BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
The Bill's PC Reg Hollis helps arrest thief in Southampton
A former star of ITV's The Bill has helped real-life officers arrest a suspected Stewart, who played PC Reg Hollis for 24 years, came to the aid of police in Ocean Way, Southampton, on fleeing suspect fell off a bicycle before being handcuffed and Stewart, who lives locally, sat on his video of the arrest released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, officers thanked the actor before asking for a group photo. The star replied: "No, sure, man. Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years, in the TV show. Yeah, I played Reg."The body-worn police video showed officers running across a car park in pursuit of the suspect who was wheeling a fell off as he started to pedal away and was wrestled to the actor, wearing shorts and sunglasses, was on the scene seconds later, helping the two posted: "Long since retired from Sun Hill station - but he's still got it!"Stewart left the long-running police drama in 2008. Police said the thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, of Anglesea Road, admitted stealing alcohol and food in five separate incidents and will be sentenced by Southampton magistrates in August. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.


BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Horner exit doesn't impact my future
Max Verstappen says Christian Horner's removal as Red Bull team principal has no impact on the decision about his own was sacked three days after the British Grand Prix, and has been replaced by Frenchman Laurent Mekies, formerly boss of second team Racing speaking publicly about the changes for the first time, said: "I don't think it will matter at all for my decision in the future."The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really."The four-time champion also appeared to hint he will stay at Red Bull beyond this season. Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, but has mechanisms in his contract that could allow him to leave in particular circumstances - the details of which are not public - and is being courted by Mercedes."The last one and a half years have not been what we want to be," admitted the 27-year-old. "Now we try to be more competitive this year a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations." F1 is introducing new chassis and engine rules for 2026, and it was the general belief in the sport that Mercedes will be best prepared for the revised power-units that could have motivated the Dutchman to addition, Red Bull have slipped from competitiveness since the middle of last season - Verstappen lifted his fourth consecutive world title in 2024, but won only twice in the final 13 year, he is third in the championship at the halfway point of the season, 69 points behind the leader, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, having won just twice in 12 grands prix. Red Bull are fourth in the constructors' championship behind McLaren, Ferrari and whether there was a possibility he would not be driving for Red Bull next year, Verstappen said: "There's also a possibility I don't wake up tomorrow. So then there is no driving at all. So, life is unpredictable."But in general, I'm very happy where I'm at - and I hope. That was still the target that was set out when we signed the new deal, you know, that I would drive until the end of my career."Commenting on Horner's departure, he added: "Management decided they wanted to steer the ship in a different direction, probably. And then everyone else, of course, has to anyway agree to that and look forward."And I am looking forward. Of course, I had already quite a few meetings with Laurent as well."You know, the last two weeks have been quite intense for him to jump in. But, yeah, I'm equally also excited for the team now moving forward because that's what we have to do. You know, looking back, it doesn't make sense. It's not going to make you faster."Asked whether he was surprised by Horner's sacking as team principal after 20 years, Verstappen said: "Surprised. I mean, at the end of the day, in this world, things like that, they can happen."And when they told me, it's not like they just said, 'this is what we just decided', and then they hung up the phone. You know, you have a conversation about it."I don't need to go into detail what they said but it was, 'OK, if you guys think that this is the way forward, I'm the driver, you can decide, and this is how we're going to do it'."In the wake of reports the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes had been unsettled by Horner's exit, Verstappen said: "It's been good. Of course, when there's a change like that, on the first day, people are a bit like, 'OK, what's happening?'"But, luckily also, I think basically the day after the announcement, I was at the factory doing my simulator stuff."You just go back to work. We have to work on performance, setting up the car here, making sure that everything is correlated in the best way possible."Verstappen was also asked about the tension that had existed between Horner and his father Jos Verstappen in the past 18 months, which was exacerbated by the accusations of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour made against Horner by a female internal Red Bull investigations dismissed the allegations and the 51-year-old has always denied them, although the ultimate resolution to them is yet to added: "People can have a difference of opinion now and then, and I actually expect that to happen because if everyone always agrees there is a problem. You need to have a difference of opinion. And, yeah, that's now something that we work with in a different direction."