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The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Gazza and the slow-motion collapse that started when he was 10 years old
Last Monday, notifications from multiple media outlets and text messages from friends and colleagues started pinging into my phone. Beep. Beep. Beep. I opened the alerts to see Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne, the 58-year-old football icon and national treasure, had been rushed to hospital after being found semi-unconscious at home and was in an intensive care unit. My heart sank. Oh Paul. It was a moment I'd feared would one day happen. All the memories of my time spent with Gascoigne, making documentary films with him 10 years ago, came flooding back; all the contradictions of a man so expressive in his football play, yet so unable to articulate his many inner struggles off the pitch. People always refer to 'Gazza' as a troubled genius, but his demons were personal. And, as I was to discover, it is not surprising when you understand everything he's been through without the emotional and practical skills, or support, to deal with such extreme situations. We all know about Gascoigne's iconic status as the best midfielder of his generation. We know he won 57 caps for England and helped take our national team to the semi-finals of Euro 1996. Perhaps his most defining moment, and the one that brought 'Gazza' such extraordinary fame, was receiving a yellow card in the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, which saw him leave the pitch in tears. We also know all about his multiple off-pitch dramas that have happened since. His battle with alcoholism and drug abuse, stints in rehab, being sectioned, court cases, allegations of domestic abuse, drink-driving convictions, homelessness and mental ill-health. When I was asked to direct a documentary following his treatment for addiction in an Arizona clinic, I was enticed by the possibility of discovering the real Paul Gascoigne. At our first meeting, he was performative. He cracked jokes, messed about and gave me the public face of Gazza. But I came to realise there were two people living in Paul Gascoigne 's skin – Gazza, the cheeky national treasure and Paul the gentle and kind man struggling to make sense of internal trauma and extraordinary life experiences. Gascoigne took me to Dunston, an area in the town of Gateshead where he grew up, to meet his family. I thought he was joking (he wasn't) when he said he'd bought his mum, dad, brother and sister houses in the same street – even though then he didn't own a home of his own. The family was tight, and you could feel the love they had for each other. But Gascoigne later told me that the responsibility he felt to support his family financially, from the start of his football success at the age of 16, weighed heavily. He wasn't sure if his role within the family was as a son and brother, or as the family's breadwinner. He became unsettled. He constantly raged about how he believed that people had taken advantage of him, how he thought those employed to help him had abused him financially over the years; how people wanted Gazza, but were disappointed when they got Paul. He said he didn't trust anybody. Not his friends or family and definitely not the media, who'd fed off his fame and vulnerability. He recounted the terrible impact of being hacked by newspapers. How information he'd only shared with his closest family members ended up being front page news, causing him to cut off his family. It was a long time before he discovered they were innocent and that he had been hacked, but by then the damage to his relationship with his family had been sealed. Gascoigne started being unreliable, failing to turn up for filming and being rude and aggressive. Several times, I thought the film would have to be cancelled. But then Gascoigne called, wanting to apologise for his behaviour – and to talk. What I learned gave me an insight and understanding of a terrible childhood trauma, one which precipitated this complex man full of contradictions. The 10-year-old Paul had gone to the shops with his childhood friend Steven. He recalled them being chased out of the shop for pinching sweets and Steven running out between parked cars into the road. He was knocked down by an ice-cream truck and died in Gascoigne's arms. His grief and guilt were still palpable, and he said he still replays his friend's death in his head every day. It was an era when there was no mental health support or infrastructure and Gascoigne was left, in his own words, to 'just get on with it'. He slumped into depression, unable to sleep and developed a slot machine gambling addiction. Soon, he started displaying tics and twitches and making peculiar noises. As his football success grew, Gascoigne said his tics and twitches disappeared when he was on the pitch, but as soon as the game ended, he felt overcome, constantly thinking about death and feeling alienated from everyone around him. He masked his discomfort by becoming the eternal joker, seeking validation by making people laugh with his uproarious and, according to Gary Lineker, outlandish antics. The stories are legendary and friends and former team-mates I spoke to said he was always keen to please and easily egged on to behave inappropriately. We headed back to film in Bournemouth, where Gascoigne was living following his US rehab, and being supported by a local rehab centre. Sober, he gave talks to patients about how addiction to alcohol and cocaine abuse had ruined his life. At the height of his career, he'd been drinking whisky and downing sleeping pills in the run up to matches. He said he went from being a virtual non-drinker, who only liked the occasional pina colada cocktail, to a fully-fledged alcoholic, numbing his anxieties and inability to cope with fame and success. Once back at Gascoigne's flat, the reality of his struggles became clear. It was lunchtime and it suddenly dawned on me I'd never seen him eat a single thing in all the months we'd been filming. He always disappeared at lunchtime and suppertime and would return saying he'd eaten. I asked him why he didn't eat and he opened his kitchen cupboards to reveal hundreds of bags of cheap penny sweets, the kind you buy with pocket money when you're a kid. He said eating sweets as his main source of food was the only way to keep his weight down. Gascoigne then went on to describe his lifelong struggle with his weight during his football career. He was often chastised by managers, fans and the media for being overweight and developed an eating disorder that saw him develop bulimia and purge before matches. He recalled that opposing fans would throw Mars bars onto the pitch when he was playing and chant 'you fat bast***' every time he touched the ball. He was also addicted to Botox and said he couldn't face the world if he didn't feel suitably 'botoxed'. Gascoigne's battle with OCD was evident on a daily basis. He would need to hoover, polish and dust everything, clean the bathroom and check every light switch and plug socket five times before we could leave the house. It was heartbreaking to watch. Toward the end of filming, Gascoigne said he wanted to reconnect with his ex-wife Cheryl, his son Regan and adopted daughter Bianca. It had been years since Paul had been in touch with Cheryl following their acrimonious split, after allegations of Paul's domestic violence, and the multiple court cases over their divorce. The family reunion was emotional, tinged with love, sadness and a sense of frustration and recrimination on all sides. Paul stayed at the house with the family for weeks before Cheryl asked him to leave. I had an impending sense of doom as I began editing the film. Then I got the call that Gascoigne had been found collapsed drunk in the street in London. I received another call from a hotel asking me to collect Gascoigne as he was drunk and naked in the foyer and upsetting the guests. It was yet another incident in Paul's 30-year slow-motion collapse. We kept in touch for a long time after the film came out in 2015. Sometimes Gascoigne would call when he was drunk, sometimes when he was sober. He gave me a watch with the engraving, 'Love from Gazza', and apologised for any problems he'd caused me. Gascoigne always said he didn't know how to live when his career ended, how he regretted not preparing for a life without football. He explained that when you've had fans giving you unconditional love, validation and adulation – and earning a lot of money in the process – the transition to normal life is overwhelming. His fame intensified his personal identity, not knowing who he was – whether it was 'Gazza' or Paul. And his problems with money forced him to make a living doing after-dinner talks where he recounts all the skeletons from his cupboard to a paying audience. It has been cited that problems with his business may be the reason for Gascoigne's recent health scare and admission to ICU. The personal company he set up to channel income from his appearances was struck off and dissolved at the beginning of July for failing to file accounts – and rumours of a falling out over a business deal are said to have plunged him into depression. Sadly, it all feels inevitable. The emotional and psychological toll of a life spent trying to be Paul when the world wanted Gazza, during an era that failed to recognise when someone needed help, is nothing short of a tragedy. Gascoigne never really stood a chance. Today, he is recovering at home in Poole, Dorset, inundated with well-wishes from his legion of fans. Like a million others, I always hoped that Gascoigne would find a happy ending. I hope it's not too late.
The Irish Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Paul Gascoigne seen in TNT Sports trailer for new Premier League season filmed just weeks before hospital dash
ENGLAND icon Paul Gascoigne has made a surprise cameo in TNT Sports' latest trailer - filmed just weeks before his shock hospital dash. The 7 The legendary playmaker is shown calming down the excited PSG fan Credit: YouTube/TNT Sports 7 Gazza makes a brief appearance in the latest TNT Sports trailer Credit: YouTube/TNT Sports 7 Paul Gascoigne was rushed to hospital after being found collapsed at his home 7 The much-loved star's family and friends rallied round the 58-year-old (pictured at 1990 World Cup) Credit: Getty The former Spurs, and player , 58, appears alongside footballing royalty in the 60-second clip. Titled 'This is not normal', the trailer also features Gascoigne is regarded as one of the greatest playmakers of his generation, with a stellar club and international career - and he plays an equally crucial role in the broadcaster's advert. Gazza - renowned for his crazy antics both on and off the field - is seen sitting on a sofa next to an eager Read more in Football He hilariously calms down the over-excited fan, who is shown celebrating the French club's recent Champions League triumph throughout the night. Keeping an uncharacteristically straight face, Gazza jokes: "That's not normal, mate". It comes as the footballing great was rushed to hospital last week after he was discovered collapsed by a pal at his home in Poole, Dorset on Friday evening. Most read in Football Gazza was admitted to an intensive care ward but has now been moved to an acute medical unit where his condition was described as stable. He remains in a hospital near his home, and is expected to stay there for several days for treatment. His friend Steve Foster passed on a message for the Spurs legend and said he was in the "best possible place" as he continues his recovery. Steve said Gazza would 'like to thank everyone for the support he's received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best'. England legend Paul Gascoigne rushed to intensive care unit after he was found collapsed at home by pal He added: "Paul is in hospital, which is the best possible place for him to be right now.' Last night, Steve said: 'Paul is stable now but is still very poorly." He has been posing for selfies with fans while he was recovering. His pal added: "It shows how popular and loved he still is by fans everywhere. 'I can't walk down the street with him without him being stopped - it's crazy.' The sad star's plight Gazza was said to have been 'upset' by a disagreement with a business associate and The much-loved icon's family and football pals rallied round to support him as word spread of the medical emergency - said to be the worst he has faced. His Soccer hero Paul - capped 57 times and a scorer of ten goals for Steve told how Gazza has recently taken to spontaneous acts of kindness to cheer himself up. Days before his collapse, he suddenly decided to help out homeless people he spotted while out walking in Bournemouth near his seaside home. Steve said: 'He suddenly went to a cash machine, drew out £500 and started handing out money to all the homeless people he could find. 'He said there were a lot of people worse off than him and wanted to help them out. He was given away anything between £20 and £50 at a time saying: 'Get yourself a meal.' 'That's the kind of bloke Paul is and why so many people who know him hope he can get well.' Another source close to Gazza told the Sun: 'What happened over the weekend was incredibly serious. 7 The sad star's plight horrified pal Steve, who found him semi-conscious at 1.30pm last Friday Credit: Brian Thomas 7 Gazza is considered one of the greatest footballers of his generation and was capped 57 times for England Credit: Alamy 'Thank God Steve found him when he did, because he urgently needed help and intervention at that point. 'There's concern among Paul's friends and family that he won't be well enough to live on his own for a long time - he will certainly need someone at his side for the next few weeks. 'He's going to need a lot of help and support to get over this." The source added: 'Paul still spends a lot of time out and on the road attending events and meeting fans at boozy dinners and awards nights. 'It's a rollercoaster lifestyle with lots of temptation there. But over the last few months Paul's been doing OK and 'He's got a lot of support and goodwill and unlike in the past, where people were always buying him drinks and egging him on, that simply doesn't happen now. 'The whole world knows that Paul can't be drinking. All his pals are praying he can pull through this." Gascoigne has been represented for years by booking agent Katie Davies but she has now stepped back from regular involvement in his day-to-day life. Businessman Mr Foster - who runs a football memorabilia site with links to soccer heroes - now manages Gazza's public speaking dates and drives him to venues. The personal assistant - who visited the soccer great at Poole Hospital today - told the Sun: 'He's been sleeping a lot of the time but is making progress and has managed to eat something. 'He read The Sun's report and has been given a boost by all the messages of support. 'No date has been set for his hospital discharge yet - he's just taking one day at a time and focusing on getting well.' 7 Gazza playing in a legends match in 2022 Credit: Willie Vass
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Paul Gascoigne seen in TNT Sports trailer for new Premier League season filmed just weeks before hospital dash
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENGLAND icon Paul Gascoigne has made a surprise cameo in TNT Sports' latest trailer - filmed just weeks before his shock hospital dash. The star-studded advert - filmed mid-June - is believed to be his last public appearance before he was dramatically rushed to hospital last week. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 7 The legendary playmaker is shown calming down the excited PSG fan Credit: YouTube/TNT Sports 7 Gazza makes a brief appearance in the latest TNT Sports trailer Credit: YouTube/TNT Sports 7 Paul Gascoigne was rushed to hospital after being found collapsed at his home 7 The much-loved star's family and friends rallied round the 58-year-old (pictured at 1990 World Cup) Credit: Getty The former Spurs, Lazio and Rangers player, 58, appears alongside footballing royalty in the 60-second clip. Titled 'This is not normal', the trailer also features Chelsea starboy Cole Palmer and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Gascoigne is regarded as one of the greatest playmakers of his generation, with a stellar club and international career - and he plays an equally crucial role in the broadcaster's advert. Gazza - renowned for his crazy antics both on and off the field - is seen sitting on a sofa next to an eager Paris Saint-Germain fan. Read more in Football 'BEST PLACE FOR HIM' Pal who found Paul Gascoigne collapsed in his bedroom speaks out He hilariously calms down the over-excited fan, who is shown celebrating the French club's recent Champions League triumph throughout the night. Keeping an uncharacteristically straight face, Gazza jokes: "That's not normal, mate". TNT Sports often have an ad filled with football legends ahead of the season - with former Real Madrid ace Gareth Bale appearing once again in the commercial. It comes as the footballing great was rushed to hospital last week after he was discovered collapsed by a pal at his home in Poole, Dorset on Friday evening. Gazza was admitted to an intensive care ward but has now been moved to an acute medical unit where his condition was described as stable. He remains in a hospital near his home, and is expected to stay there for several days for treatment. His friend Steve Foster passed on a message for the Spurs legend and said he was in the "best possible place" as he continues his recovery. Steve said Gazza would 'like to thank everyone for the support he's received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best'. England legend Paul Gascoigne rushed to intensive care unit after he was found collapsed at home by pal He added: "Paul is in hospital, which is the best possible place for him to be right now.' Last night, Steve said: 'Paul is stable now but is still very poorly." He has been posing for selfies with fans while he was recovering. His pal added: "It shows how popular and loved he still is by fans everywhere. 'I can't walk down the street with him without him being stopped - it's crazy.' The sad star's plight horrified pal Steve, who found him semi-conscious at 1.30pm on Friday in the bedroom of his home in Poole, Dorset. Gazza was said to have been 'upset' by a disagreement with a business associate and the shutdown of his company, which he launched to run his public appearance business. The much-loved icon's family and football pals rallied round to support him as word spread of the medical emergency - said to be the worst he has faced. His reality star daughter Bianca, his two sisters and ex footballer pals Peter Beardsley, Paul Merson and Vinnie Jones were being kept informed of his condition. Soccer hero Paul - capped 57 times and a scorer of ten goals for the Three Lions between 1988 and 1998 - is expected to remain in hospital 'for some time.' Steve told how Gazza has recently taken to spontaneous acts of kindness to cheer himself up. Days before his collapse, he suddenly decided to help out homeless people he spotted while out walking in Bournemouth near his seaside home. Steve said: 'He suddenly went to a cash machine, drew out £500 and started handing out money to all the homeless people he could find. 'He said there were a lot of people worse off than him and wanted to help them out. He was given away anything between £20 and £50 at a time saying: 'Get yourself a meal.' 'That's the kind of bloke Paul is and why so many people who know him hope he can get well.' Another source close to Gazza told the Sun: 'What happened over the weekend was incredibly serious. 7 The sad star's plight horrified pal Steve, who found him semi-conscious at 1.30pm last Friday Credit: Brian Thomas 7 Gazza is considered one of the greatest footballers of his generation and was capped 57 times for England Credit: Alamy 'Thank God Steve found him when he did, because he urgently needed help and intervention at that point. 'There's concern among Paul's friends and family that he won't be well enough to live on his own for a long time - he will certainly need someone at his side for the next few weeks. 'He's going to need a lot of help and support to get over this." The source added: 'Paul still spends a lot of time out and on the road attending events and meeting fans at boozy dinners and awards nights. 'It's a rollercoaster lifestyle with lots of temptation there. But over the last few months Paul's been doing OK and managing to keep his demons at bay. 'He's got a lot of support and goodwill and unlike in the past, where people were always buying him drinks and egging him on, that simply doesn't happen now. 'The whole world knows that Paul can't be drinking. All his pals are praying he can pull through this." Gascoigne has been represented for years by booking agent Katie Davies but she has now stepped back from regular involvement in his day-to-day life. Businessman Mr Foster - who runs a football memorabilia site with links to soccer heroes - now manages Gazza's public speaking dates and drives him to venues. The personal assistant - who visited the soccer great at Poole Hospital today - told the Sun: 'He's been sleeping a lot of the time but is making progress and has managed to eat something. 'He read The Sun's report and has been given a boost by all the messages of support. 'No date has been set for his hospital discharge yet - he's just taking one day at a time and focusing on getting well.'
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Paul Gascoigne leaves hospital and 'doing well' at home as health issue becomes clear
Paul Gascoigne has been discharged from hospital after a scary incident in his home on Friday night, but the 58-year-old ex-footballer is still recovering from the problem Paul Gascoigne has returned home from hospital but is still 'very poorly', according to a close friend. Gascoigne was admitted to hospital on Friday after collapsing at home in Poole, Dorset. The 58-year-old ex-footballer was discovered semi-conscious in his bedroom and was rushed to A&E. He was kept in hospital over the weekend and was understood to have been in a stable condition. Having initially been put in intensive care, he was recovering in an acute ward. Thankfully Gazza is now doing better, with his management telling ITV that he went to hospital "after struggling with a throat condition he has had for a while" and is "back home and doing well". 'Paul voluntarily went into A&E on Friday after struggling with a throat condition he has had for a while,' Carly Saward at the MNT talent agency told the Associated Press too. 'He is already back home and doing well.' Meanwhile, his friend and personal assistant Steve Foster – who found him on Friday – has been visiting Gazza every day and told The Sun: 'Paul is stable now but is still very poorly. 'But it shows how popular and loved he still is by fans everywhere. I can't walk down the street with him without him being stopped – it's crazy.' Gazza has battled with alcoholism and addiction throughout his life, but has been in better shape recently. "He has told friends that he is fine and was going to give an update later today," a source close to the star told The Mirror earlier on Monday. "He has been doing well recently so this was an unexpected setback. 'He had a full three months without alcohol over the summer while he was doing various speaking engagements and looked really well." Gazza won 57 caps for England and played for Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton during a distinguished career. But his struggles off the pitch have sadly taken over his life in recent years. Speaking on the High Performance podcast in March 2024, he said: 'I used to be a happy drunk, I ain't any more … I'm a sad drunk. I don't go out and drink, I drink indoors. If I want to make it a bad day, [all I need to do is] go down the pub. If I want it to be a good day, I get my flying rod out and go fishing. 'It's not the drinking, it's the afterwards. Looking at my phone after and seeing 30 messages or missed calls, I know I'm in trouble. But I've been all right. Last year wasn't brilliant, was off and on for a couple of months.' Gascoigne added: 'I try not to get down because the world 's already down enough and when I'm really down, that's when I pick up a drink to cheer myself up. I don't think I let any managers down, or the players or the fans, you know. If there was anyone I let down, it was myself. But more the drinking side of it, when I finished playing.'
Times
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Times
Paul Gascoigne back home and doing well, says agent
Paul Gascoigne has been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home after a health scare, his management company has said. A spokesperson for The MNT agency said the former England footballer, 58, has been struggling with a throat condition and had gone into hospital near his home in Dorset on Friday. But she told The Times today that Gascoigne, affectionately known as Gazza, 'is already back home and doing well'. Gascoigne had been found collapsed in the bedroom of his home in Poole, Dorset by Steve Foster, his friend and personal assistant, who drove him to hospital. Bianca Gascoigne, his daughter and a reality TV star, as well as some of Gascoigne's former footballer friends, including Chris Waddle, Paul Merson and Vinnie Jones, were said to have been informed of his condition. Gascoigne is considered one of the most gifted players ever to have represented the England men's football team. He earned 57 caps and played for clubs including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers and the Italian club Lazio. He was the star of England's journey to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The tears in Turin that followed a yellow card he knew would prevent him from playing in the final — as it was, Bobby Robson's side lost the semi-final to Germany on penalties — cemented his popularity with the British public. A few months later, he was crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. However, Gascoigne, who retired in 2004, has suffered with mental health issues throughout his adult life, and has spoken openly about his battles with alcohol and drug abuse. In May, Gascoigne told The Mirror he felt better than he had 'in years' and hoped he could look back on his life with a positive perspective. Last year he had revealed on the High Performance podcast that he was struggling with alcohol addiction and had attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
