Paul Gascoigne, once celebrated as one of England’s most gifted footballers, left viewers deeply emotional after making a raw and honest confession on Good Morning Britain.
During the interview, the 58-year-old former Tottenham and England midfielder admitted that despite years of fighting addiction, he still occasionally drinks.
Fans watching the ITV broadcast were both heartbroken and inspired as Gascoigne revealed the depth of his continued battle with alcoholism.
Gazza’s Lifelong Struggle With Addiction
For over two decades, Gascoigne — affectionately known as Gazza — has been open about his ongoing fight with alcohol and mental health challenges.
These struggles have shadowed his otherwise glittering football career, which once saw him as the face of English football in the 1990s.
Appearing on the breakfast show to promote his new book Eight, Gascoigne hoped to encourage others battling addiction to seek help, but his emotional vulnerability quickly became the focal point of the conversation.
An Emotional Admission on Live Television
During a candid chat with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Gazza admitted that while he can go for months without touching alcohol, he still experiences what he called “two-day blips.”
He confessed, “I can go months and months without bothering and then have a two-day blip, and then the consequences come. I don’t like myself for a few days.”
He went on to say that these moments often drive him back to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to regain his footing.
His honesty and fragility brought him close to tears several times, leaving fans visibly concerned.
Fans Express Concern and Sympathy
Social media quickly lit up with reactions from viewers, many expressing sorrow and concern for the football legend’s wellbeing.
One viewer posted, “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. Why have him on when he’s so vulnerable?”
Another praised the interviewers, saying, “That conversation broke my heart, but Susanna and Richard handled it beautifully — full of empathy and understanding without being patronising. Gazza’s honesty was incredible.”
The Golden Boy Who Lost His Way
During the 1990s, Paul Gascoigne was hailed as the jewel of English football. His dazzling skills and emotional passion captured the hearts of fans worldwide.
He helped England reach both World Cup and European Championship semi-finals, becoming an icon of his generation.
But behind the brilliance, alcohol and drug addiction were taking hold — issues that would later overshadow his sporting legacy.
The Book That Tells His Truth
In Eight, Gascoigne strips away the glamour to tell the unfiltered story of his life, not as a footballer, but as a man battling demons.
“It’s nothing about football; it’s what I put myself through,” he said.
Reflecting on his many failed attempts to quit drinking, he offered a poignant metaphor: “It’s like anything else — if you sit in the barber’s for long enough, you’re going to get a haircut.”
Through the book, he hopes to reach others facing similar pain and help them find the strength to recover.
Scars From a Decade of Betrayal
Gascoigne’s emotional fragility during the interview deepened when he reflected on a darker chapter of his life — the phone hacking scandal.
In 2015, he was awarded £188,250 in damages after it emerged that journalists from Mirror Group had hacked his phone for 10 years.
The invasion of his privacy led to paranoia, addiction, and a breakdown in trust with even his closest family.
“Because of the hacking, I fell out with my mum and dad for three months — that destroyed us,” he admitted, tearfully recalling how the betrayal worsened his dependency on drugs and alcohol.
Painful Childhood Memories That Still Linger
Perhaps the most heartbreaking part of Gascoigne’s story came when he revisited a traumatic event from his childhood.
At just 10 years old, he witnessed the death of his best friend’s younger brother, an eight-year-old boy he was meant to be looking after.
“He ran across the road, and the car hit him,” Gascoigne said softly.
“He died in my arms. I thought he was breathing, but that was his last movement.”
The trauma haunted him for years, leading to nightmares, anxiety, and compulsive behaviours that followed him into adulthood.
Football: The Escape That Saved Him
Football became Gascoigne’s lifeline — a refuge from pain and guilt.
He found comfort and meaning on the pitch, where his love for the game helped him silence his inner turmoil.
“I went every night and took a ball with me. I even slept with it,” he recalled.
“When I was on the pitch, those 90 minutes were mine — that’s where I felt free.”
The sport that once made him a global superstar also served as the therapy that helped him survive his most difficult years.
A Man Still Searching for Peace
Today, Paul Gascoigne continues to fight for control over his life.
He admits that recovery is a lifelong process and that he sometimes falters, but his courage to speak openly about his pain has earned him renewed respect.
Despite the tears, Gascoigne’s interview reminded viewers of one thing — beneath the public struggles lies a man still trying, still healing, and still holding on to hope.