Paul Gascoigne has announced his life story will be told onscreen as he shared the news about his upcoming biopic is in the works.
The former footballer, 58, plans to give viewers a personal insight into his journey, which will portray his humble Gateshead upbringing to becoming one of the best attacking midfielders in the country.
The six-part drama is already in progress with producers auditioning actors to play his family, including roles for his three siblings Carl, Lindsay and Anna.
The no holds barred series will also explore the lows of Paul’s addiction and his periods at treatment centres both at home and abroad.
The sporting icon told The Mirror: ‘It is basically Gazza: The Life Story. They are doing screen tests for the parts of my sisters Anna and Lindsay, brother Carl and my mam Carol.
Paul Gascoigne has announced his life story will be told onscreen as he shared the news about his upcoming biopic is in the works (pictured in April 2023)
The former footballer, 58, plans to give viewers a personal insight into his journey, which will portray his humble Gateshead upbringing to becoming one of the best attacking midfielders in the country (pictured in 1990)
‘My mam was always sticking up for me and telling me what to do. She came to the parents’ evenings and watched me playing football as my dad was working all the time.
He added: ‘But it was my dad who bought me a ball at the age of seven, and it was at my feet from that point on.’
Last week, Paul opened up about the harrowing incident in his childhood where a young boy died in his lap during an appearance on Good Morning Britain.
The tragic circumstance came when he was aged just 10 and looking after his friend’s younger brother, aged eight, who was hit by a car.
The child had run on ahead of Paul after they had gone to the shops.
Recalling the heartbreaking event, a visibly emotional Paul detailed to the hosts: ‘His [friend younger brother wouldn’t go to the boys’ club, and I said I’d look after him. He was only eight and I was 10.
‘We left the shop and I said, “Quick, come on, run, let’s go”. He ran in front of us one yard, 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. I went, “He’s OK, he’s breathing,” but he wasn’t. That was his last movement.’
The no holds barred series will also explore the lows of Paul’s addiction and his periods at treatment centres both at home and abroad
The sporting icon told The Mirror : ‘It is basically Gazza : The Life Story. They are doing screen tests for the parts of my sisters Anna and Lindsay, brother Carl and my mam Carol
Paul is seen playing for Ranger in a match against Steaua Bucharest at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland in July 1995
The former Newcastle and Tottenham midfielder went into further detail about he couldn’t leave the child’s side, even when he was in his coffin.
‘I picked him up out of the coffin at only 10, and I remember him being freezing.
‘When the coffin left, I went and stayed with them again, in that same room for a week. I was only 10, and I was staying in the same room with a coffin; it was horrific.’
Football proved to Paul’s solace, helping to distract him from that distressing experience – which he said he misses so ‘badly’ now.
‘I ended up with noises and twitches, and I said I refused to go and see him any more,’ he continued.
‘It wasn’t until I really started getting involved with football that it started getting my mind off of everything.
‘I was upset. I went every night. I took a ball with us. I slept with the football.
‘Playing the game took you out of this nightmare. 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 on the pitch.’
Just earlier last week, the former midfielder opened up about the harrowing incident in his childhood where a young boy died in his lap during an appearance on Good Morning Britain
The ex-England midfielder was promoting his book Eight on the ITV show on Monday
During his appearance, the field star admitted that he still drinks alcohol – as he continues to battle that addiction and mental health problems since retiring more than 20 years ago.
In his new book Eight, Gazza opens up about his personal battle with alcoholism and his continuing attempts to stay sober.
On Monday morning, cutting an emotional figure, he appeared on GMB in order to promote the autobiography, looking to inspire fellow sufferers of addiction to get help.
However, during the candid 10-minute interview with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, he admitted that he still hits the drink on occasion and has had to rejoin Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
‘I can go months and months without bothering and then have a two-day blip and then the consequences,’ said Gascoigne. ‘And then I don’t like myself for a few days.
‘I just get miserable and then 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.’
