Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne opens up about alcohol addiction: 'I've been sober for three months. I got addicted to Calpol'

PAUL GASCOIGNE JOINS LOOSE WOMEN TO TALK ABOUT HIS BATTLE WITH ALCOHOLISM AND THE RECENT DEATH OF HIS FATHER

England football legend Gazza joined Christine, Linda, Jane and Stacey to talk about being three months sober, addictions and his dad's recent death.

When asked when he had his last alcoholic drink, Paul revealed, 'Three months ago. Christmas. My dad wasn’t well, I didn’t take that well, because I’m really close to my dad. He passed away. With my dad’s sense of humour, it was funny because I said to him, "Dad, you’re not going to pass away are you?" And he said, "The way you’re going you won’t be far behind us!"'

'I was going to go home for Christmas, but I decided to check myself in [to rehab] for a few weeks just to make sure I was OK.'

Gazza has had a well documented alcohol addiction following his legendary England football career. But he is sober and determined to stay that way.

'If I feel like I drink, normally I ring a sponsor or go to a meeting - this time I decided not to and just go and make sure I was OK for him [his dad],' Gazza said. 'I went in [to rehab] on the 2nd of December for a few weeks. Then I went up to see my dad, made sure he was OK. He was struggling a little bit.'

'I thought, the way he was, and if he was going to pass away, a drink would never bring him back anyway. That’s what I was thinking all the time.'

And Paul also discussed his other addictions, saying, 'I got addicted to Calpol. What was embarrassing [was] when I went to rehab and people were in for this and that, they asked, "What you in for?" I said Calpol… everyone started laughing.'

And Gazza also touched on football saying, 'Sometimes it’s hard to watch football now as well. When you see a player score a goal and he doesn’t really celebrate. If I was a young kid growing up and I’d see that it would turn me off football. It’s a shame to see that.'

Watch the video to see the full interview with Paul.

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