No sooner than it first hit our screens, the final episode of new Channel 4 reality series Scared of the Dark is almost here. As the competition ends on Thursday, April 20 Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne opens up about his struggles with drugs and reveals that at one point he used Calpol to fuel his addictions.
Speaking about his past Gazza reveals: “Unfortunately, I’ve got this addiction [sic] personality. I stopped going to rehab for stupid reasons you know. I was like, that’s the addict side of us so I went for Calpol. Calpol has 0.00 and it’s 1% of alcohol. And I thought well if I buy ten bottles, that’s like having nearly a pint.
“I was going round chemists and saying listen, I didn’t wanna tell anyone but I’ve got nine kids, I need Calpol. They were saying nine kids, ‘what you doing with nine kids?’ I went yeah but don’t tell my family. It costs us a lot of money in maintenance. And eventually I was barred from all the chemists I think in Newcastle!”
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55-year-old Gazza’s life has been fraught with alcohol and drugs struggles. He has previously cited retiring from professional football as the reason for this.
During an interview on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in 2009 Gazza revealed the full extent of his alcohol and drug dependency. He told the broadcaster that he would drink “four bottles of whiskey” every day and also snort 16 lines of cocaine.
Gazza is one of the eight celebrities who have given up the light in Scared Of The Dark, which is hosted by former EastEnders star Danny Dyer. He has been joined in the competition by the likes of Chris Eubank, Scarlett Moffatt, Chloe Burrows and Max George to name a few - read here for the full line up.
Elsewhere in the final episode, The Wanted’s Max George reflects on his friendship with Gazza, calling him “really kind”. He says of his new friend: “Gazza, I’ve made a friend for life there. I don’t think he even knows actually how much. He’s helped me and Gazza was everything and way more you know, really kind. I’ve got a lot of things to sort out in my own life. I can’t stop thinking about Tom and feeling all that and being in darkness isn’t nice.”
Scared Of The Dark: The Final airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday, April 20. For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter here.
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