Footballing legend Paul Gascoigne has revealed he failed the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! psychiatrist test not once or twice, but five times.
Later this month, the likes of Danny Jones, Maura Higgins, Coleen Rooney, Tulisa, and Oti Mabuse are rumoured to be heading into camp for the hotly anticipated new series.
Gazza, 57, has been due to head Down Under with Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly on several occasions; however, the medical assessments ahead of the series placed obstacles in his path.
He has been open about his addiction battles since retiring in 2004, having struggled with alcoholism for years.
Speaking in a new interview, the sports icon even confessed to taking cocaine right before his Jungle medical exam.
‘You had to see a psychiatrist. If you pass the psychiatrist’s test, you’re in. I failed five f***ing times!’, he told The Sun.
‘And to be honest, the first time I went to see her, I was on cocaine, so she must have f***ing knew.
‘Second time, I told her to f**k off. Third time, never wanted to f***ing see her again so didn’t really go down too well.’
However, it’s probably for the best that Gazza hasn’t headed to Aus for the reality series, as he would likely be screaming his way through every Bushtucker Trial.
‘When I say I’d like to go in there… once it starts… f**k me, I’m sh*t scared,’ he said.
‘I hate f***ing snakes ’cause I met f***ing plenty in my career!’
Gazza also said he suffers ‘badly’ from claustrophobia, so he’s sometimes ‘glad’ to have missed out.
Although, the star has certainly tested himself, as in 2021, he appeared on the Italian version, named Isola de Famosi, which is not affiliated with the UK version.
Unfortunately, Gazza’s experience didn’t last all that long, as he was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury he sustained during a task.
The Rangers icon dislocated his shoulder during an assault course but initially returned to the show after receiving treatment in hospital.
Alas, it wasn’t to be, as Gazza’s shoulder continued to give him trouble, meaning he couldn’t continue.
M&N Management announced at the time: ‘We hate to admit it but our amazing client and friend Gazza has indeed had to retire from @IsolaDeiFamosi due to issues with his shoulder.
‘We are so proud of everything he’s accomplished during his time on the island. This is not the last you’ll see of Gazza. You have our word.’
The show, which lasts two months, was filmed on the island of Cayo Caochinos, off the coast of Honduras.
Former England footballer Gazza has long spoken about his addiction which, at one point, led to him becoming addicted to Calpol and visiting pharmacies across Newcastle to buy 10 bottles at once.
He lied about having multiple children so he could get his hands on the medicine, which contains 1% alcohol and felt like ‘having nearly a pint.’
On turning to drink and drugs after his footie career came to an end, Gazza previously told Piers Morgan during an episode of Life Stories in 2011 that his worst point involved sniffing 16 lines of cocaine and drinking four bottles of whisky a day.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! returns to ITV1 and ITVX on November 17.
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