Paul Gascoigne recently shared a surprising story about his tenacity and determination to stay in the game, quite literally. The former football legend, now 58, recounted how he self-treated a dislocated shoulder just hours before making an appearance on the Italian version of “I’m A Celebrity.”

Gascoigne, who had previously failed the psychological evaluations for the UK edition of the show five times, was apprehensive about being disqualified from the Italian series due to the injury. In an interview with The Times, he recalled the events of 2021, just as he was gearing up for his stint on “L’Isola dei Famosi,” filmed in the picturesque yet challenging environment of Honduras.

Determined not to let the injury derail his chances, Gascoigne took matters into his own hands—literally—by repositioning his shoulder himself instead of seeking medical attention. His quick thinking allowed him to continue on the show without immediate concern from the producers.

However, the resilience of his self-repair was short-lived. During a subsequent challenge that required climbing a totem pole, his shoulder popped out once more, resulting in an urgent trip to the hospital. Despite this setback, the story highlights Gascoigne’s enduring spirit and determination to persevere against the odds.

Later during a task on the show it popped back out again when he was climbing a totem pole and he was rushed to hospital.

He claims on the helicopter ride to the hospital medical staff refused to sedate him until he’d posed for selfies. 

Paul Gascoigne has revealed that he ‘popped’ his own dislocated shoulder back in hours before appearing on the Italian version of I’m A Celebrity 

The former footballer, 58, feared he would be booted off the show if he went in with the injury – after failing the psychiatric test for the UK version of the series five times

A source told The Sun at the time of the injury: ‘He’s dislocated his shoulder. It’s such a shame as he was doing so well.

‘He’s resting while the medical team check him out. The producers are very concerned. He may be pulled out. There are insurance issues as well for them to consider.’

Elsewhere in the candid interview he admitted ‘I will always be sorry for the pain I caused my ex’ wife Sheryl as he opened up about his family and bond with his dancer son Regan.

Him and Sheryl, 62, had a turbulent relationship after marrying in 1996, with reports of physical and emotional abuse caused by his alcoholism and mental health issues emerging at the time.

They had son Regan, now 29, in 1996 but divorced in 1998. They have since put the past behind them.

Speaking to The Times he said ‘I will always be sorry for the pain I caused her’ as he described one harrowing night.

He told how in 1998 he ‘hit rock bottom’ and found himself stood on the edge of a railway platform in Stevenage after a drinking binge.

He called his then wife Sheryl who ‘talked him round’ before he ended up on suicide watch in hospital.

In a new interview with The Times, he said he was suffering with the shoulder injury in 2021 just before going on L’Isola dei Famosi which was filmed in Honduras

He has never appeared on the UK version hosted by Ant and Dec

Sheryl and Paul married in July 1996 and he legally adopted her two children, Mason and Bianca, from a previous relationship.

Sheryl published a memoir in 2009 called Stronger: My Life Surviving Gazza detailing the turbulent relationship.

During his interview with The Times he also gushed over their son Regan saying: ‘He’s an unbelievable dancer and when he went on Dancing on Ice [in 2022], I knew he was going to win [he did]. He’s amazing.’

Back in 2022 Paul revealed he bonds with his son Regan over their mutual diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder following a strained relationship amid his own alcohol addiction and mental health struggles.

He admitted they ‘never talk about the past, ever’ when they ‘hang out as mates’ because they focus on their present goings-on.

He told The Sun: ‘When we get together we just feel like we’ve never been away from each other. Now we hang out as mates. It’s special, I feel lucky.’

The disorder meant he would feel the urge to go commando during his matches as well as tie his right boot’s shoe laces after kick off – much to the dismay of 90s England manager Terry Venables. 

Reminiscing on his legendary career, Paul said: ‘The game could have been going on but I’m just tying my shoelace. He’d be like, ‘What are you doing that for?’ I had to. And I didn’t wear pants on the pitch either.’

Paul previously walked out on his son when he was a baby, after a string of rows with his ex-wife Sheryl.

Regan has previously shared his regrets after saying in a 2013 documentary that he wanted his father out of his life.

During a previous interview with The Sun, the dancer said: ‘We have such a good relationship. There have been ups and downs, but that is all water under the bridge. It’s love, love, love now.’

Regan added that he enjoys spending time with his ‘funny’ father, he continued: ‘By accepting my bisexuality, my dad put me at ease.’

In 2021 Paul publicly spoke out in support of his son Regan, months after he revealed during a television interview that he is bisexual. 

Elsewhere in the candid interview he admitted ‘I will always be sorry for the pain I caused my ex’ wife Sheryl as he opened up about his family and bond with his dancer son Regan (seen in 1996 with Sheryl)

Football legend Gazza told The Mirror: ‘He texted me the night before and I saw him on the TV talking about it.

‘I told him, ‘It doesn’t matter what you do son, I will support you 100 percent, you have to do what makes you happy’.

‘I thought ‘bless him’. To go on TV and do that is hard. He is a professional dancer, he is a fit guy, and I am very proud of him.’

The sportsman went on to reveal that Regan stayed with him for several weeks during the early stages of his career in Newcastle, and he and his son now regularly keep in touch via phone calls and text message.