Gazza Reveals His Gaza Strip Paranoia

Paul Gascoigne has revealed he used to get paranoid when Gaza was mentioned on the news.

The ex-footballer, known as Gazza, would think it was another negative story about him.

Gascoigne has battled mental illness, drugs and alcohol addiction - fuelling regular news headlines over the years.

He was sectioned by his family after becoming convinced his phone was being hacked, but last month won damages for phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers.

Speaking ahead of a new documentary about his life, he said: "Sometimes it's got to the stage now where I hate Saturday nights, because jack s*** knows what's coming in the papers on Sunday.

"I tell you what was the worst one, the Gaza Strip. You know the term the Gaza Strip, remember that? That was murder for me.

"I'd be sitting there having a shave and that, and the news would come on, 'And the Gazza...', and I'd be like, 'What's that?!', and I realised it was the Gaza Strip. I couldn't wait for that to end."

The former England footballer is the subject of the new film called Gascoigne, which premieres in London on Monday.

"I've given stuff in this movie that I've not told anybody, I'm welling up now (talking about it)," he said.

"I'm pleased it's out. I haven't seen it. I know what it's like 'cause I lived it. So it will be very emotional watching it."