Paul Gascoigne ‘misses birth of first grandchild because he’s in Italian I’m A Celebrity-style show’

Paul Gascoigne has reportedly missed the birth of his first grandchild while starring on the Italian take on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

According to reports from The Sun on Sunday, the former professional football player, 53, was unable to attend the birth as he is currently waiting to appear on the reality show.

Paul’s adopted son Mason, 31, and his partner Jaimee Wyatt, 23, are said to have welcomed a son, weighing 8lbs 9oz, on Friday.

Family: Paul Gascoigne ‘missed the birth of his first grandchild because he is starring in Italian I’m A Celebrity-style show’, it was reported on Sunday

A source speaking to the publication claimed: ‘Paul’s been very excited about the thought of becoming a granddad and this news has come at just the right time for him.

‘He’s in a good place and is looking forward to getting on with his other campmates. Becoming a granddad will be a really proud moment for him. 

‘It’s terrific news. Everyone is really pleased. All England fans will hope the tot turns out as good a player as his granddad!’

MailOnline has contacted Paul’s representatives for further comment. 

Arrival: Paul's adopted son Mason and partner Jaimee Wyatt (pictured) are said to have welcomed a son on Friday

Arrival: Paul’s adopted son Mason and partner Jaimee Wyatt (pictured) are said to have welcomed a son on Friday

Delighted: A source said 'Paul's been very excited about the thought of becoming a grandad', and added: 'Becoming a grandad will be a really proud moment for him'

Delighted: A source said ‘Paul’s been very excited about the thought of becoming a grandad’, and added: ‘Becoming a grandad will be a really proud moment for him’

Paul has been self-isolating in a Milan hotel ahead of jetting off to Hondouras to take part in Italy‘s take on the show called Isola de Famosi – which is not affiliated with ITV’s UK version. 

Paul, who arrived in Honduras earlier this month told The Sun he reckons he can use his skills to win over his fellow celebrities.

Paul has long been a keen fisher and is hoping his days spent by the waterside will come in handy when the show kicks off on March 15. 

Asked what he can offer his 14 fellow campers, Paul said: ‘I’m good at fishing,’ before adding: ‘My best quality is that I can make people laugh and I’m always laughing.’

Travel: Paul recently self-isolated in a Milan hotel ahead of jetting off to Honduras to take part in Italy's take on the show called Isola de Famosi - which is not affiliated with ITV's UK version

Travel: Paul recently self-isolated in a Milan hotel ahead of jetting off to Honduras to take part in Italy’s take on the show called Isola de Famosi – which is not affiliated with ITV’s UK version 

A source said: ‘Paul is in top form. He told producers he has spent lockdown in England keeping fit by running and cycling, and it’s certainly paid off.

‘He looks phenomenal and has a physique any man half his age would be proud of.’ 

Paul, who passed a series of mental and physical tests for the show, recently claimed he was banned from joining the cast of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Here! after failing a psych test back in 2009.

He told The Sun: ‘I did interviews for I’m A Celebrity in the UK but they pre-judged me. They wanted to sign me for the show, but when it came to speaking to the psychiatrist they really p***ed me off.

Thoughts: Paul, who arrived in Honduras earlier this month told The Sun he reckons he can use his skills to win over his fellow celebrities (pictured with his campmates)

Thoughts: Paul, who arrived in Honduras earlier this month told The Sun he reckons he can use his skills to win over his fellow celebrities (pictured with his campmates)

‘She asked me, ”Why do you want to do the show?” and I said, ”I want people to see the real Paul Gascoigne”. But she said, ”People don’t want to see that, they want to see you in arguments”. That really p****ed me off. 

‘I wasn’t happy about that. And the questions she asked me were ridiculous. She was asking me if I knew where I was, and I said London, and ‘whereabouts, what can you see’. I’m not dealing with stupid questions like that.’

The sportsman’s interview comes after he revealed that he’s back on the booze amid his battle with alcoholism, confessing: ‘I’ll always be an alcoholic.’ 

Former England player Gazza admitted he now enjoys having ‘a couple of glasses of wine… and a few beers’.

Looking forward to it: Paul said, 'I'm good at fishing,' before adding: 'My best quality is that I can make people laugh and I’m always laughing'

Looking forward to it: Paul said, ‘I’m good at fishing,’ before adding: ‘My best quality is that I can make people laugh and I’m always laughing’

Paul told The Sun: ‘If I want a drink I’ll have a drink. If I don’t want one I’ll just leave it, which is not the right thing, but I’ve been like that for ages. I don’t trust spirits so I keep away from them, but I’m on top of things at the moment. I’m enjoying life.’

In January 2020, Paul appeared on This Morning where he told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: ‘I had a relapse at Christmas, which I was gutted [about], but I’ve just got back on the straight and narrow again.’

The same month, he told The Mirror: ‘I’ve been to Australia, and spent £20,000 including all the travel, to get an operation that stops me drinking.

‘You get pellets in your stomach and it makes you feel sick if you have too much. It means you can have a beer or a glass of wine and socialise, but you cannot have any more.’ 

Honest: Paul recently claimed he was banned from joining the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Here! after failing a psych test back in 2009

Honest: Paul recently claimed he was banned from joining the cast of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Here! after failing a psych test back in 2009

His admission comes after it was reported that Paul is studying Italian ahead of his stint on his upcoming reality show. 

According to reports, among those set to join him in Central America is stunning Miss Italy 2019, Carolina Stramare, actress Angela Melillo, 53, and fashion heiress Drusilla Gucci. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Paul has a basic grasp of Italian and he can make himself understood. But what we really want to avoid is having subtitles too often as that would ruin it.

Back on the booze: Paul previously revealed that he's back on the booze amid his battle with alcoholism, confessing: 'I'll always be an alcoholic'

Back on the booze: Paul previously revealed that he’s back on the booze amid his battle with alcoholism, confessing: ‘I’ll always be an alcoholic’

‘The idea is to get him up to a good conversational level so he can talk with the other competitors. We are expecting some exciting TV from Paul.’

The insider added: ‘The women on the island are all very attractive and range in ages from 22 to 53 — the same age as Paul — and most of them are single.’

The source said it will make great TV to see how the footballer legend ‘interacts with these women who are very opinionated and have strong views’.

MailOnline contacted Paul’s representatives for comment at the time.

Enjoying life: The sports star admitted he now enjoys having: 'a couple of glasses of wine... and a few beers' (Pictured in 2018)

Enjoying life: The sports star admitted he now enjoys having: ‘a couple of glasses of wine… and a few beers’ (Pictured in 2018)

Paul’s signing is something of a coup for bosses of Isola de Famosi – Italian for Island of the famous – though he’s set to face tropical storms and poisonous spiders.

Gazza has headed to the Hog Cays, a small archipelago 18 miles off the northern coast of Honduras.

Known in Spanish as Cayos Cochinos, it consists of two small islands and 13 other coral cays. They can only be reached by boat and there are no roads, car or bikes.

Ciao! Paul is reportedly studying Italian ahead of his stint on the show

Ciao! Paul is reportedly studying Italian ahead of his stint on the show

Contestants on Spanish versions of the show, also filmed on the islands, have previously had to be evacuated because of bad weather.

Programme producers made an emergency decision to pull celebs out three years ago, saying it was done to ‘avoid tragedy’ as torrential rain and high winds battered the area.

Another storm the following year destroyed the makeshift shelters contestants slept in, leaving them exposed to the elements in soaking-wet clothes.

Tarantulas and snakes which release a foul-smelling musk are among the animals that live in the archipelago, part of a larger group of islands proclaimed as a British colony in 1852 until their surrender to Honduras seven years later after US pressure.

Filming for the Italian hit show starts on March 11 and runs for two months.

The ex-Newcastle and Spurs midfielder was allowed to leave the UK to take part as his trip is work-related.

He is expected to be dropped into the ocean by helicopter and made to swim to shore to start his island adventure.

The famous chopper drops, a feature of both the Italian and Spanish versions of the famous reality TV show, have sparked panic attacks among some contestants in previous editions.

Busy time: The ex-Newcastle and Spurs midfielder was allowed to leave the UK to take part amid the novel coronavirus lockdown as his trip is work-related. Pictured in 1990

Busy time: The ex-Newcastle and Spurs midfielder was allowed to leave the UK to take part amid the novel coronavirus lockdown as his trip is work-related. Pictured in 1990