Paul Gascoigne hilariously tries to speak Italian on their version of I'm A Celeb

Paul Gascoigne left viewers in hysterics with his attempts at speaking Italian during his appearance on the country’s version of I’m A Celebrity – L’Isola dei Famosi. 

The football legend, 53, made quite the impression during his introductory video tape, before launching himself out of a helicopter on Monday’s live show.

Gazza, who spent three years at Rome’s club Lazio, did his best at speaking the language but left viewers in fits of giggles when he misunderstood host Ilary Blasi. 

Paul was getting stuck into his filming duties for the first live episode as they shot scenes on a remote desert island which is believed to be Cayos Cochinos, Honduras, in Central America, yet his garbled intro stole the show.  

In the interview, Gascoigne was asked about his Italian, to which he said in his strong Geordie accent: ‘It’s OK. It’s only the first day, I’m hoping to improve it.’

He conceded: ‘I’m not speaking perfect Italian’, before beginning his diatribe, in which he bizarrely repeatedly used the word for snakes. 

When asked what he was looking forward to, he attempted: ‘serpente’ (snakes), before stating in Italian: ‘Fishing good me, very good me. 

‘Hands fish my, team hungry me. Confidence, first day, better speak, soon.’ 

He added: ‘I’m here for a laugh and the experience,’ before adding in English: ‘I’ll see you all on the f******g island’.  

Paul had been studying Italian as he waited to fly out to the island.    

A source previously 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.

‘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.’ 

Paul had also spoken to the publication in his native tongue about his strengths and what he will bring to camp.

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.’ 

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.’  

And the former footballer made a dramatic debut as he arrived via a helicopter and had to jump into the ocean from a height and swim to the island. 

Paul was joined for the first day by his L’Isola dei Famosi, the Island of the Famous, co-stars including actors Gilles Rocca, Simone Paciello, Vera Gemma, Akshay Kumar, Roberto Ciufoli, Angela Melillo and Francesca Lodo. 

Also pictured were DJ Daniela Martani, business owner Ferdinando Guglielmotti, model Drusilla Gucci and presenter Elisa Isoardi. Other stars involved in the series are actor Brando Giorgi, actress Valentina Persia and presenter Beppe Braida.    

Paul appears to have already struck up a friendship with Italian actor Gilles, 38, as they were seen hugging on the beach after their dramatic arrivals. 

The former footballer went shirtless in a pair of black swimming shorts for the arrival, where he showed off a collection of his tattoos.

Paul famously visited a tattoo parlour five days in a row in 2013 as he underwent a series of inkings, including daughter Bianca’s face, at Bournemouth Ink studio.

The former England star has previously said that he had turned to tattoos as a way of battling his alcohol addiction.

The star, 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 insisted that producers ‘pre-judged him’ meaning he failed the tests.