Paul Gascoigne WON’T feature in ITV Raoul Moat drama – 12 years after arriving at stand-off in a dressing gown with a tiger loaf, chicken, fishing rod and lager convinced the killer was his BROTHER after cocaine bender
- Gazza’s arrival at the police cordon was a bizarre twist in the July 2010 manhunt
- The terrifying few days are now being dramatised in The Hunt For Raoul Moat
- Football legend will not appear as a character, but will be mentioned in script
World Cup legend Paul Gascoigne will not appear as a character in a new ITV drama about the hunt for killer Raoul Moat, it has been confirmed.
Gazza’s arrival at the police stand-off holding a loaf of tiger bread, lager, chicken and a fishing rod after convincing himself Moat was his ‘brother’ during a cocaine bender was a bizarre twist in the July 2010 Northumberland manhunt.
The terrifying few days, including Moat’s tense face-off with armed cops and his eventual suicide, are all being dramatised in new ITV show The Hunt For Raoul Moat, which is currently being filmed with actor Matt Stokoe, 33, as the burly killer.
Former bouncer Moat, 37, killed his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart’s new partner Chris Brown, 29, before shooting Samantha, 22, in the stomach in Birtley, Gateshead, after his release from prison in July 2010.
Gazza’s arrival at the police stand-off holding a loaf of tiger bread, lager, chicken and a fishing rod after convincing himself Moat was his ‘brother’ during a cocaine bender was a bizarre twist in the July 2010 Northumberland manhunt
He then declared war on the police – mistakenly believing Mr Brown was an officer – and while on the run shot and blinded PC David Rathband in Newcastle. The officer took his own life two years later.
But there is no room for England midfield icon Gascoigne, 54, who infamously arrived at a police cordon in his dressing gown and said he wanted to take Moat fishing.
Although no actor will play Gascoigne, his shock appearance will be mentioned on screen in the drama, penned by screenwriter Kevin Sampson, who recently wrote ‘Anne’, the story of Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams.
A source said: ‘We don’t have an actor playing Paul Gascoigne, but that aspect of the story is factually reported in the script.’
Gascoigne later explained he had been drinking and done 14 lines of cocaine and, hearing about the horrific rampage on the news, decided to try to help Moat – after convincing himself the murderer was his brother.
He said in his 2015 Evening with Paul Gascoigne talk: ‘You’ve got to realise I’m half cut, sitting in the living room, I’ve got about six lines [of cocaine] lined up.
‘I’m not realising much but a good line and me and Raoul Moat are sort of friends. A couple more lines and we are good buddies. A few whiskies, another few lines and we went to school together.
‘He was in Rothbury, that’s where I used to go fishing so I know the area quite well. Another line and I have a couple of fishing rods and a chicken. He’s going to need a drink. I’ve had 14 lines now and he’s my brother.’
Former bouncer Moat, 37, killed his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart’s new partner Chris Brown, 29, before shooting Samantha, 22, in the stomach in Birtley, Gateshead
Gascoigne rang for a taxi and told the driver to take him to Newcastle airport, adding: ‘Then I said ”head for Rothbury”.
‘The taxi driver said ”you are not going where I think you are going?” And I said ”yes I am”. I was telling the taxi driver I could save him. I told him: ‘Listen, I have been through so much, I am the best therapist in the world, I can save him”. I genuinely believed that.’
Gazza brandished a box of chicken and a loaf of tiger bread as he made his arrival at the tense scene and asked stunned police: ‘Where’s Moaty?’
The former Euro 96 ace was not allowed entry and told to go home, bemoaning the fact his chicken was ‘getting cold’.
ITV stressed their drama will focus on the innocent victims of Moat’s crimes, the police officers who put themselves in the firing line to apprehend him.
ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill said: ‘The Hunt for Raoul Moat shines a light on the human tragedies behind the true story of Britain’s biggest ever manhunt to apprehend a violent killer.’
But the drama has been criticised by relatives of some of his victims – with the sister and brother of PC Rathband both angry at ITV for making a show of the infamous stand-off.
PC Rathband’s sister Debbie Essery, 59, fumed: ‘The first I knew of the programme was when I read it in the news. It came as such a big shock my blood literally ran cold.
‘No one from ITV consulted any of our family or that of Chris Brown to say they were filming the drama. It would have been common decency to tell us.
‘Other broadcasters who have made programmes about the siege have always given us prior warning. We know we can’t stop things like this but the families of all those involved should have been told. I had no clue.
New ITV show The Hunt For Raoul Moat, is currently being filmed with actor Matt Stokoe, 33, as the burly killer
‘We as a family went through the most horrific time so why make a tv show out of it. All it does is open old wounds and what for – just to make ITV more millions?
‘Please let my brother David and Chris Brown rest in peace and think of their families who still have to deal with the loss of their loved ones twelve years later.’
PC David Rathband hanged himself after he was blinded by Moat, unable to cope with his new disability and a breakdown in his marriage, a coroner ruled.
Mr Rathband was found dead at home in Blyth, Northumberland, in February 2012 – 20 months after Moat shot him in the face.
PC Rathband’s twin brother Darren Rathband, 54, said he will not watch a new drama, remarking: ‘David loss gives us a painful reminder everyday. If it’s based on facts and not fiction, the story remains the same.
‘I don’t watch them, don’t need to and never will. I sadly lived being involved in it.’
Screenwriter Kevin Sampson has defended his drama saying: ‘In 2022, violence against women remains rife and is all too often accompanied by a victim-blaming agenda. I hope this drama will go some way to condemning this narrative.’
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