England football legend Paul Gascoigne will not feature in upcoming drama about the hunt for killer Raoul Moat.
Paul Gascoigne won’t feature in ITV’s Moat drama
A seven-day manhunt was launched in July 2010 after former bouncer Moat murdered his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart’s new partner Chris Brown and shot and wounded her in the stomach. He then proceeded to shoot traffic officer David Rathband in the face, who later hung himself after he was blinded.
In a bizarre twist, when Moat's location had been found, World Cup star 'Gazza' turned up at the crime scene with loaf of tiger bread, chicken, lager, a mobile phone and a fishing rod, claiming he knew Moat and could convince him to surrender. His offer was declined by officers.
The incident has not been re-enacted in the TV show as it was felt that it would trivialise the serious story. It is instead merely referenced in 'The Hunt for Raoul Moat'.
Screenwriter Kevin Sampson said: “Paul Gascoigne was really not in a great place… you would have to question your motives and intention in potentially sending up somebody who was going through a bad time.”
Producer Jake Lushington added: “What happened with Paul Gascoigne is nothing to do with the story we’re trying to tell and had no impact.”
Gazza later admitted that his momentary lapse of sanity was attributed to his heavy drinking and cocaine use.
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.”
‘The Hunt For Raoul Moat’, which stars Matt Stokoe as the killer, tells the story of Britain’s biggest manhunt and their efforts to apprehend a killer who shot himself in the end.
The upcoming drama is set to air on ITV1 later this month.
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