Paul Gascoigne isn't in ITV's Hunt for Raoul Moat despite turning up with lager
Paul Gascoigne shocked the world when he turned up at a deadly stand-off with killer Raoul Moat with chicken, lager and a fishing rod.
The violent former nightclub bouncer had already claimed three victims, leaving one dead and two injured, while vowing to 'hunt' police officers during a sickening gun rampage
Evil Moat shot and wounded ex-girlfriend Sam Stobbart, then 22, and killed her new partner Chris Brown, 29 in July 2010, while third shooting victim PC David Rathband was left permanently blind, then tragically took his own life just over 18 months later.
After a terrifying week-long manhunt, Moat was surrounded by police on the banks of the River Coquet in the sleepy village of Rothbury, Northumberland.
Drug-fuelled Gazza thought he could convince Moat to stand down and was so confused that he became convinced the killer was his 'brother'.
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Despite being present at the terrifying stand-off, the England legend has been left out of new ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat.
Raoul Moat went on the run after murdering his ex's new partner (Getty Images)
Paul Gascoigne arrived on the scene with a fishing rod (Getty Images)Are you watching the new drama? Let us know in the comments...
The team behind the three-part series, which began airing on Sunday night, have already confirmed that Gazza won't be in the show.
In a press conference ahead of its launch, the show's executive producer, Jake Lushington said: "For us, the story is Raoul Moat's crimes and the efforts to bring him to justice.
"The surprise brief and not very successful intervention from someone famous (Gazza) became a big story at the time but it didn't change the events at all. We've referred to it, but it's got nothing to do with the story we're trying to tell.
"We haven't minimised the impact of Gazza turning up because it didn't have one."
The Hunt for Raoul Moat's writer, Kevin Sampson, said: "Paul Gascoigne was clearly not in a good place at that time. If It felt like we were sending somebody up who was struggling, we'd have to question our motives."
Having heard about Moat's horrific rampage on the news, Gascoigne decided he would try to help the murderer by talking him down.
Gazza was at his most vulnerable during his battle with addiction at the time and had been drinking and snorting lines of cocaine.
Raoul Moat during the stand-off with police in Rothbury, Northumberland (PA)"You've got to realise I'm half cut anyway, sitting in the living room, I've got about six lines [of cocaine] lined up," explained the ex-Spurs midfielder during his 'Evening with Paul Gascoigne' talk in November 2015.
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"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."
The recovering addict admitted that taking cocaine distorted his 'relationship' with Moat, who he had never met before, making him think they were close.
"A few whiskies, another few lines, I've had about eight 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."
After taking 14 lines of cocaine, Gazza got so confused that he became convinced that Moat was his 'brother'.
"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," he recalled.
"I've got my fishing rods, I've got Barbour jacket, I've got my four cans, I've got my chicken. My chicken is important because he must be starving."
Raoul Moat is played by Matt Stokoe in the new ITV drama (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Gazza rang for a taxi and told the driver to take him to Newcastle airport so he would not suspect his real intentions.
"I thought that I could take Raoul Moat fishing because he was near a river," he said.
"I told the taxi driver, 'head for the airport' and then when we got to Newcastle airport 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'."
The worried taxi driver was left shaking with fear, but reassuring Gazza claimed he was a 'rehab connoisseur' who could help Moat.
He added: "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 think that I genuinely believed that."
The driver didn't ask for a fare and Gascoigne went straight to the police cordon that was surrounding Moat.
Handout photo issued by Northumbria Police of Raoul Thomas Moat (PA)Smiling for the cameras that were there, Gazza brandished a box of chicken and a loaf of tiger bread as he made his arrival at the tense scene.
"Where's Moaty?," asked the ex-Tottenham player, who confirmed to the officers there that he did not know the murderer.
However, his unexpected appearance sparked speculation that he was related to Moat in some way.
"People were saying he was my friend, and then my cousin," added Gazza.
The former England star was not allowed entry and told to go home, leaving him devastated because his chicken was "getting cold".
After walking into a local B&B he spotted himself on TV , to which he cried, "Oh s**t", Gazza explained he returned home and fell asleep with a bottle of whisky.
During the early hours of the morning, Moat fired the gun on his own head and was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital.
The next day, Gazza woke up to hundreds of texts and missed calls on his mobile phone hours later from people who had watch the news unfolding.
Matt Stokoe, who plays Moat in the ITV series, acting out the scene at the river (ITV STUDIOS)"You know in the morning when you panic the first thing you do is look at your mobile," confessed Gazza in November 2015.
"I've got 250 missed calls, I was like — what have I done? I've got a chicken by my side, fishing rods, a Barbour, I'm like f*** me I must have done something.
"I turn on Sky News — Paul Gascoigne was there last night."
It was a testing time for Gazza, who was battling drink and drug demons during one of his most vulnerable moments.
"I remembered some of it, but was trying to forget at the same time," he added.
An inquest into Moat's death was opened on 13 July 2010 to consider whether the use of Tasers on the former doorman was appropriate.
In September 2011, an inquest jury returned a verdict of suicide.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission report found there may be "some learning" for Northumbria Police but found no evidence of misconduct by officers.
ITV drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat continues tonight at 9pm
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