Paul Gascoigne ‘is having intensive Italian lessons’ ahead of their version of I’m A Celebrity

Paul Gascoigne ‘is having intensive Italian lessons’ as he prepares to star in their version of I’m A Celebrity alongside a bevy of beauties

Paul Gascoigne is reportedly studying Italian ahead of his stint on their version of I’m A Celebrity. 

The football legend, 53, is the star signing of Isola de Famosi – Island of the Famous and, before his appearance next month, he is said to want to improve his language skills so he can keep up the conversation with his campmates.

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. 

Ciao! Paul Gascoigne is reportedly studying Italian ahead of his stint on their version of I’m A Celebrity 

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.

‘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.’

Wow: According to reports, among those set to join him in Central America is stunning Miss Italy 2019, Carolina Stramare

Wow: According to reports, among those set to join him in Central America is stunning Miss Italy 2019, Carolina Stramare

Fashionista: Fashion heiress Drusilla Gucci has also been named as one of the stars reportedly set to appear on the show

Fashionista: Fashion heiress Drusilla Gucci has also been named as one of the stars reportedly set to appear on the show

Beauty: Actress Angela Melillo, 53, will also reportedly join Paul in Central America

Beauty: Actress Angela Melillo, 53, will also reportedly join Paul in Central America

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 has contacted Paul’s representatives for comment.  

The sportsman is enjoying some downtime in Italy before his weekend flight to Honduras, where he will quarantine before descending into the jungle in March.  

His 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. 

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 

England hero Gazza, who has battled alcohol and drug addiction, will be heading 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.  

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 from their tail 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. Gazza will have to quarantine for two weeks after he arrives in Honduras this coming weekend. 

The ex-Newcastle and Spurs midfielder will be 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.

Sunshine: England hero Gazza, who has battled alcohol and drug addiction, will be heading to the Hog Cays, a small archipelago 18 miles off the northern coast of Honduras (pictured)

Sunshine: England hero Gazza, who has battled alcohol and drug addiction, will be heading to the Hog Cays, a small archipelago 18 miles off the northern coast of Honduras (pictured)