Adil Ray has come under fire from Good Morning Britain viewers for what they have described as a 'totally unnecessary' remark about Paul Gascoigne's drinking.
The former Newcastle United, Spurs and England legend appeared on the ITV daytime show, fresh from his exit from the Italian version of I'm A Celebrity after dislocating his shoulder.
Gazza joined Adil and Susanna via video call from Milan and he took the opportunity to show off his grasp of the Italian language, saying something in Italian and then revealing: "That means I'm ok, good morning, I'm starving, I miss me girlfriend Susanna."
The now 53-year-old has had very public battles with the booze during his 30 years in the spotlight, with him being very candid about his struggles, so a comment GMB host Adil made about his drinking, as Susanna was thoroughly tickled by Gazza's translation, didn't sit well at all with some viewers at home.
Former Ackley Bridge actor Adil told Gazza: "Gazza, how amazing. You were at Lazio three years, three seasons. I am guessing that is where you picked it up. But to hang on to it after all that time... and you've had a few tipples since then!"
Gazza, who also played for Rangers and Lazio in the 90s, didn't give much away with his reaction to Adil's comment but he did reply: "Well when I played for Lazio all I wanted to know was how to order a beer and all the football words. But this is different.
"My manager said '10 weeks on an island' and I said 'fantastic, a holiday'. But they told me no caffeine, no cigarettes, nothing. I said 'this isn't going to be a holiday.'"
And, while Gazza, who revealed he nearly fell out of a helicopter during his time on the show, didn't directly respond to Adil's jibe about his drinking, viewers wasted no time in voicing their opinion, with one taking to Twitter ranting: "Adil Ray to Gazza: "You've had a few 'tipples' since you were at Lazio " (Just shows what a crass nasty guy he is)" and, equally unimpressed, a second tweeted: "Did Adil Ray just express surprise to Gazza that his cognitive function was still intact after years of alcoholism? How bloody rude."
A third posted: "Totally unnecessary dig by @adilray on @GMB to Gazza. “You’ve done well to hold on to your Italian ......it was a long time ago and you’ve had a few tipples since then” The man has an illness and to laugh it off like that is poor form. Adil is embarrassing himself."
Others were just pleased to see Gazza in fine form, with one fan reacting: "I find Adil so rude, unfunny and patronising #GMB In other news, Gazza is looking and sounding the best I've seen him."
