Gazza joins SAS ahead of movie debut

Former footballer Paul Gascoigne, from Gateshead, is training with the SAS in preparation for his movie debut.

Gazza has landed the starring role in sci-fi film Final Run. His character is a hero battling to save the Earth from aliens.

Revealing details of his role, Gascoigne said: "It's a science fiction movie. Aliens invade us and I head a group of survivors and hopefully come out a hero.

"The first thing I'll be doing is practising with the SAS. Practising holding a machine gun and doing some undercover work, stuff like that. It's quite exciting."

The ex-England star hopes the role will lead to a Hollywood career - as it did for fellow footballer Vinnie Jones.

"It's something different, it's an opportunity for me," Gascoigne said. "I'm always changing things. It didn't do Vinnie Jones any harm."

"It's hopefully not a one-off. I've seen some of the other stuff the producers have done and it's quite good - very good, in fact.

"This could be an opportunity for other things. Hopefully this will do really, really well. We're looking forward to it doing well."

Gascoigne will appear opposite Ray Winstone's actress daughter Lois.