Paul Gascoigne was David Olusoga’s unlikely hero at school after The Traitors star was subjected to racial abuse during his childhood
Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s
17:00, 06 Nov 2025
Paul Gascoigne showed his true colours during a childhood incident with a Celebrity Traitors star(Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Paul Gascoigne showed his true colours after helping Celebrity Traitors star David Olusoga during an incident at school. The former England international went to the same school as the TV historian and ended up as his unlikely hero during a tense moment.
Olusoga opened up about his childhood during an appearance on Desert Island Discs in 2021 and admitted his family suffered from racial abuse after moving from Nigeria. The 55-year-old moved to Gateshead with his mother as a young boy and ended up at school with the ex-Newcastle star.
Explaining the unlikely encounter with Gazza, Olusoga said: “My older sister, Yinka, was three years ahead of me and in her class was Paul Gascoigne. I have one memory of Paul, one strong memory.
“Which is of lying on my back having been pushed over and hit in the playground and this kid with light-coloured hair and very bright blue eyes leaned over, he was beside my sister and he gave me his hand and he pulled me up.
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“He must have been maybe nine, I must’ve been maybe six or seven, something like that. He was one of the tough kids, you won’t be surprised to learn. It wasn’t really in his interest to be looking after this couple of black kids. And I’m very grateful for that.”
The Celebrity Traitors finalist admitted his family had been targeted by the National Front and had even driven them from their home during the night after smashing their windows.
But this one moment with Gascoigne showcased the Geordie footballer’s true colours – and he still remembers this encounter to this day.
David Olusoga admitted Gazza was his unlikely hero(Image: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
In an interview with us in 2020, Gazza said: “I was only young but I do remember. I hated bullies and I did not like what was happening.”
Now, Olusoga will join fellow Faithfuls Joe Marler and Nick Mohammed to try and sniff out the Traitors in Thursday’s finale of the BBC programme.
Alan Carr and Cat Burns will aim to continue to confuse the other celebrities – and Gazza will likely be rooting for his childhood friend to succeed in the final episode.
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