Paul Merson has been praised for opening up about his alcohol and gambling addictions at the beginning of mental health awareness week.
The footballing ace got candid about his rocky road to recovery as he joined Harry Redknapp and a bunch of his ex-England players in tonight’s episode of Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh.
‘The impact of being on the team… it’s saved my life,’ Paul told the cameras. ‘I was drinking at least 35 pints a week and gambling, but I’m sober and bet free now.
‘As soon as I addressed the drinking, that [the gambling] kicked in a little – if I don’t drink, I don’t gamble.’
He admitted: ‘I’ve come to realise I am powerless over alcohol. I’m an alcoholic. I have a disease – and it is a disease.
‘My drinking and my gambling left a lot of wreckage, a lot of wreckage. As an alcoholic, who is recovering now, them things are hard for me.’
Paul then sat and spoke with David Seaman about seeking treatment for his addictions, where he confessed he ‘couldn’t do it without my meetings’.
Fans praised Paul for being so open and honest about his battles, with one viewer writing: ‘So great to hear @PaulMerse is doing well and opening up publicly about his demons.
‘Hopefully it will encourage others to get the help they need. Nice one Paul.’
Echoing a similar sentiment, another added: ‘Huge, huge respect for a @PaulMerse! Not easy to open up about personal life, especially on TV.’
Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh is set to continue on Tuesday night and the second leg of the tour takes the boys to Italy, where they’re holing up at a traditional Palazzo in Florence.
Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh airs on Tuesday at 9pm on ITV.
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