Wed Dec 8, 2004 06:09 PM GMT
LONDON (
Reuters)
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been forced to pull out of a celebrity ice-skating show after injuring himself while practising with his best friend Jimmy "Five Bellies" Gardner.
The player nicknamed Gazza, who announced in October he wanted to be known as G8, was set to appear in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in a festive ice-skating version of the hit show.
Gascoigne, 37, said he had injured his back pretending to emulate former British Olympic gold medal-winning ice dance pair Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
"I've been training with Jimmy Five Bellies as well as my professional partner and we kept arguing over who would be Torvill and who would be Dean," he told the BBC.
"In trying to lift him, a terrible accident occurred and I fell crushed to the ice -- unlike Jayne Torvill, he's 16 stone."
Gascoigne, who left English fourth division side Boston United in October to pursue a career in management, will be replaced on the show by former England goalkeeper David Seaman.
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
From:
BBC Radio1
Seaman on ice
Former England keeper David Seaman will replace Paul Gascoigne on the Christmas special - 'Strictly Ice Dancing'.
Gazza's been forced to pull out after injuring his back while training with his mate Jimmy Five Bellies.
Strictly Ice Dancing will be on BBC1 on Boxing Day
Does'nt Gazza or G8 
know that doing lifts on a normal floor can be dangerous enough, let alone on ice 
Oh well lets hope he recovers soon and it might have knocked a bit of sense into him 
