Inside Strictly Come Dancing star Paul Merson's 'quiet' life of sobriety with wife Kate

star recently signed up to the popular show . The football ace, 57, is hoping his competitive side will carry him through the competition and lift the glitterball - but his life away from the ballroom is a world away from the glamour.

He has joined . He managed to get past the first hurdle after being saved from the first elimination show but .

The Londoner had a staggering career in football after playing for Premiere League teams such as Arsenal, Aston Villa and Middlesborough. But today he is mostly recognised for being a pundit discussing what happens on the pitch.

Yet away from the world of showbiz, he is said to now live a fairly simple life. However, this comes after years of addiction. Paul has suffered from gambling, alcohol and a drug habit which has been open about.

Paul was able to . During a 21-year career in professional football, moved for transfer fees that topped £12m.

In the late 1990s when he joined Middlesbrough, he confessed that most of his wage funded his addiction.

This led to Paul's world crumbling as he revealed that he lost over £7 million, as well as his marriage collapsing with childhood sweetheart Lorraine Constin.

Despite their break up he went on to marry two more times and ended up having eight children.

He has three children with Lorraine and twin girls with Louise - who has never publicly commented on their relationship.

Paul's children with ex Lorraine, Sam and Ben, have decided to pursue football themselves.

Back in 2016, he married Kate and they have had three children together, with their youngest being born in 2021.

In an interview on breakfast show he said: "Looking back now, it's not the money lost that you regret. I've been a millionaire and wanted to kill myself.

"It's the time you've lost. I've got eight kids that I love very dearly. I've been addicted to alcohol and cocaine, but by far the most destructive and the only one I'm still struggling with is gambling," he added.

He recently celebrated five years of being sober, and aside from work keeps a low profile as Kate likes to remain out of the spotlight.