As the nation becomes gripped by the goings-on in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Saints legend Matt Le Tissier has revealed he came close to being in himself.

The now retired Saints and England player, known in Southampton as Le God, was approached by the show's producers some time ago as they tried to establish the final line-up.

Le Tissier says he was up for going into the house but the fact the producers could only give short notice meant he had to book other things into his packed diary.

Speaking on The Saint digital radio station he said: "I spoke to the producers about going on it. I wasn't actually asked to go on but I was sounded out by the producers and they told me they would let me know once they made their decision in two weeks time.

"After three-and-a-half weeks, I still hadn't heard anything and I had kept putting things off so I said 'sorry I'm not going to do it.' I don't expect I would have been chosen a nyway!"

But the Guernsey-born 34-year-old, who scored over 200 goals for Saints in his glittering 17 year career at The Dell and St Mary's, had his tactics worked out - and even which luxury item he'd have taken into the house with him.

He added: "I would have taken my putter in as my one item so I could keep practising!

"But my attitude would have been to have had a laugh and generally taken the mick out of the others if they got too big for their boots or their egos got too big."

Among the other celebrities who were approached but were unable to go due to other commitments was supermodel Caprice.

Le Tissier joked: "Caprice was coming out of meeting the producers as I went in and, yes, she was looking fine!"

Le Tissier will be giving his views on the going-ons in the Big Brother house again on The Saint, on Sky Digital channel 899, next Wednesday from 7-8pm.