Gordon Ramsay has spent more than 25 years on our television screens with a reputation for being fiery and foul-mouthed, but there’s a lot more to the celebrity chef than his on-screen persona.
His docuseries Being Gordon Ramsay gives viewers new insight into the man behind the chef’s whites. The project, which premiered on February 18, follows his efforts to open four restaurants and a culinary academy at 22 Bishopsgate in London. But it goes beyond the kitchen, offering a rare look at his childhood, family life, early career, and more. In fact, this might be the most intimate look we’ve gotten at the famed chef yet.
Here are 8 things you probably didn’t know about Gordon Ramsay:
Gordon Ramsay Was Named After His Father
“Gordon Ramsay” might be a household name now, but it was almost… not his name at all. He was almost Scott Ramsay, which he says would’ve been “a lot better than f–king Gordon.” Ultimately (for him), his parents decided to name him after his father, Gordon Sr.
“Scott’s a cool name,” he added in the interview with BBCRadio2. “I would’ve preferred to be called Scott.”
He Had A Difficult Childhood
In the docuseries, Ramsay recounts his turbulent childhood. His mother worked three jobs as a cook, night nurse, and cleaner, while his father was an alcoholic, and his brother similarly fell into addiction. He’s “been an addict for four decades,” Ramsay revealed.
“I had to sit there, you know, at weekends and almost watch [my dad] ruin his life through alcohol,” he said in the premiere episode. “It’s hard, when someone’s an alcoholic, it’s very hard to relate to that, ’cause you’re just… you’re nervous.”
Gordon Met His Wife Through Her Then-Boyfriend
Gordon and Tana Ramsay may now have a nearly 30-year marriage under their belt (and six kids!), but when they first met, they were in relationships… with other people.
“I was looking at my mate thinking, ‘Oh my god, your girlfriend is f–king gorgeous,'” Gordon said. “She looked like a young Julia Roberts.”
And It Wasn’t Love At First Sight—At Least For Tana
While Ramsay was clearly infatuated from the start, Tana took a little more time to warm up.
“I thought he was really arrogant, really full of himself; he used to really irritate me,” she revealed. “It took about a month, and then we were both single.”
“I honestly thought for many months that Tana was out of my league,” Gordon added. “I won her over with food.”
Gordon Ramsay’s Father Never Wanted Him To Be A Chef
Ramsay revealed that his father didn’t support his career as a chef and felt “cooking was for women and it wasn’t a man’s job.”
“My father called me a snob once. And I said, ‘No, definitely not a snob. I just wanna get out of the s— mess I was born in,'” Gordon added. “I sadly had a torrid relationship with my father.”
He never even dined at one of Gordon’s restaurants. “Deep down inside, I would love for my dad to have tasted something and even said, ‘Yeah, good job,”’ Ramsay said. “I would’ve loved him to have understood, even though he didn’t back what I was doing or believed in where it was going. You want validation from your parents.”
Despite their challenging dynamic, Gordon says the experience has helped him connect with his own kids.”In many ways, I’m using that awful relationship [with my father] to become a better dad.”
Working With Marco Pierre White Was A Turning Point For Gordon
Ramsay said in the docuseries that working as chef Marco Pierre White’s “right-hand man” was “one of the best things that ever happened” to him, despite the grueling 18-hour days, six days a week.
“[Pierre] was like a father figure,” Ramsay said, while adding that he “transformed” him. “He had the gift of this Picasso; he put food on the plate like no other.”
Gordon Couldn’t Afford Expensive Cuts Of Meat When He Opened His First Restaurant
Despite Ramsay’s first restaurant earning three Michelin stars within three years of opening, he says he “started with nothing” and couldn’t serve expensive cuts of meat like filet mignon.
“I still won two Michelin stars with oxtail,” he said. “When you get that third star, everyone says it’s a sigh of relief, but it’s not a sigh of relief. It’s f–king magical.”
He Actually Likes Influencers—Especially Food Over Critics
While he may be best known for his gruff exterior, Ramsay has a soft spot for food influencers and even called them “the most powerful critics on the planet.” When hosting a preview for Bishopsgate, he chose to invite internet personalities over traditional food critics.
“It was just to f— every food critic off in the country,” he said. “Because 10 years ago, we were depending on their pens. Ten years ago, we were depending on their insults. Ten years ago, we were depending on their egos. And they destroyed restaurants.”
