Gordon Ramsay says he’s used his ‘awful relationship with my alcoholic father to become a better dad’ but admits he has guilt about missing out on daughter Holly’s childhood

by

As someone who’s spent a lot of time thinking about family dynamics, I found Gordon Ramsay opening up in his new Netflix show particularly moving. He really gets into how his own challenging relationship with his father has impacted the way he approaches fatherhood. It’s fascinating to see how our upbringing, even if difficult, shapes who we become as parents.

The first episode of Being Gordon Ramsay reveals the celebrity chef discussing his difficult upbringing and his relationship with his alcoholic father, Gordon.

In the show, the TV personality, 59, also admits his own parenting regrets. 

He admits there were times when he focused more on work than on his four oldest children – Megan, 27, twins Holly and Jack, 26, and Tilly, 24.

Honestly, my relationship with my dad was really tough. I remember one time he actually called me a snob, which stung. My immediate reaction was to defend myself – I wasn’t trying to be pretentious, I just desperately wanted a better life than the difficult circumstances I grew up in. It was about escaping a really challenging situation, not about thinking I was better than anyone.

Despite now being worth around £162 million, Gordon grew up in poverty, moving between 15 different council estates while his mother worked three jobs to support the family.

The chef recalls weekends where he would ‘almost watch his father ruin his life through alcohol’.  

As a longtime observer, I’ve always felt it’s incredibly difficult when someone you care about struggles with alcoholism. It’s just… hard to connect, because it naturally makes you anxious and on edge. It’s a really tough situation to navigate.

You’re anxious about finishing the alcohol and losing control, because you’re aware of the consequences that will follow.

I’ve followed Gordon Ramsay’s whole story, and it’s just incredible. You know, his football dreams were crushed by a terrible knee injury, which honestly, led him to the kitchen – and thank goodness it did! He trained with the legendary Marco Pierre White at Harveys, can you imagine?! But it’s also heartbreaking because, at the same time, his brother Ronnie, who’s 58 now, really struggled and fell into heroin addiction. It just shows you, even with all the success, there’s always something going on behind the scenes.

In 1998, Gordon Ramsay launched his own restaurant in Chelsea. By 2001, it had earned three Michelin stars, making him the first Scottish chef to reach that level of culinary achievement.

As his career took off, he found it harder to spend time with his wife, Tana, and their kids.

He admits he loves his children, but also acknowledges that some of that affection stems from feeling guilty about something in the past.

My children have told me directly that they want to see me more and that they miss me. I wish I’d been able to spend more time with them.

Gordon wants to spend more time with his two younger children, Oscar, who is six, and two-year-old Jesse.

He explained that he’s going to prioritize making time for his family, because he doesn’t want them to feel like he missed important moments, like their first day of school.

People often imagine travel is all fun and excitement, but it’s actually really demanding. Being away from home is difficult, and I just want the time to fly by. Mostly, I miss my children – it’s a tough experience, and I miss them so much.

Gordon Ramsay is launching five new restaurants inside the 278-meter-tall 22 Bishopsgate building in central London. The six-episode documentary series will chronicle the entire process, from planning to opening, with a £20 million budget.

It will also give a sneak peek into his personal life with his wife Tana and their six children. 

Being Gordon Ramsay launches on Netflix on 18 February 2026 

For issues relating to alcohol, contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0800 9177 650

Read More

2026-02-18 05:03