My dad is the real Kitchen Nightmare
...says TV chef Gordon Ramsay’s wife and kids
Back from left Holly, Megan, Gordon and Tana, with Jack and Tilly at the front 18-year-old twins Jack and Holly away at university. This week Gordon, 51, admitted he felt “lost and heartbroken” when his older kids moved out – and even wore his son’s pants and socks around the house to help him cope with empty nest syndrome.
He also said he hoped teenager Tilly would stay at home until she was 25.
BUSY
But she reckons that is not going to happen as she definitely wants to go to uni after finishing her A-levels in biology, psychology and PE.
Tilly describes her family as busy, adding that celeb life and having pals such as the Beckhams is just normal to her. Tana, who has been married to Gordon for more than 20 years and also has a range of bestselling cookery books, says she tries to keep the kids grounded.
“I have a delightfully normal life,” she says. “I use the tube or buses – that’s how the kids get around. I think it’s important that they all see Mum working hard, Dad working hard, and they always put their best efforts in.
“Teaching independence early on is really important and the only thing I’m strict about is holiday time. In summer there are always two weeks where no one does anything apart from being with family so we are together.”
Talented Tilly has just finished filming season five of her show Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch, due out in spring.
Cameras follow the Ramsay family in their LA home, with Tilly making recipes such as messy mud pies, freakshakes and scary pepper goblin heads.
She says: “I really enjoy what I do because I know it inspires people, and cooking’s a skill you definitely need.
“You can expect a lot of fun and good cooking tips. I love cooking – and sport too.” Tilly has inherited her love of fitness from her parents, who run marathons and take part in ironman competitions.
And she is desperate to follow in their footsteps and do a marathon when she turns 18.
She says: “We’re definitely very competitive as a family. We love spending time together – we have three dogs so we love dog walks, going for lunch or running as a family.”
Tilly and Tana have also teamed up with Boots UK to urge parents to take kids over 10 years old for free flu jabs this autumn.
Tana says: “Older teenagers are the super-spreaders. They’re at school and parties and spreading it within families, where there are vulnerable elderly relatives. The males in our family always tend to say a cold is flu – but actual proper flu is also easy to catch.”
vikki.white@trinitymirror.com
WIFE TANA ON HOW GORDON COOKS DINNER