The celebrity chef’s tell-all Netflix series explores his tragic childhood and the “guilt” he feels over his brother.
Superstar chef Gordon Ramsay admitted he is crippled by guilt over his troubled brother Ronnie.
Netflix has just released a new documentary called Being Gordon Ramsay, which delves into the personal and professional life of the world-renowned chef and TV star.
The six-part Netflix series follows one of the most famous chefs of our time in the lead up to his biggest restaurant venture to date – the opening of five culinary experiences in one of London’s tallest buildings, 22 Bishopsgate.
With exclusive insight from his family, fans learn about his life as a husband and father, while Gordon also offers an unflinchingly honest account of his more challenging relationships.
One of the difficult topics he speaks about in the series is his relationship with his brother Ronnie, who has battled with a decades-long heroin addiction.
He said: “I got dealt a dysfunctional card. That drives me. That puts fuel in my tank. I was so close to not making it. That’s what keeps me going.
“I have a brother who is a heroin addict. We shared a bunk bed. He’s 15 months younger than me and he’s been an addict for the past four decades.
“I’ve gone to hell and back with him. I have a guilt complex that could have been me. When that change is so close to you… it’s your brother, it’s not cousin, it’s not a mate down the pub, it’s your brother.
“Born in the same house, grew up in the same bedroom, shared bunk beds and so similar, but so different now.”
Their father, Gordon Ramsay Sr, worked many different jobs and the family moved frequently, often between different towns and council estates in England.
This instability, along with the difficult relationship they had with their father, created a challenging home environment which Gordon previously described as being “tough” and “unsettled”.
As the family dynamic broke down and their parents separated, Ronnie’s life took a darker turn.
While Gordon channelled his energy into football and cooking, Ronnie struggled to find an outlet for his grief.
In Gordon’s biography, Humble Pie, he said: “Ronnie was the blue-eyed boy. When my parents split up, he went off the rails. I went the other way.”
Ronnie’s battle with drugs began in his late teens and early twenties, and what began as recreational drug use turned into full-blown heroin addiction.
His actions, which resulted in spending time in prison, made international headlines and Gordon said it tore the family apart.
In a 2007 interview he said: “You want to help, but when it’s heroin, it’s different. You can’t do it for them. You just can’t.”
In later interviews, Gordon admitted he still loves his brother but accepted he Ronnie was not always open to support.
Being Gordon Ramsay is on Netflix
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