Gordon Ramsay has praised his hard-working mum for inspiring his "drive" to do well in life. The Michelin starred chef, 56, was born in Johnstone and grew up in Scotland until the age of nine, before moving to England with his family.
The esteemed chef has found global success with an empire consisting of multiple TV series and 58 restaurants across the world. Speaking on Spencer Matthew's Big Fish podcast Gordon revealed that his mum Helen was a huge inspiration for him, and wanted to succeed after seeing her work three jobs at a time.
The Hell's Kitchen chef said: “My mum was a big inspiration in terms of getting that workplace ethic in place”. He added that once he was successful, his goal was to "change his ‘mum’s life".
He continued: “Growing up in multiple s***holes, you get one’s s**t together early. It's a big thing for a son to look after their mum and not having a great relationship with dad then, you know, focused all that attention on looking after her I think, because she went to hell and back looking after us and keeping us four together."
Gordon has lived on 15 council estates and went to multiple schools in his early years. He added that he never started cooking “to get rich, or to be sort of successful". He continued: "I think the environment you come from defines you".
Gordon had originally planned to be a footballer, and was even signed to Rangers FC under 18s team before a knee injury forced him out of the game. After that, the fiery chef enrolled in a hotel management course and found his passion for food.
Gordon said: “That was the turnaround. That was the moment when I thought: forget the football. You know, I'm going to be a chef". He also credited The Banbury Roundtable – a local charity that helped with the costs of his kitchen equipment.
The TV chef also spoke about the impact his upbringing had on his brother Ronnie, who was jailed in 2007 for possession of heroin in Indonesia.
Gordon said on the podcast: "I think the environment you grow up in shapes you, growing up in multiple shit holes you get one's shit together early. I just wanted to better myself and get out of a situation that was unfortunate."
"The flip side to my success is my brothers addiction to heroin. It's bizarre isn't it you grow up on a council estate, several council estates and you're sharing this tiny bedroom in bunk beds and you're so close as brothers. We're just 14 months apart. How ones life can change dramatically."
He added: "I've got that stern reminder on a daily basis and remind myself every day on how different it could have been if I'd gone down a different road. I think the drugs were a consequence of being the blue eyed boy in the family and then being dropped by your dad."
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
- Gordon Ramsay's son Jack clashes with festival goer over sweary row about burger
- Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin ‘dating Molly Rainford’ weeks after splitting from girlfriend
- Cruz Beckham shares unrecognisable throwback snap with Gordon Ramsay's family
- Snoop Dogg plans to open Glasgow restaurant with Gordon Ramsay
- Gordon Ramsay's son Oscar sports Rangers kit to practise football skills in garden
