Netflix’s latest docu-series, Being Gordon Ramsay, released on 18 February 2026, pulls back the curtain on the life of the world-renowned chef, showing both his professional ambitions and personal struggles.
Across six episodes, viewers follow Gordon Ramsay as he embarks on his most challenging project yet: opening five unique dining experiences at 22 Bishopsgate in London.
Alongside the high-stakes world of fine dining, the series also explores Gordon’s early career, his family life, and his marriage to Tana Ramsay.
However, amid the glitz of Michelin stars and business deals, the series dives into a far more personal and emotional story—Gordon’s relationship with his younger brother, Ronnie Ramsay, and the long-lasting impact of his decades-long heroin addiction.
Ronnie Ramsay is Gordon’s younger brother by just over a year and the third of the Ramsay siblings.
He grew up with two sisters in Scotland before the family relocated to England when Gordon was nine. Eventually, they settled in Stratford-upon-Avon, where the brothers spent their formative years together.
Gordon shared during the series that Ronnie has been struggling with heroin addiction for more than forty years.
The issue first gained international attention in 2007, when Ronnie was arrested in Bali after police discovered 100mg of heroin in his possession.
He was subsequently sentenced to ten months in jail and fined £381, a low point that highlighted the severity of his addiction.
In Being Gordon Ramsay, the chef discusses the profound effect his brother’s addiction has had on him personally and professionally.
“I have a brother who’s a heroin addict,” Gordon said candidly.
“We shared a bunk bed together. He’s fifteen months younger than me, and he’s been battling this addiction for the last four decades. I’ve gone through hell and back with him, and I carry a lot of guilt. That could have been me—it could have been switched.”
Gordon has spoken about Ronnie’s struggles before. In the early 2000s, he told Waitrose Food Illustrated:
“It is hard dealing with Ronnie. He is a major responsibility. It’s like having an 18-year-old to look after, even though our mum shouldn’t still have to be putting up with it at 60.”
Tana Ramsay, Gordon’s wife, also shared insights in the Daily Mail about their attempts to help Ronnie when they were newly married. “We tried so many times to fix him, but the problem is enormous. Real change only comes from him, and he hasn’t moved forward at all,” she explained, highlighting the emotional toll on the family.
Adding further context, Gordon revealed that Ronnie once asked to perform at his daughter Holly’s wedding to Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty—a request Gordon ultimately declined. He said, “It still pains me. He said, ‘Hey, have you got a music gig for the wedding? I’m free.’ I put down the phone and thought, here we are in the house we live in, and my little brother is still struggling, busking in a council flat with two pit bulls.”
Ronnie Ramsay does not appear in the Netflix series, reflecting his preference to stay out of the public eye. Similarly, two of Gordon and Tana’s children, Megan and Jack, are also absent due to their professional commitments in the police force and the military.
The series portrays the complexity of family relationships, showing how addiction affects not only the person struggling but everyone around them. Gordon’s story illustrates a mixture of love, frustration, and guilt, while highlighting the limitations of trying to help someone who is not ready to change.
Being Gordon Ramsay is now streaming on Netflix, offering fans an unfiltered look at Gordon Ramsay’s demanding career, his personal vulnerabilities, and the ongoing challenges faced by his family—particularly those surrounding Ronnie Ramsay.
The series reminds viewers that behind the celebrity persona lies a man grappling with profound family struggles, revealing a side of Gordon rarely seen by the public.
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