Inside Holly Ramsay's struggles as mum Tana addresses her 'tough times' in Being Gordon Ramsay Netflix doc
Holly struggled with PTSD after being sexually assaulted twice at university
Tana Ramsay references daughter Holly’s “tough times” in episode two of their new Netflix documentary, Being Gordon Ramsay.
The six-episode series dropped today (February 18) and features Gordon, Tana and their six children – Megan, 27, 26-year-old twins Holly and Jack, Tilly, 24, six-year-old Oscar and Jesse, two.
The documentary follows Gordon as he opens a new restaurant at 22 Bishopsgate in London. It also offers an insight into his life as a husband and father.
Being Gordon Ramsay – Holly’s ‘tough times’ addressed
In episode two, after Holly and Adam Peaty FaceTime Gordon and Tana to tell them about their engagement, Tana, 51, admits she “couldn’t be happier” for her daughter. She also touches on her “tough times”.
Tana says: “Holly’s had one or two tough times in the last five or six years. Just to see that happiness and that glow, we couldn’t be happier.”
The proud mum doesn’t elaborate, but Holly has spoken about the the struggles she’s had over the years.
Holly hits ‘rock bottom’
The newlywed revealed in 2022 that she was celebrating two years sober, after giving up alcohol when she was 21.
She posted: “Today marks two years since I last had alcohol. Two years ago today I hit rock bottom, I was terrified. I certainly didn’t think I would be where I am today both physically and mentally. I’ve fought every day since to get where I am today.”
Holly added: “I am so grateful to so many people for their support, encouragement and endless love. I will continue to learn and grow every day. I feel lucky to be able to use my voice to raise awareness and break the stigma around mental health. Sending love to anyone who needs it today and always. One day at a time.”
Sexual assault and PTSD battle
In May 2021, speaking on her podcast, 21 & Over, Holly revealed her experience with sexual assault. She also told how it led to her being hospitalised with PTSD. At the time, she said she was sexually assaulted twice when she was 18, which led to her developing PTSD and struggling to cope.
She explained: “I went to university, studied fashion design, and I loved it. But by the second half of the first year I was being affected by my PTSD and I had no idea that this was happening. I was going out a lot, missing class because I’d been out. I wasn’t enjoying myself at all, I was struggling a lot.”
She left uni after a year and was admitted to the Nightingale Hospital, which specialises in mental health, for three months.
Holly continued: “That was where I was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression. Since then, I have been in therapy up to three times a week. I now have these diagnoses that I carry around with me. It’s confusing and I’m trying to take control of my narrative and use that to make something good.”
She said that it took her a year to tell her family about the sexual assault, adding on her podcast: “The PTSD was a result of two sexual assaults when I was 18. I didn’t tell anyone about it until a year afterwards.
“I just buried it in a box in the back of my mind and tried to get on with everything as best as I could. My family has been an amazing support. It’s brought me closer to them in many ways.”
Holly’s decision to give up alcohol
Holly decided to stop drinking in December 2020 to better manage her mental health. She stated that abstaining has helped her feel more present both mentally and physically.
While she noted that being sober at a young age can feel “lonely”, she has expressed being in a much better place mentally.
In her Instagram post, which marked one year of sobriety, Holly added: “This time last year I was at my lowest and I was scared but I made a decision to take control of what I could – and that meant removing alcohol from my life.
“I won’t say this is forever, but this is for now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a year of high highs and low lows but I’m grateful I gave myself the chance to work through them consciously rather than mask my feelings (good or bad) with a drink.”
She also said: “Alcohol and antidepressants do not mix well at all. And that is something, unfortunately, I learned the hard way.”
Holly’s husband, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty, also struggled with alcohol and depression. Following the Tokyo Olympics, he struggled with motivation, injury, and a split from his partner, Eiri Munro. He described feeling “broken” and needing to escape, which led to excessive alcohol consumption.
In 2023, he took a break from the sport to address his mental health, admitting he was “crying every day” and on a “self-destructive” path. He credited Holly with helping him to get back on track.
‘There was a healing process’
Gordon has also spoken about Holly’s tough times.
Speaking in October 2021, he told the Daily Mail: “She has had a very difficult time. Now she is in an amazing position. And she has dealt with those issues.”
He added: “The pandemic, from a dad’s point of view, was perfect timing because we got to spend quality time together and we got to understand what she’s gone through. She’s absolutely fine now, there was a healing process.”
Read more: How Adam Peaty’s fortune compares to Gordon Ramsay’s megabucks net worth
