In his Being Gordon Ramsay review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says this is Gordon Ramsay as we’ve never seen before.
From Beckham and Victoria Beckham to Being Eddie and Martha, Netflix has been on a roll with their celebrity documentaries and docuseries. Now, Netflix is looking to do it again with their latest series Being Gordon Ramsay.
Ramsay rose to international fame, becoming arguably the most famous chef in the world, through his f-bomb laden tirades, prickly personality, and talents in the kitchen. Over the past 25+ years, Ramsay has built an impressive television empire, including Masterchef and Kitchen Nightmares, which has reached over 200 countries. His TV empire continues to grow with this new series.
Over the course of a year, a production crews documents his most ambitious venture yet—five businesses occupying the top two floors of 22 Bishopsgate, a 62-storey commercial skyscraper in London’s financial district. Among the businesses are four dining venues and his namesake culinary school. With a £20 million price tag, the stakes are as high as ever as Ramsay risks losing everything.
While we see Ramsay traveling the world, checking on his restaurants in Asia and the United States, the series also tells Ramsay’s origin story, from growing up in relative poverty in Stratford-upon-Avon with his hard working mother, to his contentious relationship with his father. The City of London, in all its beauty, plays a supporting role as the backdrop for this rags to riches story.
But more than anything, the series is an ode to Ramsay’s legacy, as a chef, entrepreneur, and family man. It’s during his time at home with his wife, Tana, and their young children that we see a side of Ramsay that we’ve never seen before. We also see an emotional side of Ramsay as his adult children chart their own paths, and as he pays tribute to the woman who has stood by his side.
Overall, Being Gordon Ramsay is the most complete look at the real man behind the global empire. It’s a highly inspirational series that any dreamer or entrepreneur should watch. It not only provides viewers with a real life look at the hard work required to succeed at the highest level, but it shows viewers that age is nothing but a number as Ramsay shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s editor-in-chief and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on film & TV and music. He was named one of 340 international voters for the Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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