Your hubby Gordon Ramsay has catered for loads of celebs, including David and Victoria Beckham. You hang out with them now, don’t you?
Tana Ramsay: To us they’re simply good friends. They have kids the same age as ours, so when we meet up they all get on really well. They’re a very normal, down-to-earth family, honestly. Victoria is lovely. She is very chic and beautiful, but she’s a real mum. She’s not this other-worldly person people think she is.
Is your phone book full of celebrity mates?
TR: As a couple, we have friends from way back, from when we first got together. We’re also friends with the parents from the school run too, so there’s a real mix. Yes, we’re friends with the Beckhams and you meet people through work, but in all honesty, as Gordon’s so busy and we both work hard, we really value an evening in, just the two of us.
Do you get starstruck?
TR: All the time. Most recently by Helen Mirren. We were on the same flight as her and she was sat nearby. I couldn’t stop looking at her – in the flesh she’s incredible. It was a long-haul flight and she had no make-up on, but she looked brilliant. I wasn’t brave enough to talk to her, but I think she’s very cool.
You’re a mum of four young children – Megan, 10, twins Holly and Jack, 8, and Tilly, 6 – and you’re married to Gordon. Home life must be chaotic…
TR: Oh my God, it could be, but we have timetables all over our house. Seriously. With four kids at those ages, where they’re all doing completely different activities, we have to have reminders everywhere. We’ve got a big chalk board in the basement with everything written on. It’s important to make the kids independent too. I want to teach them responsibility, so if they forget their gym trainers that’s their fault. If it means they have to do PE in their school shoes, they’ll learn from it.
Has Gordon read your cook books?
TR: Actually, I don’t know. I’ll have to ask him. I do all the cooking at home, as it’s the last thing he wants to do at the end of the day. I know he secretly likes what I cook, but he’ll never admit it. And if he doesn’t like my food, he’s going hungry.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever had from him?
TR: Naturally it was a swear word. It was, ‘That was f*****g delicious!’ That’s a pretty good one.
What are your guilty food pleasures?
TR: Crisps and dips. They’re the one thing I can’t refuse. Saturday night is mine and Gordon’s TV night in, where we open a bottle of wine and indulge. It’s only a once a week thing. It has to be, because my willpower isn’t that strong. Left to my own devices, I could eat an entire bag of Walkers Sensations.
Do you count calories?
TR: No, never. I’m a healthy cook because of the kids, but I don’t sit and think, ‘Oh no, I’ve used up all my Weight Watchers points.’ I’m a runner and the kids are active too, which means you don’t have to think of your food in terms of numbers.
What do you think people would be surprised to learn about you?
TR: That I’m the disciplinarian at home and Gordon’s the fun one. I don’t mind, but he does tell me I’m bossy. I have to be, though. He’s the relaxed one who breaks all the rules, and I have to make them. He’s a softie, honest.
What makes you laugh?
TR: My son Jack. He’s so earnest and comes out with these brilliant one-liners. Once we were on holiday in Thailand, and he came running into the bedroom at 6am yelling, ‘Mummy, Mummy, you’ve got to help me! I really need a pee, but there’s a lizard on the loo seat and I don’t know what to do!’ I think it’s the way he says things, it’s just adorable.
When did you last cry?
TR: Oh, two weeks ago. Megan, our eldest, went on a school trip and was away for five nights. It was the longest she’s been away from home, and they weren’t allowed to call or anything. On about day three, I walked into her bedroom and just cried. On day four, Gordon went to get the post and was like, ‘Tannie! We’ve got a card from Megan!’ We were like kids ourselves. It sounds so pathetic. Megan had an amazing time, of course, but when the coach got back I had to hide my face in her hair because I thought, ‘If anyone sees me crying I’ll be so embarrassed.’ All the parents were the same, though. She was fine, but Gordon and I were a wreck.
Have you had a crap Saturday job?
TR: I worked in a patisserie when I was at school – I spent nine hours serving cream cakes and coffee. We got free cakes to take home, so it wasn’t too bad.
Who were your celeb crushes growing up?
TR: Tucker from Grange Hill. He was a major celeb back then. And George Michael. Oh my God, I had the best poster of him on my wall. He was lying on a lilo wearing a Hawaiian shirt.
What’s the most romantic thing Gordon’s ever done for you?
TR: He organised my 30th birthday party, which was a complete surprise. It was amazing. He had to get all the names and addresses of my friends that he wouldn’t necessarily know. And he even bought new outfits for the kids to wear too. Everything was thought of. I like to think we make time for romance. We always take a holiday at the start of the year without the kids, and one in summer. It’s nice to have couple time.
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Do you think you’re a yummy mummy?
TR: Yummy mummies are co-ordinated, have nice handbags and wear gorgeous heels. I’m too realistic. Most of the time I’m not wearing any make-up, I don’t think I’m great at co-ordination – I’m never quite sure how to put an outfit together – and I’m mostly decked out in flip-flops. So no, I’m not groomed enough to be yummy.
You’re involved with the Playing For The Planet Awards, which encourages kids to grow up green. How green are you?
TR: Gordon and I do our best, but as we’re older we’re stuck in our habits. It’s the kids who make us recycle. They learn about it all at school, so they’re the bosses at home. But it would be idyllic to live in an eco home with wind turbines in the garden. How cool would that be?
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
TR: Fly in a helicopter. Gordon and I went to the south of France last summer for a holiday together, and we got a helicopter from the airport. As soon as we got in it, I thought, ‘What are we doing?’ It felt really unsafe, and I thought both of us being in there was a bad move. I kept thinking, ‘If we crash we’ve got no chance!’
What makes you lose your temper?
TR: When people are petty and mean for no reason.
Have you ever lost your temper with Gordon?
TR: Of course. Do I give as good as I get? You’ll have to ask him that. I hope so. All couples argue, it’s healthy. And if you didn’t argue, you couldn’t make up… and that’s the best bit.
Tana Ramsay is the ambassador of Playhouse Disney’s Playing For The Planet Awards, which celebrate the achievements of eco heroes. For info visit www.playhousedisney.co.uk/playingfortheplanet
TANA'S REALITY CHECK
How much is a loaf of bread?
Now you’ve got me. 78p for a brown loaf? (About right in a posh shop)
When did you last get public transport?
Three days ago. I got the bus.
What’s the last domesticated thing you did?
I mopped the kitchen floor last night.
Have you ever said, ‘Do you know who I am?’
No, because they’d say, ‘No, I haven’t got a bloody clue!’
