Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty has revealed how he asked Gordon Ramsay for permission to propose to his daughter Holly, admitting that both men were moved to tears by the touching moment.
The three-time Olympic gold medallist proposed to the 25-year-old influencer in September last year, having first met three years earlier during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing. The pair are now preparing to the tie the knot in a ceremony in Bath this Christmas, with Holly’s famous father set to play a major role. As preparations for their special day intensify, Peaty has revealed all about how the proposal unfolded, describing the moment he sought the blessing of the notoriously fiery chef and his wife Tana during a trip to Cornwall. However, despite Ramsay’s reputation, Peaty revealed he showed his softer side as all three of them ended up wiping away tears.
Asked if he was nervous when he met Ramsay for the first time during an appearance on the Live, Laugh, Luke podcast, Peaty said: “Yes and no. I think fame is a very funny one isn’t it, because they’re still human and you have a perception. I was nervous only from the aspect that I really cared about Holly, so I really cared what he thought of me and her family.”
On asking for their blessing, he added: “But I was very traditional, I asked Gordon and Tana for their permission to marry Holly. It was very emotional, we were in Cornwall and I said can we have half an hour, just us three. And I cried, they cried, we had a few hugs, and here we are.”
Giving more details about the proposal itself, Peaty admitted his plan to propose at a quiet restaurant in Greece went wrong after he mistakenly booked the wrong one. Forced to think on his feet, he explained: “I thought I’ll do it after, then noticed a lovely castle and thought I’ll see what’s going on behind the wall.
“I went round and I s*** you not, two abandoned cars, three dead cats, four chickens just roaming around. I was like f*** me I cannot do it here!’ So I went, ‘Think, think, think!’
“Then I thought it’s getting late so will be getting quieter now. But of course, with the Mediterranean, it’s the other way around – everyone comes out at 10pm! So we went back to the hotel, had a lovely villa with a pool. I put on a beautiful classical playlist and got down on one knee.
“I guarantee on the wedding I will be crying all day,” he added as he revealed that the day itself will be “quite a big” affair, with Ramsay overseeing the food. Since he and Holly began dating in 2023, Peaty has developed a strong bond with her father, who has been similarly glowing in his praise of the swimmer, admitting that he and Tana “couldn’t ask for anyone better” to become their son-in-law.
“He’s a very nice guy,” Ramsay expressed. “He’s so down to earth and so focused and disciplined. He sat us down in Cornwall and he said, ‘Holly is just the perfect woman. I’d like to get your blessing – from you and Tana for her hand in marriage.'”.
“It was that sort of amazing moment. Everything went quiet. As a future son-in-law, we couldn’t ask for anyone better. He’s so grounded. Those two get on so well. It’s a blessing.”
