Adam Peaty has opened up on the emotional moment that he asked Gordon and Tana Ramsay for permission to propose to their daughter Holly.
The Olympic swimmer, 30, popped the question to the influencer, 25, in September last year after three years of dating, and are set to tie the knot this Christmas, in front of friends and family, including Holly’s famous father, Gordon, 58.
But, while many would be intimidated by having the fiery tempered chef as a father-in-law, Adam has revealed that the moment he asked for his and Tana’s blessing to marry Holly ended with the three of them breaking down in tears together.
During an appearance on the Live, Laugh, Luke podcast on Thursday, host Luke Hamnett asked Adam if he had been nervous about meeting the potty-mouthed restaurateur for the first time.
The three-time Olympic champion admitted: ‘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.
Adam Peaty has opened up on the emotional moment that he asked Gordon and Tana Ramsay for permission to propose to their daughter Holly (seen with Holly)
The Olympic swimmer, 30, popped the question to the influencer, 25, in September last year after three years of dating , and are set to tie the knot this Christmas, in front of friends and family, including Holly’s famous father, Gordon, 58 (seen with wife Tana)
‘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.’
Spilling more details about the actual proposal itself, Adam revealed it had been very chaotic, after many of his planning went wrong.
He explained he’d planned to pop the question at a quiet restaurant while on holiday together in Greece, but accidentally booked the wrong one and was forced to improvise.
He recalled: ‘So I thought I’ll do it after, then noticed a lovely castle and thought I’ll see what’s going on behind the wall.
‘And 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 thought it’s getting late so will be getting quieter now. But of course the Mediterranean, so 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.’
Admitting that he cried, Adam insisted that the big day would be equally emotional, saying: ‘I guarantee on the wedding I will be crying all day.’
Spilling more details about the actual proposal itself, Adam revealed it had been very chaotic, after many of his planning went wrong
He revealed that the ceremony would be taking place in Bath and would be ‘quite a big wedding’ with Gordon overseeing the food.
But he added that the couple were also having a no phone policy, insisting: ‘Got to be in the moment and enjoy the day and just take time with each other.’
Adam and Holly met while he was competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 alongside Holly’s sister Tilly.
They began dating in May 2023, going public with their romance one month later and then unveiling matching tattoo tributes to one another that December, with Adam getting a ‘H’ inked on his chest and Holly tattooing an ‘A’ behind her ear.
Detailing how they got together to Luke, Adam explained how he’d been liking a lot of her Instagram photos, sparking rumours from fans of a romantic connection.
He ended up reaching out to Holly to apologise for the speculation, but recalled: ‘She just goes, “Well I wouldn’t mind it if you did take me out on a date…” And I was like perfect here we go!’
He went on: ‘But then I went away for quite along time, and when I came back I wasn’t in the right place to date and said to myself I was just going to focus on work.
‘But she goes, “How about that date?” So we went on a walk together, chilled, had a coffee. And she moved in two weeks later. We just knew each other so well.’
Detailing how they got together to Luke, Adam explained how he’d been liking a lot of her Instagram photos, sparking rumours from fans of a romantic connection
Last year, Adam detailed the importance of his relationship with Gordon, as he credited the celebrity chef with pulling him out of a ‘deep, dark hole’ after three years of ‘hell’ that saw him withdraw from racing (seen with Gordon and Holly in 2023)
Speaking about his relationship with Holly last April, Adam gushed: ‘We gelled straight away. She gives me peace, calm, perspective, and that brings stability.
‘It’s important to know every day when chasing down goals in sport that there’s another side to life and that whatever happens in the pool, I’m winning in life, because I’m with the right person.’
Last year, Adam detailed the importance of his relationship with Gordon, as he credited the celebrity chef with pulling him out of a ‘deep, dark hole’ after three years of ‘hell’ that saw him withdraw from racing.
He admitted Gordon had helped him in his recovery from alcoholism, depression and split from ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro, with whom he shares son George, five, which culminated in ‘three years of hell’ for the swimmer.
Speaking to The Sunday Times in April 2024, Adam said Gordon had emerged as a mentor and role model, who he looks up to for his ‘relentless pursuit’ and how he has worked ‘his way up to the upper echelons of his industry’.
On their new found relationship, he said: ‘He’s an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from.
‘Gordon is a high performer. He worked his way up to the upper echelons of his industry and works in a place where there’s no bullshit.
‘I take a lot from that and from the professionalism he has every single day with a relentless pursuit.
He admitted Gordon had helped him in his recovery from alcoholism, depression and split from ex-girlfriend Eirianedd Munro, with whom he shares son George, five, (seen) which culminated in ‘three years of hell’ for the swimmer
‘So, when I see that, I’m like, “Yeah, why can’t I work like this? Why can’t I do this every single day? Why do I have to be so emotionally engaged with things?”‘
He added that watching Gordon operate in his job inspired him to change his own manner and approach to swimming.
Earlier this summer, Holly opened up about her upcoming nuptials to the Daily Mail at the Sport Industry Awards, saying: ‘Everyone has wedding fever! We’re all very excited, and the countdown is on.
‘There’s just something so English about getting married in the winter. I love summer, but winter is my favourite time of the year.
‘I want the Christmas magic feeling of everyone coming together, to celebrate and have a great time.’
While she revealed she’s already selected her bridal gown, after being inspired by none other than Princess Kate.
Teasing her dress, she said: ‘I’m very excited. I’ll not say whether it’s traditional or not, because I don’t want to give anything away.’
But she did add: ‘I’ve always been a huge fan of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, and the lace, and how traditional it is, so I took a lot of inspiration from her.’