Gordon Ramsay is known for his explosive temper, blistering tirades and colourful insults on reality television.
Now, it appears his controversial behaviour may not be limited to the screen.
I can reveal that the Hell’s Kitchen star appeared to force-feed a waiter a canape at an awards ceremony this week.
The incident took place at the Walpole British Luxury Awards, held at the Dorchester hotel in London’s Mayfair.
The waiter, who appeared to be Asian and in his late 20s, was carrying a tray of cone-shaped canapes with both hands.
During the pre-ceremony drinks reception, he offered Ramsay a canape. The television chef, who turned 60 this week, took one but, rather than eating it himself, pushed it into the startled waiter’s mouth.
With both hands occupied and apparently worried about dropping the tray, the waiter had little choice but to try to swallow it.
Ramsay did not appear to ask whether the waiter wanted the canape, or whether he had any allergies or dietary restrictions.
I can reveal that Hell’s Kitchen star Gordon Ramsay, pictured with wife Tanya, appeared to force-feed a waiter a canape at an awards ceremony this week, writes Richard Eden
Before walking away, the chef gave the waiter a thumbs-up with both hands. The waiter, whose mouth was full, was unable to respond.
‘It was appalling and deeply disrespectful behaviour,’ one guest tells me. ‘I was flabbergasted that he could treat someone in that way.’
The waiter, who does not wish to be identified, tells me: ‘I was embarrassed because we’re not supposed to eat while serving guests. But what was I supposed to do when Gordon Ramsay forced me to eat a canape? I don’t know why he did it.’
Ramsay was presented with The Visionary award, which recognises people whose talent and ambition reshape their industry and the wider British luxury sector.
His spokesman declined to comment on the incident and instead criticised me for reporting it. ‘A joyful evening celebrating incredible British brands, creators and makers that wave the flag for GB across the world and you focus on this. Shame on you.’
Oh, great shot! Emma swaps tennis balls for clay targets
Emma Raducanu appears to have embraced the country set. Britain’s former No 1 tennis player exchanged her racket for a shotgun during a weekend in the Lake District.
Wearing a Barbour jacket, Emma, 23, tried clay-pigeon shooting in Cumbria. ‘Timeout in the Lakes,’ she wrote online.
The 2021 US Open champion has not played tennis since June after suffering a serious stress fracture in her right leg.
There was brighter news in her love life, however, as she enjoyed a romance with 32-year-old public relations executive John Friend.
Tennis star Emma Raducanu exchanged her racket for a shotgun during a weekend in the Lakes
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Wearing a Barbour jacket, Emma, 23, tried clay-pigeon shooting in Cumbria
Tinie Tempah, the rapper popular with members of the Royal Family, is in a foul mood. The reason? He is unhappy with ‘content creators’ who film themselves at the gym where he works out.
Asked what annoys him most during training, he tells me: ‘Walking into the gym and seeing everyone’s phones.’
Speaking at the MITS Award 2026 at the Grosvenor House hotel in Mayfair, he adds: ‘I respect gym influencers encouraging more people to keep fit, but seeing everyone’s phones… that’s kind of annoying.’
Shappi’s costly rail mishap
Comedienne Shappi Khorsandi, who was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at 47, is seeking a refund after accidentally overpaying for a rail journey, which she says was linked to her condition.
‘You owe me £20,’ the former I’m A Celebrity contestant posted online, addressing Transport for London. She said she bought a ticket from London to Reading but, because of her ADHD, accidentally used Apple Pay to tap out at the ticket barrier as well. ‘So I paid twice and it’s impossible to get a refund,’ she wrote.
She added: ‘I can live without £20, but how many £20s are you making off us neurodivergent people?’
Bill Bailey criticises Strictly stars who lack commitment
Bill Bailey, the 2020 winner of Strictly Come Dancing, has little time for contestants who fail to take the competition seriously.
‘When I see a challenge, I want to throw myself into it out of professional pride and out of respect for the dancers as well,’ says the 61-year-old comedian, who was partnered with professional dancer Oti Mabuse, 36.
‘They put in huge amounts of time and sacrifice so much. So when people show up and say, “Anyone can do this”, I felt that was slightly disrespectful. It’s like when people say, “Comedy’s easy, isn’t it?”‘
Bill Bailey, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, is unimpressed by celebrities who fail to take the contest seriously
Michael Portillo has built a successful second career as a BBC presenter, but he is clearly not afraid to criticise the organisation that helped make him a household name.
The former Cabinet minister says the television licence fee is nearing the end of its life. ‘It is morally unsustainable,’ he says in his one-man show, A Life of Two Halves, at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, west London.
‘Why should it be supported by what is a tax when others [rival broadcasters] have to go to market?’ He adds: ‘The licence fee is dead.’
Did Sir Keir Starmer enjoy the good life at The Goring?
He led his party to what was, at the time, its worst election result since 1918 before reportedly securing £1million a year through directorships and a role with a US financial powerhouse.
That means Sir John Major can presumably manage the eye-watering prices at The Goring, the luxurious hotel just a short distance from Buckingham Palace, where an Eggs Drumkilbo starter costs £45 and the finest wines run into thousands of pounds a bottle.
But who was joining him for lunch on Monday?
None other, I can disclose, than Sir Keir Starmer, who abruptly resigned from Parliament in September after his spokesman had said he would remain.
That kind of flexibility could prove useful as Two Tier Keir seeks to maintain the lifestyle he enjoyed as Prime Minister, with access to No 10 and Chequers.
