Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay have had quite the journey in their romance between the swimming superstar and the daughter of Britain’s top chef, Gordon Ramsay
Adam Peaty and Holly Ramsay finally tied the knot on Saturday in what was one of the most buzzed-about celebrity weddings this year.
The nuptials marked the climax of a whirlwind love story that has gripped the nation. On paper, it’s a perfect pairing: an Olympic titan marrying the daughter of Britain’s top chef, Gordon Ramsay.
But the road to the big day hasn’t been smooth sailing. From the initial spark after Adam’s well-documented break up to a public family spat, the couple have weathered quite a storm. With their marriage now up and running, we delve into the romance that weathered the storm.
A love story begins
Adam, 31, and Holly, 25, first crossed paths thanks to BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. While Adam was a contestant on the show in 2021, it was Holly’s sister, Tilly Ramsay, who also showcased her skills on the dance floor that year.
Although they didn’t start seeing each other straight away – Adam was still with his son’s mother, Eiri Munro – it was within the close-knit Strictly community that their paths first intersected.
After Adam parted ways with Eiri in August 2022, he and Holly gradually found their way to each other. By June 2023, they went public with their relationship, often offering fans a peek into their life together via social media. Things moved fast, with Adam popping the question during a romantic getaway to Cornwall in September 2024.
Holly later disclosed that the engagement felt like a natural step forward. She described Adam as her “best friend” and observed that their shared commitment – his dedication in the pool and hers in her fitness and podcasting pursuits – forged a special connection.
Family ‘feud’
Despite the pair’s joy, announcing their wedding date triggered an unforeseen split within the Peaty household. Adam’s mother, Caroline Peaty, grabbed headlines when she voiced her irritation about the ceremony’s timing.
With the wedding scheduled for the Saturday after Christmas, Caroline initially condemned the arrangements as “ridiculous,” highlighting the pressure and practical challenges of a major family celebration during the height of the holiday period.
Tensions intensified when she wasn’t included in Holly’s hen party, which saw Victoria Beckham, her own mother Tara, and Adam’s sister in attendance. The swimmer’s aunt Louise intervened, maintaining her sister was “not ok” with being overlooked and had been “broken” by her son and his fiancee.
She alleged that Adam is “ashamed” of his brothers, with the family even going as far as labelling him a “narcissist” who has been “changed” by money and has “forgotten where he came from.
“We were sent a save the date and it’s all these country houses,” a family member told the Sun. “I’m on Universal Credit – I can’t afford that. Adam has been changed by money, fame and fortune. He seems to have forgotten where he came from.”
The row became public when Louise tagged Holly in a heartfelt social media message. “@hollyramsayy I’m so glad that you had a great hen do. As a bride, you deserve that. However, as a person, you were divisive and hurtful towards a woman who I have loved and continue to love deeply,” she penned.
“A woman who opened her home and heart to you. You decided, for whatever reason, not to invite her, your prospective mother-in-law, to your hen night, yet Adam invited his father-in-law, your dad, to his stag night.
“You invited your mum (quite rightly) and even your mum’s assistant, your sisters, your friends, my niece, but not my sister, your future mother-in-law… You have inflicted a hurt on my sister that will take a very long time to heal if ever.”
Following several mysterious posts of her own, Caroline recently spoke out about the rift to the Daily Mail. “I don’t think they understand how much they have hurt me; it’s as if they have cut my heart out,” she revealed.
“This is the first Christmas that I’ve not had my family together – my family is broken. Yes, I have my other grandchildren. Yes, I have my other children, but my family is split because of the goings on… because of the wedding.”
She continued: “Me going would just cause even more of a storm and I don’t want to ruin his wedding day. I wanted to be there quietly to watch him get married, but that can’t happen now. I don’t know if they are too young or don’t value family as much as I have, but they don’t understand that family is the foundation to everything.
“I know it’s the end. But please, the message I want Adam to hear is no matter what happens in the future, please know I love you, your dad loves you, you can come home and talk to me at any point.”
Gordon Ramsay’s backing
Whilst tensions existed with the Peatys, the Ramsay clan has embraced Adam wholeheartedly. The relationship between Adam and his father-in-law, Gordon Ramsay, has particularly become a pillar of the sportsman’s existence.
Gordon, renowned for his explosive television character, has served as a steadying guide for Adam. Adam has spoken openly about how Gordon assisted him through the bleaker chapters of his sporting journey.
After struggling with alcohol and mental health issues, he acknowledged the celebrity chef’s role in helping him discover a “champion’s mentality” beyond the swimming pool. The pair frequently train together, with Gordon publicly celebrating Adam’s determination, describing him as a “beast” in competition yet a “gentle giant” at home.
“He [Gordon] is an incredible energy to be around and an incredible person to have that guidance from. Gordon is a high performer,” Peaty said in 2024. “He worked his way up to the upper echelons of his industry and works in a place where there’s no bulls**t. I take a lot from that and from the professionalism he has every single day with a relentless pursuit.
“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?'” Holly recently mentioned that her father is “protective” but has observed how deeply Adam cares for her. Gordon’s support seems to have been crucial in helping the pair plan their future.
