Gordon’s Great Escape (Channel 4, Monday, 18 January, 9pm) was the latest TV blodge in Channel 4′s clunky ‘Indian season’. While the intention is admirable, the execution has been rubbish in places. Sending Gordon Ramsay to India to look at the cooking and people could have been great… instead, we were left with a feeling of The Empire.
Other foodie-travelogue things have been quite successful. In the past, we’ve seen Jamie Oliver going around America being… well… Jamie Olivery. We’ve seen Rick Stein being a lovely and enthusiastic old love in the various fishing ports of Europe. We’ve seen Keith Floyd all over the place, getting drunk, roaring with laughter and getting chastised by old ladies who know better.
So what did Gordon Ramsay bring to the table? Well, initially, I figured that this was a chance for Ramsay to revive his fortunes. Of late, we’ve all got sick of his schtick. He offended the whole of Australia which saw him coming home with his tail between his legs. All of a sudden, everyone realised that, while other chefs are foodies first, Gordon Ramsay is a needy show-off first, foodie second.
Sending Ramsay to India should’ve shown a more tactile and reflective man, humbled by the great food which was often made in difficult circumstances. Sadly, we didn’t get Gordon’s Great Escape, but rather, Gordon Patronises Brown People.
While there is no question that Ramsay was very impressed with what he came across, there’s also no question that he was an appalling spectacle while he did it. In one segment, he was shown how to make an amazing biryani using a whole goat. Instead of being visibly wowed, he instead told the 86 year old chef that native that his biryani was “authentic”.
Of course it was you patronising gimp!
Later in the show, he went to a remote bit of India and chowed down on a chutney that blew his little mind. Instead of explaining the differences between the Brit curryhouse chutneys and the Real Deal to his incredibly warm host, he instead preferred to nudge his 90 year old mothers and say “Fuck me. I thought she was dead.”
The rest of the time was spent shouting loudly in English to ‘the natives’. Seriously. In a kitchen segment toward the close of the show, we saw Gordon in a kitchen full of chef who couldn’t speak a word of English. His response was to gesticulate wildly and repeatedly holler “STAR. ANISE. STAR *waves hand in air* ANISE?” When one chef understandably grinned and waved back, Gordon’s reply was along the lines of ‘Jesus. What an idiot. He thinks I’m trying to say hello’.
It’s a good job the people he met were kind, open and welcoming people or this show would have been completely unwatchable. Next week, Ramsay will probably start shouting “Hello? HELLO. I. WILL. TAKE. THE. LAND. YOU. ARE. STANDING. ON. UNTIL. IT. REACHES. THE. HORIZON. OKAY? YES? Fuck me…”
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I have to agree what a complete t*sser he was. At every turn he was amazed at the most basic thing and had to swear about it. I am not a swear free zone but the swearing was really tedious.
He kept banging on about “this is not like what we have in Britain” as if some of the chefs in the great Indian restaurants in Britain have all come from Scotland and have never been to India. What planet is he on; has he never eaten in an Indian restaurant that serves authentic food prepared by Indians from all parts of India.
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I couldn’t agree more. I was disgusted by his behavior. He treated the Indian people who did not speak English as though they were stupid. I switched over after the ‘fuck me I thought she was dead’ sceen. But then I saw him on Hells kitchen shouting and swearing. Admitidly the chefs were making some really basic mistakes, but does he really have to bully them so? It’s one thing to get angry about their lack of ability but he gets just plain nasty and very personal. Quite a feature was made of the chef that squared up to him at the end. I’m sure Ramsey thought he had come off best but he just looked pathetic.
I was really intrigued to watch this series, being half indian, a lover of food, and having never been to India its always fascinating to see how its done ‘properly’ – I found myself shouting at the 6ft arrogant celeb, behaving in a way that was darn right rude, disrespectful and to a degree prejudice. Instead of the passion that we as viewers wanted to see he patronised every individual, belittling them as if they were insignificant. He should have been enthused by learning the techniques, not trying to uphold the pretence that he could do it just as well if not better… His use of the ‘F Word’ is what he’s known for, but surely when these people probably have no clue who this man is, is it really necessary??? Did it make the show more compelling? Not a chance… The man is no longer known for his skills as a chef, he was famous for being controversial, now he is just an arse and the sooner he’s off the screen the better!
Had hoped Ramsay would for once make a watchable foodie programme, however he never lets you down. He sends a very poor message to the world. His patronising, foul mouthed uncouth behaviour is a disgrace.I switched off. Shame on Channel 4..
I saw last night’s episode and Gordon Ramsay made me so angry and so embarrassed to be British. Why does he feel he has to swear all the time, even when he is introduced to people for the first time, enters their home or their restaurant …. it is completely unecessary. Other TV chefs who do travel logs don’t do it and they show a far greater degree of professionalism and enthusiasm for the subject. I am getting so bored of him and his attitude, this will be the last Gordon Ramsay show I ever watch. Shame on you Channel 4 for even showing the programme, we the viewers deserve better.
You’re all so cynical. I think it’s a brilliant show and has been cleverly thought of. Instead of all the typical indian city meals he’s extended he’s search into the country. Have been glued to the show and being an Indian I am stunned at the food he’s discovered. Haven’t come across half of what he has and I’ve been to India several times. Think it’s a fab show. Well done Gordon.
I absolutely agree with all of the above, bar one (Was that one somehow involved with the making of the programme? What on earth is “cynical” about the criticisms made here?)
What a yob the man is, and how he was shown up by the dignified and civilised people who suffered him.
Quite uninformative considering the possibilities, just a vehicle for Ramsey to show off.
Last week my sister ate a six course meal at Ramsey’s Maze restaurant and came home hungry. So much promised, so little delivered. Just like the programme.
My husband and I are going to Kerola in March and were interested in the programme. We dont like Gordon Ramsey because he swears constantly and his behaviour is a disgrace, however we watched the show. Sorry channel 4 I COULD NOT WATCH IT for his swearing and behaviour, he was so patronising and what a ‘show off’. He might be able to cook but he is not a presenter (people complain of Johnathan Ross but at least he makes me laugh and has a personality and has occasionally sworn). Get his off the screen, I was cringing that this man is representative of the British public.
I have never commented on something before but Gordon Ramsay in India was a total disgrace. He is an arrogant s..t (to use his language) and has surely insulted so many people. I was embarassed for him. His language does nothing for the country of today. Surely if people think this is the norm they will act that way. He altered his foul language to a degree out in India so why does he need to be so disgusting in GB? Does he think he impresses. i used to like him but now feel he is sad and far too desparate.
He is one of the worst kind of human being!! He needs help. He completely repels me.
Asolutely agree.
I did really enjoy seeing parts of India and some of the delicious food being prepared but felt Gordon ruined the show and I was embarassed that he was representing our country as he was rude at every turn.
Maybe they ought to reshoot the show. Without Mr Ramsay…
I dislike Gordon Ramsay with a big passion, but being a cookery writer and having done numerous television shows myself, I felt I ought to watch Gordon in my own country. Alas, what a disaster! He is extremely lucky that he was in the midst of such wonderful, warm, hospitable and kind people, but the contrast between the behaviour of foul mouthed Ramsay and the local Indian people was painful for me. I continued to watch just to see how far he would go, and as supposedly one of the top chefs in Britain, he only displayed his ignorance the whole time both in the culinary field and his vocabulary. Channel 4, you have really disappointed me as a viewer. Please treat us, the viewers, with more respect. We do not deserve this kind of rubbish on our screen.
He was not rude he was just being Gordon. I am Indian myself and the first time I went to India the culture is hard to get used to but after a while you love every moment you are there. The people, the way of living.
Gordon was on a culinary adventure and he showed the real culinary side of India. Its not easy to do what he did.
Well done Gordon.
I am an Indian food writer living in London and was horrified to watch Gordon Ramsay disrespect every aspect of the hospitality, knowledge and culture that was shared with him in India He was his usual rude self but in this instance, he was also condescending, patronising, judgemental and disrespectful.
As for Optomen, why do TV producers and importantly the people who commission these kinds of programmes only want to show the weird and odd side of India? Would the British public be happy if year after year, Britain was projected in other countries as a nation of people on benefits, unemployed youth and teenage mothers?
Coming back to Gordon Ramsay’s programme, what is it about the British public that accepts this man as the authority on all kinds of world cooking? Clearly he does not know much about Indian cooking and what’s worse he swears more than he learns how to cook. Is this what we call entertainment? It would in everyone’s interest if he dropped the colonial mindset. He almost seems to be saying, “They are different….and we’re better!!”
As a British citizen of Indian origin I would like to believe that I can be proud of both my cultures and celebrate them equally. Gordon’s Great Escape not only makes me ashamed to be British but also despairing about whether things will ever change.
I love Gordon Ramsey’s shows, particularly the recent series of the F word. I find his shows entertaining and I don’t know why all you folk hate him.
Shame on all of you folk for beig so negative!! Go watch something else if you don’t like him.
Are you all bonkers? I watched this series before and am now re-watching it with my Mum as she was in India at the time; my heritage is Indian, my Mum is loving the show, the recipes are incredible, and Gordon Ramsay is just being Gordon Ramsay. He gets stuck in and is operating in an alien country where nothing is as he expected; he’s learnt a huge amount and I for one am about to buy his book accompanying the series.
Feedback from British Asians is that his series was the ONLY thing worth watching during the entire pathetic Indian Winter which showed the great sub-continent as nothing but a clooection of slums.
If you want to watch total arrogance and the most patronising attitude I have ever seen, I think all of you who don’t appreciate Gordon will simply love the pig that is Gary Rhodes Across India. Now that was the most insulting programme I have ever seen.
India is amazing and so are the recipe’s. Gordon Ramsay is an attention obsessed retard. It is interesting that the only way to treat him that he responds positively to is like a child. He should not be on the screen shaming us and himself but the empty vessel…..