Gordon Ramsay is desperate to save his marriage after a newspaper revealed he’s been having affairs over the past seven years. Despite putting on a brave front and saying ‘everything’s fine’, his wife Tana is stunned by claims her Celebrity Father of the Year husband has cheated on her with serial mistress Sarah Symonds and supposedly others.

Turn a blind eye
While Tana is bracing herself for further fall-out, Gordon is determined their 12-year marriage will survive. Aware of her husband’s notorious flirting, Tana was previously prepared to turn a blind eye to his womanising ways, resigned to his roving eye.
‘Sometimes Tana doesn’t ask what Gordon’s up to even though she’s aware of what goes on,’ a source says. 'She has become suspicious when rumours are flying.’
 

These latest allegations threaten to rip the close-knit family apart, and Tana is preparing herself for the worst. Gordon, 42, and Tana, 34, have spent several hours locked behind closed doors at their $8.3 million London mansion having crisis talks. They’re particularly concerned about whether the lurid headlines will harm their four children, Megan, 10, twins Holly and Jack, eight, and Matilda, six.

‘Tana’s determined to protect the kids, and she’s contacted their schools, asking teachers to keep an eye on them,’ a source says. ‘She’s a very strong person and she’s not going to let a woman of ill-repute like Sarah destroy the family she’s worked so hard to build and loves so much.’

The TV chef has allegedly made an apology to Tana after he admitted to meeting Sarah, 38, four times. While refusing to apologise publicly for having an affair, Gordon told a source: ‘I’m sorry I’ve put Tana through this. I’ve apologised to her and I feel absolutely dreadful. She really doesn’t deserve all this grief.’

Global empire
A split would be devastating for Gordon, with his empire of restaurants – including a new Melbourne eatery planned for February 2010 – at stake. Tana’s father Chris is chief executive of Gordon’s company Ramsay Holdings, and is the financial brains behind him.

‘In effect, there’s always been three people in his marriage, with Gordon and Tana owing a lot of their riches to Chris,’ a source says. ‘But four people in a marriage is too much to bear.’

Tana was rocked when the scandal erupted last week after a British newspaper claimed Gordon met up with Sarah for a sex tryst in a suite at London’s Marriott Hotel. The report also claimed he’d asked her to buy legal drugs known as poppers, which are said
to enhance the experience. Sarah further revealed Gordon's alleged affairs with at least three other lovers.

A friend says: ‘Tana still loves Gordon very much, but she’s really going to make him work hard for her trust again. She won’t get over this in a hurry.’ 

Can a marriage survive an affair?
New Idea clinical psychologist Jo Lamble says: ‘Most women say if their husband cheated, it would be over. But if it happens, some try to salvage their relationship and family. A relationship can survive if commitment is re-established and a grieving period is allowed.

Trust can be built up with patience and couple time and the cheater needs to understand why he or she did it. Parents need to protect kids in the aftermath. When the couple are in the public eye, it’s harder to protect them from gossip. All parents need to reassure kids they’re loved and that what’s happened has nothing to do with them.’ 

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