TV chef Gino D’Acampo has been accused of “sexually inappropriate” and “intimidating” behaviour as dozens come forward with complaints.
An ITV investigation found there were multiple claims of “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous” treatment while working with the TV star over more than 12 years.
An ITV News investigation has uncovered allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Gino D’Acampo[/caption]
One woman told ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia the TV chef made inappropriate sexual comments to her on a job in 2011[/caption]
Gino D’Acampo, 48, told ITV News he “firmly denied” all the allegations, which he called “deeply upsetting”.
One woman, who has been called Hannah to protect her identity, told ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia the TV chef made inappropriate sexual comments to her on a job in 2011.
She alleged he told her he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter”.
The woman said there was “a ripple of laughs” while nervous crew members hid behind cups of tea.
Hannah said she felt “shock” and “horror”, while seeing his “aggressive” behaviour as a “kind of power play”.
She told ITV News the experience made her feel “very, very, very small” but claimed Gino appeared protected.
A statement to ITV News from Gino D’Acampo’s legal team, said: “This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request for comment, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo.
“He does not recall it, nor accept that this happened. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of “power play” and an “aggressive act”.
“He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations.”
Another woman, who has been given the name Natalie, also claimed she felt Gino’s behaviour was “aggressive”.
She alleged: “He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else. And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up.
“We had to sort of sit there facing him and he made, you know, reference to his d***, basically saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry, it’s only small’, and sort of flicking it.”
The woman told ITV she felt “disgusted” and the alleged experience made her think about resigning.
Gino D’Acampo’s legal team said in response: “Mr D’Acampo categorically denies these allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour.”
“To his knowledge no such allegations have been made against him in relation to his time on ‘Gino’s Italian Express’ and this is the first time, six years later, he has been informed of these alleged incidents, and he does not accept them, not least because some of this is considered by Mr D’Acampo to be a fabricated work of fiction.”
Meanwhile a third woman told ITV she saw Gino behaving in a threatening manner to threaten a young colleague in 2019.
She claimed: “I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto I will f*** your girlfriend.’”
A fellow shocked crew member described the chef as using his status to “bully and intimidate us”.
The 48-year-old has further accused of saying he felt “like f******” to a female staff member one morning while filming Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip.
In 2018 he allegedly told another young female colleague: “Shouldn’t we be talking about her t***, they’re perfect, they’re like a mouthful.”
Another woman told ITV the dad-of-three said: “When are we all going to get drunk and have sex together.”
This comes after Gino was edged out of Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip in December last year after refusing to sign a morality contract clause.
Gino was put on a language and behavioural course by concerned executives.
He was accused of jokingly flashing— with crew members on Emission Impossible, his show with Fred Sirieix, offered counselling afterwards.
A source close to the latest complainant said: “She worked [with Gino] for five years.
Gino D’Acampo response in full
In a statement to ITV News, Gino D’Acampo said: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago.
“I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone.
“This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.
“Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately.
“I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of.
“I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting.”
“She has come forward after being spurred on by the Gregg Wallace scandal and the comment he made about his accusers being middle-class women of a certain age.
“Her view is she is the middle-aged woman who believes young women shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of behaviour any more.
“Gino was younger and not as well-known then. He used to say he didn’t want to become famous as he would have to curtail his behaviour.
“He said and did whatever he wanted. Everyone was aware and she was subjected to shocking behaviour which she told ITV about last week.”
A spokesperson for ITV said: “We made our position clear following the outcome of our KC Review last year after which we said, ‘We are completely committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with respect and feels able to give of their best.
“Our promise to those we work with is that where a complaint is made, or serious concerns raised, we will always investigate and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action.
“We will continue to develop our efforts to give junior colleagues the confidence to speak up if they have something to raise.
“Following the review we reiterated our expectations and introduced Conduct and Standards Guidelines for On Screen Personalities which outlines our expectations in terms of behaviour, and have also previously offered training in language and behaviour, either directly or through our third party producers, where appropriate.”
The ITV News investigation revealed concerns were raised with the production company Objective Media Group.
An email seen by ITV described Gino’s behaviour as “unacceptable and distressing”.
The chef allegedly said one woman was a “bitter middle aged woman who needed to get laid”, as well as other highly sexualized comments.
Objective Media Group’s response was that Gino was “spoken to about the differences between on screen character material and behaviour off screen with members of the team”.
The production company also said a “thorough process” was carried out when further “issues arose” on Emission Impossible in 2023.
Meanwhile ITV responded by saying they were unaware of allegations made in 2018 and “this kind of behaviour is not tolerated” by the broadcaster.
Gino D’Acampo’s legal team told ITV News: “These allegations from six years ago are said to have been made in an email from December 2024 to Objective Media Group which Mr D’Acampo has not seen.
“The first time that Mr D’Acampo became aware of these allegations was via ITN’s request for comment and, even then, no context has been provided for any of these statements.
“No-one has ever made these complaints to Mr D’Acampo. Mr D’Acampo does not recall making any of these comments, nor does he accept that they were made.
“They include language that he would not use, such as the word ‘middle aged woman’”.
ITV’s probe also found concerns were raised in 2022 regarding behaviour on set of Gino’s Italy – Like Mamma Used to Make.
An internal investigation was launched by another production company called Betty TV – which is also owned by Objective Media Group.
D’Acampo’s lawyers further denied these allegations and said: “Mr D’Acampo does not know anything about any alleged internal investigation regarding his behaviour on the ‘Gino’s Italian Family Adventure’, by Betty TV in 2022.
“He was never told about this and no one ever complained to him that his behaviour or language on that set was inappropriate. He continued to be commissioned by Betty TV the following year”.
One woman claimed she felt ‘disgusted’ by Gino’s alleged behaviour[/caption]
