Gino D’Acampo has been accused of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour in an ITV News probe but has firmly denied the allegations

Gino D’Acampo’s shows with ITV have been pulled from the schedule amid claims of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour.

Dozens of people have detailed experiences described variously as “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous” while working with the TV chef over a period spanning more than 12 years. The TV chef who has appeared on the likes of ITV’s Family Fortunes and Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible faces accusations dating back over ten years. Individuals are said to have been fearful of any consequences if they ever spoke of their alleged encounters with the 48-year-old.

Gino has “firmly denied” the allegations made by “dozens” of people”, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”.

This weekend, ITV have dropped two episodes of Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South. They were expected to air between 6pm and 7pm on Sunday on ITVBe, but now Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes will be broadcasted instead.

Gino D’Acampo hosts Family Fortunes for ITV ( 
Image:
ITV)

Family Fortunes will also reportedly not air and ITV News reports that episodes that were filmed in 2023 will never be broadcasted. The episodes were expected to air this Spring but now is believed to have “no plans” to work with Gino again.

One woman, who has been given the name Hannah to protect her identity, told an investigation that she was on the receiving end of vulgar comments from Gino in 2011. She claimed Mr D’Acampo said he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter.” The woman claimed that there were laughs from crew members after he made the comment. But she says she saw the “shock” and “horror”, claiming his alleged behaviour made her feel “very, very, very small”.

Speaking to an ITV News Correspondent, Hannah shared: “I definitely saw it as some kind of power play. The very act of what he said was aggressive. He did not think that was an inappropriate thing to say to me.”

Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South has also been pulled from schedules ( 
Image:
ITV)
In response, Gino’s legal representatives 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 told the news broadcaster: “He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else. And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up.” The woman, whose identity had also been protected, went on to claim that she felt “disgusted” after having to “sit there” looking at Gino who allegedly made a reference to his penis, saying: “It’s only small.”

Legal representatives for the chef said in a statement: “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.”