Re-runs of old Gino D’Acampo shows have been pulled from the ITV schedule following allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against the TV chef.
The 48-year-old Italian presenter has been accused of “dozens” of allegations of misconduct over more than a decades, with his behaviour described as “unacceptable” and “distressing” by those making accusations, an ITV News investigation has claimed.
D’Acampo has “firmly denied” the allegations in a statement to the broadcaster, saying they were “simply not in my nature” and describing them as “deeply upsetting”.
Following the accusations, the PA news agency understands that repeats of game show Family Fortunes fronted by D’Acampo will not be re-broadcast – including an episode of the show at 7pm on ITV2 and another episode on Monday at the same time.
Two episodes of food travel programme Gino’s Italy: Secrets Of The South, airing from 6pm to 7pm on Sunday, on ITVbe will also be removed from the upcoming schedules.
Instead, ITVBe will broadcast TV home show Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes on Sunday, instead of Secrets Of The South – while Graham Norton-hosted game show Wheel Of Fortune will run during previous Family Fortunes slots on Friday and Monday.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) called the claims “deeply concerning”.
Head of Bectu Philippa Childs called the accusations against D’Acampo “very serious, as is the significant time period they span” in a statement on Friday.
“That at least one production company was reportedly aware of crew’s concerns about his behaviour but continued to work with him should be of particular concern, and it is imperative that ITV investigates this,” she added.
Ms Childs also said “in a sector where power imbalances can be particularly extreme, it’s critical that people feel empowered to come forward with concerns, without fear that their careers will be adversely impacted”, and called for a “radical step-change” in the industry.
D’Acampo’s legal team shared a statement from him to ITV News, saying: “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.”
His legal team said he “categorically denies these allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour” and added “to his knowledge no such allegations have been made against him in relation to his time on Gino’s Italian Express”, and said he considers the allegations “to be a fabricated work of fiction”.
An ITV spokesperson said its production companies “have the primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen, when making shows”.
The spokesperson also said the alleged behaviour is “inappropriate and unacceptable” and “most of them were not reported to ITV at the time”.
“Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken,” they added.
MultiStory Media, which produced the ITV show Gino’s Italian Express, said it would be “inappropriate to go into the detail of individual concerns” but that it was “reviewing the concerns which have been raised, what was known at the time and what action was taken”.
It added that it will “look at any new concerns that have come to light”, and have not worked with D’Acampo for six years.
The claims by ITV News include alleged sexualised comments towards a woman while working on a magazine shoot with D’Acampo in 2011, two women accusing him of making sexual remarks while working on ITV travel show Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018, and a separate woman alleging she witnessed him threatening a young colleague in 2019 during a TV production.
The report also said executives at Objective Media Group – which co-produced Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip – were aware of the concerns in 2018, with an email seen by the broadcaster, sent last year, detailing “unacceptable and distressing” behaviour by D’Acampo.
Objective Media Group said it “takes the welfare and wellbeing of all its production staff and teams incredibly seriously” and includes “behavioural clauses in talent contracts” and provides “behavioural training for on-screen talent”.
In a statement to ITV News, Studio Ramsay, which produced the show Gino’s Italian Family Adventure and co-produced Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip, said it takes “all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and workplace misconduct seriously, promptly investigate, and take appropriate remedial action when warranted”.
D’Acampo, who began his TV career in the early 2000s as a judge on ITV cookery competition Too Many Cooks, has been a regular on This Morning and other ITV shows.
He presented a reboot of ITV gameshow Family Fortunes from 2020 to 2023.
It originally ran on ITV from 1980 to 2002 and was fronted by stars including Bob Monkhouse, Max Bygraves and Les Dennis.
A DCMS spokeswoman said: “The allegations against Gino D’Acampo are deeply concerning.
“Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. As the Culture Secretary has previously said, it is right that any allegations of inappropriate behaviour are taken very seriously and that victims are supported and able to challenge behaviour – no matter how famous the star is.
“The Culture Secretary has met with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) to discuss how government and the industry can work together to ensure that no one faces abuse or harassment in their workplace.”
