Gino D’Acampo scandal deepens as it’s revealed he made ‘vile’ sex slurs about Holly Willoughby – but ITV ‘ignored’ it
Scroll down to read ITV’s response to the woman’s claims
SCANDAL-HIT telly chef Gino D’Acampo made “vile” sexual remarks about Holly Willoughby to a horrified woman — but her complaints to ITV were ignored.
She said there was no probe into her 2018 claims about “vulgar cretin” Gino.
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Gino D’Acampo has been branded ‘crude and vile’ for sexual remarks he made about TV’s Holly WilloughbyCredit: Rex
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Investigations have now uncovered dozens of allegations against the TV chefCredit: Rex
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Holly and Gino on This Morning in 2023Credit: Rex
The telly chef is said to have told the woman that he was often asked which of Holly and Fearne Cotton he would most like to sleep with.
He told her: “If I could put the face of one on the body of the other then maybe, but I’d probably choose Holly because I’d have more fun with her.”
The woman said: “I was disgusted by what he said and how he behaved. He was crude and vile. He’s a vulgar cretin.”
She warned ITV about him as long ago as 2018.
In an email to chief executive Carolyn McCall, she wrote: “He is certainly not a man reflecting integrity or honesty or family values.
“One day he will be outed by many, many more and his associations will be running for the hills to disassociate themselves with him.”
The woman added: “I have a voice and if I can help stop this happening to others, I will.”
She also contacted This Morning, Channel 5, the BBC and other production companies involved with him.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, said: “Both ITV and the BBC came back sharply, essentially telling me to go away. It hadn’t happened during the production of any show, therefore it didn’t matter.
“ITV were specifically horrid and even cast doubt on what I was saying. They were cowardly.
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“I haven’t watched TV since the pandemic because I didn’t want to see his face on TV.
“He was given a platform by TV executives who knew and were warned about his behaviour towards women.”
Investigations have now uncovered dozens of allegations against the married dad of three.
ITV has pulled all of his shows but is under growing pressure to explain what they knew, when they knew it and why no action was taken sooner.
Gino, 48, has “firmly denied” the allegations.
Channel 5 said it had been contacted in 2018 about an allegation “that did not relate to conduct on a Channel 5 production or programme”.
The BBC said it could not locate the woman’s complaint.
ITV declined to comment.
Holly appeared on ITV1 last night, hosting Dancing on Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern.
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Gino also made vulgar comments about Fearne CottonCredit: Rex
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Gino, 48, has ‘firmly denied’ the allegationsCredit: Rex
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Holly appeared on ITV1 last night hosting Dancing on Ice
Multiple complaints about Gino D’Acampo between 2018 and 2023, ITV News understands
Gino D’Acampo
Entertainment
There are fresh allegations against TV chef and presenter Gino D’Acampo, which he denies, as ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia reports
Words by Senior Original Journalism Producer Liz Little
ITV News understands complaints were made about Gino D’Acampo’s behaviour on TV productions at least six times between 2018 and 2023.
The allegations include bullying which is said to have taken place on the set of a programme broadcast on ITV.
ITV News first revealed numerous allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour by celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo last week.
More than 40 people have detailed experiences described variously as “unacceptable”, “distressing” and “horrendous” while working with him over a period spanning more than 12 years.
“I was terrified”
One of those who wanted to share her experience is a production crew member who worked with D’Acampo in 2021. ITV News is protecting her identity.
“He was very aggressive in a way that was unprofessional,” she said.
“I’d describe it as bullying and abuse of power.”
She described a specific incident on a programme filmed in Italy, in which she’d laid out kitchen equipment for D’Acampo to film with.
She said: “He picked up each piece of kit he didn’t want and chucked it on the ground in front of the crew, so that I had to go pick it up. One piece at a time. It was really degrading.
“Another time he whispered in my ear: ‘Run, you better run’, because I wasn’t moving fast enough between sets.
“I was terrified the whole way through that job, purely terrified. It was one of the most horrible things I’ve ever had to do.”
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She told ITV News that she discussed her complaints with a senior member of staff at Studio Ramsay – the production company in charge of the shoot.
Gino D’Acampo told us he “emphatically denies treating staff in this way”.
He went on: “I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is just not my nature, and I am horrified at these accusations – I do not recognise them, and they are very upsetting.”
Studio Ramsay last week told ITV News they haven’t worked with D’Acampo since 2022 and that they “take all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and workplace misconduct very seriously and take action when warranted”.
Complaints about D’Acampo
Following on from our initial investigation, ITV News now understands complaints were made about Gino D’Acampo’s alleged behaviour at least six times between 2018 and 2023.
In 2018, multiple colleagues raised concerns about D’Acampo’s behaviour.
ITV News has seen an email to production company Objective Media Group detailing several sexualised comments to members of the team.
The email detailed what was described as “unacceptable and distressing” behaviour by D’Acampo, and included comments he was heard to have made such as describing a woman as a “bitter middle aged woman who needed to get laid”, saying he was “so hungry I could eat somebody’s t***”, and describing mozzarella as “wetter than p******”.
In 2019, ITV News understands senior members of a production team working for MultiStory Media were told about allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
A woman we’re calling Natalie told us about an encounter she says took place while briefing Gino D’Acampo on a location shoot.
“He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else. And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up,” Natalie told ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia.
“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.”
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In 2021, multiple crew members again escalated to Studio Ramsay staff what they called “unprofessional, aggressive, degrading’ behaviour” by D’Acampo while filming in Italy, which included the allegation of throwing kitchen equipment on the ground.
A year later, in 2022, we’re told production company Betty TV carried out an internal investigation following complaints about D’Acampo.
In 2023, we understand several complaints were made again to Betty TV about alleged “crude language” and “unacceptable behaviour” on set.
Again in 2023, after further “issues arose” – as described by the production company on an email seen by ITV News on the filming of programme Emission Impossible – Objective Media Group said a “complete and thorough process” was followed.
Then in 2024 an email was sent to senior Objective Media Group and ITV staff reiterating the complaints made six years earlier.
We understand ITV spoke to D’Acampo directly about his behaviour off screen on at least one of these occasions.
Gino D’Acampo has firmly denied all of these allegations.
Responding to the claims in their entirety, in a statement to ITV News, 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.”
“Get a grip”
In the wake of these and the allegations surrounding MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, industry experts say processes in the TV industry need improving .
One of Britain’s most distinguished lawyers, Dame Helena Kennedy, is the chair of Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA).
She says proper processes must be in place to ensure people working in the television industry feel safe to raise their concerns.
“We really have to get a grip of this to make sure creative industries are working to the high, professional standards we should expect everywhere,” she told ITV News.
“This is prevalent inside the creative industries because so many people are self-employed, coming into it young, desperate to make a success and they often don’t make complaints because they know the powerful, if you like, will be protected, and they will be the one ends up leaving.”
“Passionate but professional”
A number of people who spoke with ITV News said they’d had positive experiences working with D’Acampo.
One anonymous former colleague told us: “Gino was always a pleasure to work with during my time at This Morning… Off-air Gino didn’t involve himself in the team parties or become overly friendly with members of the team, he was just professional. Passionate but professional.”
Another anonymous colleague said they’d had “some utterly magical moments” working with Gino D’Acampo over the past 12 years. They added: “Does Gino like to have a laugh? Absolutely, but never at the expense of anyone on set or of the production.”
Production company responses in full
ITV News contacted all of the production companies involved in the making of the programmes mentioned in this investigation – as well as ITV. You can read their full statements here.
A spokesperson from ITV said that it is “production companies who have the primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen, when making shows”.
They went on to say that all of the concerns and complaints in this investigation “describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable. Most of them were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.”
MultiStory Media told us it would be “inappropriate to go into the detail of individual concerns” but said they are “reviewing the concerns which have been raised, what was known at the time and what action was taken. We will also look at any new concerns that have come to light.”
Objective Media Group – which Betty TV was a part of – 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.”
Studio Ramsay said it takes “all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and workplace misconduct seriously, promptly investigate, and take appropriate remedial action when warranted.”
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