He became a familiar face to daytime audiences, often raising laughs with his cheeky innuendos during his appearances on ITV’s This Morning.
However, away from the funnyman on screen, claims surfaced that Gino D’Acampo’s behaviour crossed the line.
Earlier this year, reports revealed that dozens of individuals who had worked alongside him over the years had raised concerns about what they described as inappropriate and intimidating conduct while on set.
Although he strongly denied the accusations, ITV subsequently dropped the 49-year-old Italian chef from its schedule, and he was effectively cancelled.
Now, Gino is stepping back onto screens abroad, appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef Malta.
The show’s official Instagram account recently posted a fun video showing contestants dancing alongside him ahead of the episode.
The Daily Mail takes a look at Gino D’Acampo’s fall from grace. He became a familiar face to daytime audiences, often raising laughs with his cheeky innuendos during his appearances on ITV’s This Morning
The Daily Mail takes a look at how the once beloved Italian chef was cancelled for being ‘inappropriate’ as he attempts to make his TV return ABROAD
The caption read: ‘Our contestants after an intense 1-hour challenge with Chef Gino D’Acampo.
‘Exhausted, but smiling, thanks to the amazing vibes Gino brought into the MasterChef Malta kitchen!’
The appearance marks a stark contrast to the days when he was a constant fixture on British television, fronting or featuring on shows such as This Morning, Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip, Gino’s Italian Escape and Celebrity Juice.
It comes after Gino was hit with fresh accusations of ‘bullying and intimation’ on the set of his ITV cookery shows, with complaints about the star going ignored by bosses.
In a new ITV news investigation it’s been claimed Gino, who presented shows on the channel between 2010 and 2024, left crew ‘fearful’ but bosses did not intervene because the chef ‘brought in the money’.
TV producer Sue Fowler, who worked on Gino’s Italy: Like Mamma Used to Make in 2022, said that there were no ‘repercussions’ for the star with staff too scared to speak out.
She recalled filing a complaint against Gino, which she claimed was not taken seriously, after his vile comment to about crew member who collapsed on set after a suspected heart attack.
Sue said the chef told them to ‘package up’ the injured man and ‘send him back like they do on Amazon Prime’.
Going on to claim that he added: ‘People live, people die. Anyone who gives a f*** about this production will follow me down to the beach and start filming now. Anyone who doesn’t can stay up here’.
Gino is stepping back onto screens abroad, appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef Malta
The appearance marks a stark contrast to the days when he was a constant fixture on British television, fronting or featuring on shows such as This Morning, Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip, Gino’s Italian Escape and Celebrity Juice (pictured on This Morning in 2024)
While another person on set told ITV that Gino said: ‘If he is going to die, he better die quietly’.
Daily Mail have contacted Gino’s representatives and ITV for comment.
Back in February, Gino faced criticism when ITV News reported a number of allegations from anonymous accusers who had lodged complaints about the chef’s ‘unacceptable’ and ‘distressing’ conduct on various programmes over a period spanning more than 12 years.
The claims related to his time on ITV shows such as Gino’s Italian Escape and Gordon, Gino And Fred: Road Trip.
Gino has also made appearances on BBC programmes, but no complaints were made about his behaviour on those shows.
According to ITV News, at least one production company was aware of repeated complaints from staff members about Gino’s behaviour – yet continued to work with him on further TV projects.
One woman, given the pseudonym Hannah, described a disturbing moment during a magazine shoot in 2011.
She claims that, in front of an entire crew, Gino made an explicit sexual comment, telling her he would ‘like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter,’ leaving her humiliated.
It comes after Gino was hit with fresh accusations of ‘bullying and intimation’ on the set of his ITV cookery shows, with complaints about the star going ignored by bosses (pictured 2024)
The TV chef was axed by ITV earlier this year following claims of inappropriate behaviour towards women, which he has denied (pictured 2013)
‘I remember a ripple of laughter,’ she recalled, while others ‘looked nervously into their cups of tea.’
Hannah said the incident left her feeling ‘horror’ and ‘shock’ but admitted she was not surprised no one intervened.
Gino has firmly denied all allegations, calling them ‘deeply upsetting.’
His legal team said: ‘This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo. He does not recall it, nor accept that it happened.’
Another woman, given the pseudonym Natalie, recounted an unsettling experience while briefing D’Acampo for a location shoot.
‘He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else,’ she claimed.
‘Then he jumped on the bed, put his leg up and made a crude reference to his private parts, joking about their size.’
Natalie described feeling ‘disgusted’ and accused the TV chef of using his position to behave inappropriately.
it’s been claimed Gino, who presented shows on the channel between 2010 and 2024, left crew ‘fearful’ but bosses did not intervene because the chef ‘brought in the money’
Gino’s legal team strongly refuted this version of events, stating: ‘To his knowledge, no such allegations have been made against him in relation to ‘Gino’s Italian Express’.
‘This is the first time – six years later – that he has been informed of these alleged incidents, which he categorically denies.’
In yet another claim, a former colleague alleged that in 2019, Gino aggressively confronted a young crew member over an ice cream.
‘I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto, I will f*** your girlfriend,’ the woman told ITV News.
Another crew member who witnessed the incident said the remark had ‘stuck in my head for years.’
He was using his power to bully and intimidate us,’ she said. ‘For what? A cookery programme.’
Gino’s representatives responded, saying he was ‘mortified’ by the accusation and ‘does not recall this incident at all.’
A separate claim relates to the filming of Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip in 2018.
A woman, referred to as Lena, recalled: ‘Without saying hello or good morning, he just loudly announced he felt like f****** that morning.’
Another crew member claimed Gino made a crude comment about a female colleague’s chest, allegedly saying:
‘Shouldn’t we be talking about her t**? They’re perfect, like a mouthful.’
It has since emerged that Objective Media Group, the production company behind Gordon, Gino and Fred, was aware of complaints about Gino as early as 2018.
One woman who worked on Gino’s Italian Express told ITV News: ‘His ‘cheeky chappy’ persona allows him to hide in plain sight. If I see him on TV, I have to leave the room.’
Gino, who has built a multi-million-pound career on his larger-than-life personality, has denied all allegations against him.
His legal team said: ‘No-one has ever made these complaints directly to Mr D’Acampo. He does not recall making these comments, nor does he accept that they were made.’
ITV News has seen emails from December 2024 confirming concerns were raised with Objective Media Group over Gino’s behaviour.
Gino, who has built a multi-million-pound career on his larger-than-life personality, has denied all allegations against him
In response, the company admitted that he was ‘spoken to’ about his off-screen conduct and ‘bespoke training’ was provided.
A separate statement from ITV stressed: ‘We can categorically confirm that this kind of behaviour is not tolerated by ITV.’
With ITV and production companies now facing questions about how they handled past complaints, the future of Gino’s TV career remains uncertain.
For now, the celebrity chef insists he has been unfairly accused.
Responding to the allegations, in a statement to ITV News, Gino 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.’
The Daily Mail contacted Gino’s representatives for comment at the time.
In September, the Daily Mail was told that Gino is poised to make a comeback with the support of female producers he has worked with in the past who think he has been wronged.
With their help, he is determined to clear his name, win back the trust of broadcasters and get back on screen.
Female producers who have spoken to the Daily Mail believe ‘he deserves a second chance’ and argue that he was ‘portrayed as something he was not’.
One female producer, who worked closely with the chef, told us: ‘There are some monsters who work in television but Gino was never one of them.
Female producers who have spoken to the Daily Mail believe ‘he deserves a second chance’ and argue that he was ‘portrayed as something he was not’
‘He certainly has a risqué sense of humour, and it was actively encouraged by his co-stars, including Holly Willoughby.
‘Throughout my years working with him, it was never an uncomfortable experience. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
‘He always made staff feel welcome while maintaining his high standards.
‘When I read the allegations, he was portrayed as something he was not. He was a delight to work with and I believe he deserves a second chance.’
Instead of commenting on his recent travails, he regularly posts upbeat videos of himself cooking alongside his wife, Jessica, and their three children Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12 on social media.
‘It’s not in his nature to sit there and complain,’ said one friend. ‘He wants to show his fans, and television executives, that life goes on and he is still doing what he does best: making people smile with food.’
While UK television bosses still have the cook on the naughty step, he remains a popular figure among international audiences, and the Daily Mail revealed that he is soon to make a return to the screen in a foreign market.
Upcoming dates in Gino’s overseas calendar include his debut as a judge in an episode of MasterChef Malta.
The Mediterranean island country is close to the chef’s heart as it was there that he set up his first international restaurant, Luciano, named after his first-born son who now acts as his manager.
Instead of commenting on his recent travails, he regularly posts upbeat videos of himself cooking alongside his wife, Jessica, and their three children Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12 on social media
Gino will then embark on a trip to Canada, where he will perform in two live theatre shows in Montreal and Toronto. He will also use his time there to film a new video series entitled An Italian In Canada.
He also filmed a pilot of a US show called Spaghetti Wars last year, which is due to air this autumn.
Its executive producer Barry Mendelson has previously described Gino as ‘the star’ and added ‘he’s fabulous on the air’.
He will then spend the winter in Australia where he has plans to open two new restaurants, and has talks lined up for future television projects.
The friend said: ‘If he can prove that he can make things work Down Under, then he can restore his reputation and that will make a return to UK television easier.’
But it is an uphill struggle for the embattled presenter, who was accused – among other things – of inappropriate sexual comments.
