At her recent 50th birthday party in London’s exclusive Soho House, Gino D’Acampo’s wife, Jessica, was spotted in deep conversation with Phillip Schofield’s spouse, Stephanie Lowe. With both women linked to men caught up in a storm of unseemly allegations, no wonder fellow guests were intrigued.
If Jessica and Stephanie were discussing claims that Italian chef Gino behaved inappropriately on the sets of his TV programmes – including displaying his genitals to staff – they hid it well.
Yet Jessica surely has found an understanding ear in Stephanie, 61, who has also been the subject of considerable speculation, not least over the fact she and Schofield are yet to formally divorce.
They claim to have split following his affair with a much younger male colleague on ITV’s This Morning but still spend most of their time together.
‘Jessica’s party was straight off the back of allegations that Gino had stroked his genitals on set, that he would thrust his crotch at staff and that he was pretty horrid,’ said a source close to the two families. ‘Yet there she was, posing for pictures with him.’
If anything, the furore has brought the pair closer, the source adds: ‘This has hit them both hard, but Jessica knows the truth.’
Chef Gino D’Acampo and wife Jessica, who is standing by her scandal-hit husband
Such loyalty is something of a must-have quality in the wives of certain TV stars these days. Take the scandal that engulfed Schofield, which seems only to have strengthened his bond with Stephanie. As a friend of hers said: ‘Stephanie is so keen to show her loyalty even though he was having a relationship with a man behind her back.’
Then there’s Gregg Wallace’s better half, Anne-Marie Sterpini, who had to endure weeks of headlines about his lewd behaviour during the 19 years he co-hosted MasterChef.
While such allegations would have shattered many couples, Anne-Marie, 38 still describes herself as ‘wife to Gregg Wallace’ in her Instagram biography (followed by a red loveheart emoji) and Wallace, 60, was recently seen wearing his wedding ring.
Similarly Wynne Evans’s girlfriend Liz Brookes, 50, has stood by the GoCompare singer, 53, despite what must have been a humiliating episode for her.
The Mail on Sunday revealed he made a disgusting suggestion of a three-way sex act involving professional dancer Janette Manrara, 41, as they promoted the Strictly Come Dancing live tour. But a source close to Evans said: ‘Everyone’s rallying around Wynne – Liz included. He is appreciative of all the support he is getting.’
Even Giada Lini, the wife of former Strictly professional Graziano Di Prima, 30, has remained at his side despite the BBC sacking him for kicking his partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals.
So just why are these women refusing to condemn their partners for their bad behaviour?
Wynne Evans’s girlfriend Liz Brookes, 50, has stood by the GoCompare singer, 53,
Stephanie Lowe and Phillip Schofield still have not divorced despite being seperated
One source familiar with some of the wives tells me it is often because they believe their partners’ protestations of innocence.
‘Most of these men deny they did anything wrong,’ says the insider. ‘They are adamant that it either didn’t happen or say there are mitigating factors to minimise the claims against them.
‘They say these things in public, so imagine how much they are saying behind closed doors. They promise it will all go away and hire expensive crisis PRs to stop stories coming out.’
Of course, for some women there is a culture of always siding with their partner over a rival female.
‘It’s not just the wives of celebrities who don’t believe it’s their partner’s fault when they cheat,’ says the source. ‘It is common among so many women; they simply won’t believe the other female.’
The mental fragility of the partner can be a factor, too. Schofield, 62, said he wanted to take his own life after he confessed he had lied over his secret romance with a much younger man. Evans has cited his ‘wellbeing’ as a reason for lying low after his scandal broke. Di Prima did the same.
A friend of one of the wives tells me: ‘Can you imagine the guilt of the women if they walk away and then something happens to their partner? It must be difficult to leave someone if they are saying they are suicidal or severely struggling with their mental health.’
The insider cites Giada Lini as an example. ‘She took part in a joint interview with Graziano to show her support while his PR was briefing about concerns for his mental health. How could you just walk away?’
Then there is the question of money and security. To the outside world, these stars are fabulously wealthy, but the truth is – Schofield aside – they rarely are. D’Acampo still lives a fairly modest life and, if he were to divorce, his finances would be cut in half.
Wallace and Anne-Marie will naturally want to keep their family life stable not just for their own sake, but for their autistic son, Sid.
And Evans’s stock might have fallen heavily, but he remains a big celebrity in Wales.
‘It’s often about the status,’ said the source: ‘The women enjoy a certain lifestyle and they don’t want to lose that. But that doesn’t mean others don’t think they are deeply misguided.’
