Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo is facing serious allegations of inappropriate behavior, leading ITV to remove his shows from its schedule.

The network has pulled episodes of Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South and has reportedly abandoned plans to air episodes of Family Fortunes filmed in 2023.

The accusations, spanning more than a decade, come from multiple individuals

who claim to have experienced what they describe as “unacceptable,” “distressing,” and “horrendous” behavior from the television personality.

D’Acampo, 48, has strongly denied all allegations, calling them “deeply upsetting” and insisting that he would never intentionally act in a way that would cause distress.

ITV Drops Gino D’Acampo’s Shows from the Schedule

In response to the growing controversy, ITV has decided to pull two episodes of Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South, which were originally set to air on Sunday evening on ITVBe. Instead, Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes will be broadcast in its place.

Furthermore, Family Fortunes, which D’Acampo has hosted since 2020, is also being affected. Reports suggest that ITV will not be airing any of the episodes filmed last year, with sources indicating that the network has “no plans” to continue working with him.

Allegations Against Gino D’Acampo

One of the women, referred to as “Hannah” to protect her identity, alleged that during an encounter in 2011, D’Acampo made a vulgar and explicit comment about wanting to perform a sexual act with her against a kitchen counter. She claimed that while some crew members laughed, others appeared “shocked” and “horrified.”

Speaking to ITV News, Hannah described the incident as a “power play” and an “aggressive act,” stating:

“He did not think that was an inappropriate thing to say to me. I felt very, very, very small.”

In response to these allegations, D’Acampo’s legal representatives denied any wrongdoing.

“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 shared a separate incident, alleging that D’Acampo once answered the door wearing only his boxer shorts before jumping onto a bed and making an inappropriate remark about his body. She described the moment as “disgusting” and “completely inappropriate.”

D’Acampo’s legal team also rejected this claim, stating:

“Mr. D’Acampo categorically denies these allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. 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. He does not accept them, not least because some of this is considered by Mr. D’Acampo to be a fabricated work of fiction.”

Gino D’Acampo Responds to the Accusations

Following the accusations, D’Acampo issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and expressing his dismay over the situation. Speaking to ITV News, he 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 recognize the version of events being put to me.”

He further emphasized that throughout his career, he has worked with thousands of people and has always conducted himself professionally.

“Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, but I have also been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programs 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 is deeply upsetting.”

Future Uncertain for Gino D’Acampo’s TV Career

The scandal has cast uncertainty over D’Acampo’s future in television. While ITV has not made an official long-term decision, its swift action in pulling his shows suggests the network is distancing itself from the chef amid the ongoing controversy.

For now, the celebrity chef maintains his innocence, but with multiple individuals coming forward with allegations, the situation remains tense. Whether D’Acampo will return to television in the future remains to be seen.