Accusations of Gino D’Acampo’s ‘Inappropriate Behavior’ Towards ITV Employee Lead to Complaint After Five Years: Woman Who Worked with TV Chef on This Morning and Saturday Cooks Raises Concerns with Management

A woman who worked with Gino D’Acampo at ITV for five years has come forward accusing him of harassment, stating that he did and said whatever he wanted.

During his time as the resident chef on This Morning and Saturday Cooks from 2006 to 2011, the 48-year-old Italian chef allegedly displayed inappropriate behavior towards the accuser.

The accuser, who chose to remain anonymous, decided to share her experience after witnessing Gregg Wallace facing consequences for his conduct on MasterChef following complaints about his actions.

She is said to have complained to ITV last week, just as Mr Wallace apologised for claiming ‘middle class women of a certain age’ were to blame for his fall from grace.

It came after reports over the weekend that Gino refused to sign a ‘morality clause’ for his most recent ITV series with his friend Fred Sirieix. 

He was also quietly dropped from foodie travel show Gordon [Ramsay], Gino and Fred last year. In one episode he bared his bottom in lewd chaps while visiting cowboy-country in Texas.

Gino, whose new series of Family Fortunes, which has already been filmed and is due for broadcast next year, also has a sporran, which he calls Justin Beaver, and regularly flashes on location. An insider has claimed that Gino sees himself as a ‘cheeky Italian chappy’ and there is no malice in his jokes.

A source said of the new complaint: ‘She worked [with Gino] for five years. She has come forward after being spurred on by the Gregg Wallace scandal and the comment he made about his accusers being middle-class women of a certain age’.

The insider told The Sun: ‘Her view is she is the middle-aged woman who believes young women shouldn’t have to put up with this kind of behaviour any more.

‘Gino was younger and not as well-known then. He used to say he didn’t want to become famous as he would have to curtail his behaviour.

‘He said and did whatever he wanted. Everyone was aware and she was subjected to shocking behaviour which she told ITV about last week.’ 

While father-of-three D’Acampo did not respond to an opportunity to comment over the weekend, a source on set did admit that the accusations could be a ‘generational issue’ and that the 48-year-old thinks of himself as a ‘cheeky Italian chappy’. 

It came as it emerged that Gino was ordered to complete a language and behavioural course by ITV.

The flamboyant chef was placed on the programme amid concerns about the way he treated female colleagues on his new show Emission Impossible.

Sources said filming of the programme was halted after crew complained he made inappropriate jokes behind the scenes. 

Some were allegedly offered counselling after filming of the show, co-hosted by Fred Sirieix, was complete.

ITV sources said it comes four years after channel bosses had ‘a serious word’ with D’Acampo, 48, about his off-screen exploits on foodie travel show Gordon, Gino And Fred: Road Trip.

It was claimed he had acted inappropriately towards women and made off-colour jokes. He was also caught with cannabis in his luggage by sniffer dogs. 

D’Acampo was quietly dropped from the programme last year after he refused to sign a morality clause in his contract.

Yesterday, sources claimed that he is being sidelined by ITV amid concerns he may turn into ‘another Gregg Wallace’.

Father-of-three D’Acampo did not respond to a request for comment last night.

ITV said: ‘We made our position clear following the outcome of our KC Review last year after which we said, “We are completely committed to creating an environment where everyone is treated with respect and feels able to give of their best”.

‘Our promise to those we work with is that where a complaint is made, or serious concerns raised, we will always investigate and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action.

‘We will continue to develop our efforts to give junior colleagues the confidence to speak up if they have something to raise.

‘Following the review we reiterated our expectations and introduced Conduct and Standards Guidelines for On Screen Personalities which outlines our expectations in terms of behaviour, and have also previously offered training in language and behaviour, either directly or through our third party producers, where appropriate.’

On Saturday it was reported that D’Acampo is being slowly sidelined by ITV amid a string of inappropriate behaviour claims.

It is understood the Italian chef was secretly ditched from Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip after refusing to sign a morality clause in his contract.

A morality clause, also known as a morals clause, is a provision within a contract that requires an individual or party to adhere to certain behavioural standards. The clause gives the other party the right to terminate the contract if the first party behaves in a way that negatively impacts the other party’s reputation or image. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Whilst Gino is very well-liked by some, he has fallen out with many. He loves a party and, ultimately, refused to sign the morality clause in his contract which would keep him on the straight and narrow. This was the final straw and the decision was made to part ways.

‘He was quite stroppy on the set of Emission Impossible and, following an accident on set, the crew were offered therapy because they found the resulting fall-out very hard. 

‘Filming was halted and Gino was put on a training course.’

The source explained Gino has a sporran, the pocket on a Scottish kilt, which he calls Justin Beaver and regularly flashes. 

Gino is due on air next year for a series of Family Fortunes which has already been filmed. 

Last November Gino was caught with cannabis in his luggage by sniffer dogs as he flew into the UK after filming with Gordon and Fred. 

Gino was allegedly given a warning and a source reported that he called Gordon and Fred the following day to explain he had been smoking it to help his bad back, as they added that he was released by police ‘without issue’.

It is claimed Gordon and Fred were both angry about the situation, particularly as Gordon has always been vocal about his anti-drugs stance.

Meanwhile the star found himself at the centre of complaints from staff left feeling ‘uncomfortable’ by his behaviour towards them back in March 2023. 

The Mail on Sunday understands that employees working on Gordon, Gino & Fred: Road Trip had made their concerns known to producers. 

One source said that ‘some people’ who work with him do not like how he operates both on set and at extra-curricular events such as wrap parties.

The news followed Gino admitting that he has decided to quit the show, saying he doesn’t want ‘stressful’ contract talks to ruin his friendship with his co-stars.

Although the complaints are not thought to be a contributing factor to his decision to leave after four series, they have been noted by bosses at Studio Ramsay – the company founded by Gordon Ramsay that makes the programme. 

A show insider said: ‘Crews, contributors and television executives see how Gino behaves. It is much discussed around the industry, which isn’t ideal.’

While father-of-three D’Acampo did not respond to an opportunity to comment on the complaints yesterday, a source on set did admit that the accusations could be a ‘generational issue’ and that the 46-year-old thinks of himself as a ‘cheeky Italian chappy’.

They said: ‘Gino has an old-school attitude and often thinks he is being funny when perhaps those who are somewhat younger than him would take a different view.

‘There are times that he has made people feel uncomfortable but there is currently the whole millennial versus older generation thing going on in television at the moment.’