Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has firmly denied claims of inappropriate behaviour towards dozens of women on the sets of popular TV programmes that he hosted.
An ITV News investigation reported many allegations of misconduct made against D’Acampo, which date back more than 12 years.
One woman alleged D’Acampo made sexualised comments towards her while they were working on a magazine shoot in 2011.
Another woman interviewed by ITV News claimed she had witnessed him threaten a young colleague in 2019, with another two women accusing D’Acampo of making sexual remarks while working on Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018.
The ITV News report said executives at Objective Media Group, which co-produced Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018, were aware of the concerns, with an email seen by the broadcaster, sent last year, detailing “unacceptable and distressing” behaviour by D’Acampo.
Objective Media Group 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”.
MultiStory Media, which produced Gino’s Italian Express, said it would be “inappropriate to go into the detail of individual concerns” but that it was “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,” it added.
Multistory Media told the PA news agency it has not worked with D’Acampo for six years.
In a statement to ITV News, Studio Ramsay, which produced the show Gino’s Italian Family Adventure and co-produced Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018, said it takes “all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and workplace misconduct seriously, promptly investigate, and take appropriate remedial action when warranted”.
In a comment issued to ITV News, D’Acampo’s legal team said: “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.”