Fresh allegations of bullying and intimidation have surfaced against television chef Gino D'Acampo, concerning his behaviour on the set of his former ITV cookery programmes. According to a new investigation, complaints about the 49-year-old star were repeatedly ignored by network bosses, who allegedly failed to intervene because the presenter brought in substantial revenue.
A Culture of Fear on Set
The claims follow D'Acampo's departure from ITV earlier this year, which itself was prompted by separate accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women, which the chef has denied. The new investigation by ITV news reveals that crew members were left fearful of the star, with one producer coming forward with a specific, disturbing incident.
Sue Fowler, a TV producer who worked on Gino’s Italy: Like Mamma Used to Make in 2022, stated that there were no repercussions for the celebrity chef and that staff were too intimidated to speak out. She recounted filing a formal complaint after D'Acampo made a vile comment about a crew member who collapsed on set from a suspected heart attack.
Fowler alleged that D'Acampo told staff to package up the injured man and send him back like they do on Amazon Prime. She further claimed he declared, 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.
Ignored Complaints and Controversial Comeback
Another individual present on set supported these allegations, telling ITV that D'Acampo also remarked, If he is going to die, he better die quietly. Despite these serious complaints, it is alleged that no meaningful action was taken by ITV management at the time.
Since his ITV shows were pulled from UK television, D'Acampo has been attempting a career revival abroad. Last week, during his comeback tour in Canada to promote his new series An Italian In Canada, he was filmed sucking spaghetti from a female fan's mouth.
The tour featured several risqué moments, including inviting men on stage to whisk eggs before having them turn their backs to the audience, in a move that seemingly suggested a lewd act. In a separate incident, a female fan appeared to slap him on the shoulder, seemingly taking offence to his choice of words.
A Pattern of Behaviour and Future Prospects
This behaviour appears to be part of a pattern. Earlier this year, during an appearance on Maltese radio, D'Acampo made a series of smutty jokes, boasting about Italian men giving maximum satisfaction and telling the female host she was too pretty for radio. He also made controversial comments about women's diets, stating that only dogs like bones and that men want things to grab.
Despite the controversy, the Daily Mail has reported that D'Acampo is poised to make a comeback with the support of some female producers he has previously worked with, who reportedly believe he has been wronged. They are said to be helping him in his bid to clear his name and return to television screens.
Representatives for both Gino D'Acampo and ITV have been contacted by the Daily Mail for comment regarding the latest allegations.
