Former colleagues of Gino D’Acampo have accused the celebrity chef of ‘bullying’ and ‘intimidation’ on the set of multiple TV productions, according to a new investigation.
Ex-This Morning favourite and restaurateur D’Acampo, 49, is facing multiple complaints from several crew members who worked with him on programmes aired on ITV between 2010 and 2024.
Previous crew members have described feeling ‘belittled’ by the Italian and that they had a ‘fear of him’ on set, as per a new ITV News investigation.
Sue Fowler, former Head of Production on the set of Mr D’Acampo’s 2022 cookery series, Gino’s Italy: Like Mamma Used to Make, informed the probe team that she’d previously raised a complaint about the father-of-three, but that declarations regarding his behaviour were not taken seriously.
Advert
She reasoned this was perhaps ‘because Gino brings in money’.
“Not only was his behaviour tolerated, but it was rewarded. It was rewarded by him getting more commissions, by him fronting more series,” Fowler alleged. “There were no repercussions for Gino; there were repercussions for me.”
The expert said she was ‘absolutely distraught’ and ‘horrified’ by the comments she claimed she heard the TV personality say on set, and that she couldn’t carry on working on the production.
Other complaints of alleged ‘crude language’ and ‘unacceptable behaviour’ were raised on the set of Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South and Gino & Fred: Emission Impossible, both aired by ITV in 2023.
Another report of D’Acampo’s ‘bullying’ stretches back to 2010, the probe said.
The anonymous complaint claimed he had been ‘shouted at’ by the cookbook author, an act that made them feel ‘small’ and ‘belittled’.
ITV News - made by ITN, an independent production company - had reportedly spoken to several crew members on the production where the incident took place.
A spokesperson for ITV stated: “When issues about Gino D’Acampo's behaviour have been brought to ITV's attention, we have looked into them and addressed them.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases. If a new complaint of inappropriate behaviour, whether historical or current, is raised with us, it will be looked into by our Complaints Handling Unit.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told ITV News that ‘the allegations against Gino D'Acampo are deeply concerning.’
"Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace,” they reasoned.
“As the Culture Secretary has previously said, it is right that any allegations of inappropriate behaviour are taken very seriously and that victims are supported and able to challenge behaviour - no matter how famous the star is.
“The government stands strongly against bullying, harassment and discrimination in any sector. The Culture Secretary has been clear and unequivocal in her support for the work of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, and the government is working with industry to ensure their support.”
FOODbible has contacted Gino D’Acampo’s representatives and ITV for further comment.
The fresh allegations come after the celebrity was previously accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague during his five-year tenure as a resident chef on ITV’s This Morning and on Saturday Cooks.
The unnamed woman reportedly logged a complaint with ITV last December. The businessman vehemently denies the allegations.
In a statement to the Mirror at the time, a representative said that D’Acampo was only made aware of the reports after being informed by an outlet.
"No details have been provided, just extremely vague allegations with no specific year or person identified and no context explained,” the spokesperson said.
“None of these allegations have ever been brought to his attention previously, he does not recollect them and does not recognise the allegations or the behaviour which is attributed to him. He denies these allegations."
ITV has not commissioned any further programmes with D’Acampo since the allegations.
Topics: News, Celebrity, TV and Film
Ella Scott