Celebrity chef Gino D’Acampo has been rocked by shocking allegations of sexually inappropriate and intimidating behaviour, with multiple former colleagues coming forward to share their experiences, an explosive ITV News investigation has revealed.
The Italian TV star, known for his cheeky on-screen persona, is now at the centre of claims from dozens of people who describe his alleged conduct over the past 12 years as ‘distressing,’ ‘unacceptable,’ and even ‘horrendous.’
According to ITV News, at least one production company was aware of repeated complaints from staff members about D’Acampo’s behaviour – yet continued to work with him on further TV projects.
One woman, given the pseudonym Hannah, described a disturbing moment during a magazine shoot in 2011.
She claims that, in front of an entire crew, D’Acampo made an explicit sexual comment, telling her he would ‘like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter,’ leaving her humiliated.
‘I remember a ripple of laughter,’ she recalled, while others ‘looked nervously into their cups of tea.’
Hannah said the incident left her feeling ‘horror’ and ‘shock’ but admitted she was not surprised no one intervened.
D’Acampo has firmly denied all allegations, calling them ‘deeply upsetting.’
Gino D’Acampo, known for his cheeky on-screen persona, is now at the centre of claims from dozens of people who describe his alleged conduct over the past 12 years as ‘distressing’
D’Acampo, who has built a multi-million-pound career on his larger-than-life personality, has denied all allegations against him
His legal team said: ‘This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request, been raised or put to Mr D’Acampo. He does not recall it, nor accept that it happened.’
Another woman, given the pseudonym Natalie, recounted an unsettling experience while briefing D’Acampo for a location shoot.
‘He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else,’ she claimed.
‘Then he jumped on the bed, put his leg up and made a crude reference to his private parts, joking about their size.’
Natalie described feeling ‘disgusted’ and accused the TV chef of using his position to behave inappropriately.
D’Acampo’s legal team strongly refuted this version of events, stating:’To his knowledge, no such allegations have been made against him in relation to ‘Gino’s Italian Express’.
‘This is the first time – six years later – that he has been informed of these alleged incidents, which he categorically denies.’
In yet another claim, a former colleague alleged that in 2019, D’Acampo aggressively confronted a young crew member over an ice cream.
‘I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto, I will f*** your girlfriend,’ the woman told ITV News.
Another crew member who witnessed the incident said the remark had ‘stuck in my head for years.’
A former colleague alleged that in 2019, D’Acampo aggressively confronted a young crew member over an ice cream
‘He was using his power to bully and intimidate us,’ she said. ‘For what? A cookery programme.’
D’Acampo’s representatives responded, saying he was ‘mortified’ by the accusation and ‘does not recall this incident at all.’
A separate claim relates to the filming of Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip in 2018.
A woman, referred to as Lena, recalled: ‘Without saying hello or good morning, he just loudly announced he felt like f****** that morning.’
Another crew member claimed D’Acampo made a crude comment about a female colleague’s chest, allegedly saying:
‘Shouldn’t we be talking about her t**? They’re perfect, like a mouthful.’
It has since emerged that Objective Media Group, the production company behind Gordon, Gino and Fred, was aware of complaints about D’Acampo as early as 2018.
One woman who worked on Gino’s Italian Express told ITV News: ‘His ‘cheeky chappy’ persona allows him to hide in plain sight. If I see him on TV, I have to leave the room.’
D’Acampo, who has built a multi-million-pound career on his larger-than-life personality, has denied all allegations against him.
His legal team said: ‘No-one has ever made these complaints directly to Mr D’Acampo. He does not recall making these comments, nor does he accept that they were made.’
ITV News has seen emails from December 2024 confirming concerns were raised with Objective Media Group over D’Acampo’s behaviour.
With ITV and production companies now facing questions about how they handled past complaints, the future of Gino D’Acampo’s TV career remains uncertain
In response, the company admitted that he was ‘spoken to’ about his off-screen conduct and ‘bespoke training’ was provided.
A separate statement from ITV stressed: ‘We can categorically confirm that this kind of behaviour is not tolerated by ITV.’
With ITV and production companies now facing questions about how they handled past complaints, the future of Gino D’Acampo’s TV career remains uncertain.
For now, the celebrity chef insists he has been unfairly accused.
Responding to the allegations, in a statement to ITV News, Gino D’Acampo 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 recognise the version of events being put to me.
‘Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes 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 against is deeply upsetting.’
MailOnline has contacted D’Acampo’s representatives for comment.
