Gino D’Acampo’s statement in full as he’s accused of ‘sexually inappropriate behaviour’

Gino D’Acampo has after an ITV News investigation uncovered “dozens” of allegations against him on various TV programmes over 12 years.

Allegations involve the usage of sexualised and hostile language on set and his alleged behaviour has been described as “unacceptable, distressing and horrendous”.

D’Acampo, 48, has “firmly denied” these accusations, saying that such behaviour is “simply not in my nature” and expressing how the claims are “deeply upsetting”.

In a statement to the TV chef said: “I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over 10 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.”

His legal team also released a statement, saying: “Mr D’Acampo categorically denies these allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

“To his knowledge no such allegations have been made against him in relation to his time on ‘Gino’s Italian Express’ and this is the first time, six years later, he has been informed of these alleged incidents, and he does not accept them, not least because some of this is considered by Mr D’Acampo to be a fabricated work of fiction.”

Allegations from one woman, referred to as Hannah, claim D’Acampo directed sexualised comments at her during a magazine photoshoot in 2011. Another woman alleged seeing him intimidate a young colleague in 2019.

Furthermore, two additional women have accused DAcampo of making sexual remarks while on the set of Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018.

ITV News obtained information suggesting that the executives at Objective Media Group, involved in the co-production of Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018, were privy to the accusations, corroborated by an email found last year that described behaviour by D’Acampo as “unacceptable and distressing”.

Objective Media Group said that it “takes the welfare and wellbeing of all its production staff and teams incredibly seriously”, incorporating “behavioural clauses in talent contracts” and providing “behavioural training for on-screen talent”. 

MultiStory Media, the company behind Gino’s Italian Express, stated it would be “inappropriate to go into the detail of individual concerns”, but confirmed it was “reviewing the concerns which have been raised, what was known at the time and what action was taken”. The company also said it would look into any new concerns that have come to life.

Studio Ramsay, the producer of Gino’s Italian Family Adventure and co-producer of Gordon, Gino And Fred’s Road Trip in 2018, issued a statement to ITV News. It declared that it takes “all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and workplace misconduct seriously, promptly investigate, and take appropriate remedial action when warranted”.

An ITV spokesperson described the allegations as “inappropriate and unacceptable”, adding that “production companies have the primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen, when making shows”.

The spokesperson further noted: “Most of (the allegations) were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.”