TV chef Gino D’Acampo denies inappropriate behaviour claims

Movie star chef Gino D’Acampo has denied quite a few allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour on the set of his tv programmes.

The claims got here to mild in an investigation revealed by ITV Information, which mentioned it had spoken to “dozens” of people that accused him of “unacceptable”, “distressing” and “horrendous” feedback.

In a press release to ITV Information by way of his authorized staff, D’Acampo “firmly denied” the “deeply upsetting” allegations.

BBC Information has approached his consultant for remark.

ITV Information revealed quite a few allegations from nameless accusers who mentioned they’d labored with D’Acampo on TV productions. BBC Information has not spoken to his accusers nor has it verified their claims.

They accused him of aggressive behaviour, utilizing abusive language throughout outbursts on set and utilizing sexualised language.

His behaviour allegedly left some manufacturing employees fearful and uncomfortable, ITV Information reported.

It added that most individuals it spoke to have been freelancers and had been too scared to complain on the time for concern of risking future employment.

One girl claimed D’Acampo made sexualised feedback to her whereas she was working with him on {a magazine} shoot in 2011.

She mentioned: “I positively noticed it as some type of energy play. The very act of what he mentioned was aggressive.”

In a response offered to ITV Information by Gino D’Acampo’s authorized staff, mentioned the allegation had by no means earlier than been raised or put to him.

“He doesn’t recollect it, nor settle for that this occurred. Mr D’Acampo is horrified to be accused of “energy play” and an “aggressive act”. He emphatically and unequivocally denies these allegations” .

One other girl interviewed by ITV Information alleged D’Acampo opened the door to her in solely his boxing shorts whereas engaged on location for a TV manufacturing a number of years later.

She claimed he then jumped on the mattress and made reference to his penis, making her really feel “disgusted”.

Gino D’Acampo’s authorized staff mentioned he “categorically denies” the allegations.

“That is the primary time, six years later, he has been knowledgeable of those alleged incidents, and he doesn’t settle for them, not least as a result of a few of that is thought-about by Mr D’Acampo to be a fabricated work of fiction,” they mentioned.

Responding extra broadly to the investigation, D’Acampo’s representatives advised ITV Information that he “firmly denied” the claims. He mentioned he had “by no means been made conscious of those issues beforehand”.

An announcement continued: “I’m a father, husband and have labored with nicely over 1,500 folks on round 80 productions in my profession, which I’ve been so pleased with.

“I take such issues extraordinarily critically,” he mentioned, including that the suggestion that he acted in an improper manner was “deeply upsetting”.

D’Acampo, 48, has been an everyday on UK tv because the early 2000s. He has primarily labored for ITV, together with on quite a few cooking and journey exhibits, in addition to making appearances on different leisure programmes.

The Italian-born chef and broadcaster has additionally made appearances on BBC programmes.

In a press release, ITV mentioned manufacturing firms “have the first accountability for the responsibility of care of everybody they work with”.

The broadcaster mentioned it had “strengthened” insurance policies about what requirements they anticipate from manufacturing firms it really works with within the final 5 years.

An announcement continued: “All the considerations and complaints raised by those that have spoken to ITN [the producer of ITV News] describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable.

“Most of them weren’t reported to ITV on the time. The place points have been raised with ITV motion has been taken.”

The allegations observe a latest BBC Information investigation into the behaviour of one other TV chef, MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace, who was accused of constructing inappropriate sexual feedback by 13 folks.

Wallace’s legal professionals have mentioned it’s solely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature. MasterChef’s manufacturing firm Banijay UK is presently investigating the claims.

Within the wake of the claims about Wallace, the tradition secretary Lisa Nandy warned there have been “too many cultures of silence”, and warned she was “ready to take additional motion” if the media trade could not handle claims of misconduct.