TV chef and presenter Gino D’Acampo is facing multiple allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour after an ITV investigation. Dozens of people came forward to describe unprofessional behaviour exhibited by D’Acampo over 12 years, describing encounters with him as “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous”.
One woman told ITV News that while on the set of a magazine shoot, D’Acampo said in front of the entire crew he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter.”
She said there was then “a ripple of laughs” while the people stood beside her “looked nervously into their cups of tea”. The woman said she felt “horror” and “shock”, believing it to be a “power play”.
“I definitely saw it as some kind of power play. The very act of what he said was aggressive,” the woman told ITV News.
Another woman shared an encounter with D’Acampo on a TV production several years later.
“He opened the door in his boxer shorts, nothing else. And jumped on the bed and was sort of – leg up.
“We had to sort of sit there facing him and he made, you know, reference to his d***, basically saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry, it’s only small’, and sort of flicking it.”
She said it made her feel “disgusted”. Adding: “I think he feels he’s in a position of power and he can say and do what he wants. I see it all as quite aggressive, really.”
Other accusations of aggressive behaviour were made. One woman detailed witnessing the celebrity chef shout at a young colleague: “I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto I will f*** your girlfriend.'”
Multiple allegations came from the 2018 filming of ‘Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip’.
One woman said D’Acampo walked in one morning shouting: “he felt like f****** that morning.”
It is also alleged he spoke about a female colleague on set, saying: “Shouldn’t we be talking about her t***, they’re perfect, they’re like a mouthful.”
And the he also said to a young colleague: “When are we all going to get drunk and have sex together.”
ITV News’ investigation claims that at least one production company was aware of D’Acampo’s behaviour, saying there is “evidence concerns were raised with production company Objective Media Group over several sexualised comments to members of the team.”
In an email sent in December 2024, following up on a meeting that happened in 2018, D’Acampo’s behaviour was described as “unacceptable and distressing”, and included comments he was heard to have made such as describing a woman as a “bitter middle aged woman who needed to get laid”, saying he was “so hungry I could eat somebody’s t***”, and describing mozzarella as “wetter than p******.”
Objective Media Group’s response to this 2024 email, which had been seeking assurance that the bad behaviour was not continuing, explained that D’Acampo had been “spoken to about the differences between on screen character material and behaviour off screen with members of the team”.
In a statement to ITV News via his legal team, D’Acampo “firmly denied” the “deeply upsetting” allegations.
He said he had “never been made aware of these matters previously”.
Adding: “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”.
Objective Media Group said: “Gino D’Acampo was spoken to regarding his off-screen behaviour. Bespoke training was then provided and completed”.
The production company also said: “We have robust protocols and procedures in place for all cast and crew, including on-screen talent, that we review regularly whilst also ensuring that we take into account developments regarding industry wide ‘Duty of Care’ guidelines.
“Across all productions we encourage people to raise any concerns at the earliest opportunity… If there are incidents or complaints reported, we implement our Escalation Procedure and ensure that a full and thorough process is followed in close collaboration with the broadcaster.”
Gordon Ramsay’s production company, Studio Ramsay, have also made a comment, saying: “Whilst we do not disclose or discuss personnel matters publicly, Studio Ramsay is committed, in conjunction with our broadcast partners, to a safe and professional work environment. We take all allegations of inappropriate behaviour and workplace misconduct seriously, promptly investigate, and take appropriate remedial action when warranted.”