Former TV and radio presenter Melanie Sykes blasted the television industry as she broke her silence on the ongoing Gino D’Acampo claims.
The TV chef, 48, worked alongside Sykes, 55, between 2011 and 2014 when they hosted ITV’s Let’s Do Lunch together.
Commenting on the recent accusations against D’Acampo, Sykes fumed how there is “no protection” for those on the receiving end of misconduct as she talked about the accusations which have surfaced against her former co-star.
Sykes admitted “the industry has created monsters” as she reflected on her 24-year stint in the entertainment industry before she called it quits in 2021 following an inappropriate remark from now-disgraced former BBC MasterChef star Gregg Wallace.
D’Acampo is facing multiple allegations in inappropriate behaviour, with reports going back as far as 12 years.
The Italian chef, who has worked for ITV for 15 years, is now under investigation following the claims, which he told ITV that he “firmly denied”, adding they were “deeply upsetting”.
Melanie Sykes and Gino D’Acampo presented ITV’s Let’s Do Lunch from 2011 to 2014
Getty
Opening up on her YouTube channel about her own experiences, mother-of-two Sykes slammed former ITV game show Celebrity Juice as she considered the television culture that allowed certain behaviours to manifest. “Celebrity Juice was an abomination, the industry creates monsters,” she noted.
“I remember once when Gino said to me he can just go up to the powers that be and knock on the door and go in, he doesn’t need a meeting.
“He was quite pleased with himself that he could do that.”
The former host added: “I feel like I was in a war zone in that industry – 24 years of battling through an industry that didn’t feel right to me anyway.
Melanie Sykes recently stepped away from her television career
Getty
“If you’re spending all your time cleaning up people’s s***, just clean the house, clean out the house and start again, that’s all I’m saying,” she argued.
When she appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, Sykes felt undermined as a presenter when Wallace told her it “would do a lot” for her career, MailOnline reports.
Following complaints about misconduct, Wallace gas been dropped from the BBC, with more than 13 women having come forward to accuse him of sexually inappropriate behaviour over a 17-year period.
“There is no protection,” Sykes went on. “None of this is being done behind closed doors, some of its being done behind close doors, but it’s happening on set on the telly.
“And when channels say, ‘It’s not our problem because it’s with a production company,’ it’s just appalling.”
ITV recently issued a full response over D’Acampo following an ITV News investigation which allegedly uncovered numerous allegations.
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Gino D’Acampo has denied all allegations against himPA
Through his legal team, D’Acampo categorically denied all allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour.
“I have been told by ITV News that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago,” D’Acampo said in a statement to ITV News.
“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.”
D’Acampo added: “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.”