Richard Osman has shared his thoughts on the ongoing controversy surrounding Gino D’Acampo, 

offering insight into why the TV chef’s programmes have been pulled from ITV’s broadcast schedules. 

Speaking on his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, which he co-hosts with journalist Marina Hyde, Osman addressed the fallout from the recent allegations against D’Acampo.

The Pointless presenter and former TV producer weighed in on the situation following an ITV News investigation, 

which accused the 48-year-old chef of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behavior. 

Several individuals have come forward with claims that his actions were “unacceptable” and “horrendous,” spanning over 12 years.

Osman: It’s Not About a Single Incident, but a Pattern

During the discussion, Osman pushed back against the idea that D’Acampo’s removal was an overreaction, explaining that networks don’t make such decisions lightly.

“You could look at it on one level, as some of the papers and commentators have, and say, ‘Oh my God, you can’t say anything anymore, this is a huge overreaction, yada yada yada,’” Osman remarked. “But people do not lose their job just because they said a couple of things a couple of times. It’s a pattern of behavior, it’s upset a number of people over a number of years.”

His comments suggest that ITV’s decision to pull D’Acampo’s shows was based on multiple complaints rather than a one-off incident. According to Osman, when complaints persist over a long period, it often signals a deeper issue within a workplace.

“If Your Crew Loves You, You Don’t Get Fired”

Osman also touched on how industry insiders typically react to allegations of misconduct. He suggested that if a presenter is well-liked by their colleagues and crew, they are more likely to be given the benefit of the doubt.

“We’ve said before on this show, if you’re in trouble as a presenter but actually your crew loves you, and people who work with you go, ‘That’s just what they do, and he’s a really decent guy,’ then you don’t get fired,” he explained.

This implies that the backlash against D’Acampo may have been compounded by widespread dissatisfaction among those who worked with him.

Marina Hyde: Gino’s Persona May Have Delayed Action

Osman’s co-host, Marina Hyde, explored why D’Acampo’s alleged misconduct might have gone unchecked for so long. She pointed out that the Italian chef had cultivated a cheeky, larger-than-life personality on television, which may have caused people to overlook or dismiss inappropriate behavior.

“It’s interesting that nobody confronts [him] in that situation, and there’s lots of different reasons,” she said. “There’s a sort of reason that it’s just ‘Gino being Gino,’ and there is very much a persona that he has been encouraged to play up to.”

This aligns with previous remarks made by John Barrowman, who recently suggested that TV producers had actively encouraged D’Acampo’s on-screen behavior, only to later distance themselves when it became controversial.

The Role of TV Production Costs in Addressing Misconduct

Hyde also highlighted another possible reason why ITV may have allowed D’Acampo’s behavior to continue for years: the cost-effectiveness of his shows.

She explained that because the chef’s programmes are relatively inexpensive to produce, studio executives may have been reluctant to halt filming to reprimand him. “There are these constant value judgments being made by people. ‘How bad is it?’” she noted.

In other words, production teams might have tolerated questionable behavior to avoid disruptions that could cost time and money.

ITV’s Response and the Future of Gino D’Acampo

Following the allegations, ITV has removed D’Acampo’s shows from its schedule while an investigation is underway. Reports indicate that more than 40 individuals have come forward, either to share their experiences of inappropriate behavior or to vouch for the chef.

D’Acampo has strongly denied the accusations through his legal representatives, calling them “deeply upsetting.” In a statement, he defended his reputation, saying:

“I am a father, a 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.”

Despite his denial, the fallout from the investigation has already had a significant impact on his career. With his shows pulled and his future in broadcasting uncertain, it remains to be seen whether he can recover from the controversy.

A Changing TV Landscape

Osman and Hyde’s discussion reflects a broader shift in the television industry, where allegations of inappropriate conduct are now taken more seriously than in previous decades. As social attitudes evolve, behaviors that were once dismissed as “harmless fun” are now being scrutinized through a more critical lens.

The Rest is Entertainment podcast offered valuable insight into how networks handle such controversies behind the scenes. Osman’s remarks suggest that while public outcry plays a role, internal support (or lack thereof) from colleagues and production crews is often what ultimately determines a presenter’s fate.

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