Gino D’Acampo ‘Made Disgusting Sexual Comments’ About Holly Willoughby as ITV Accused of Ignoring Complaints

TV chef Gino D’Acampo is facing a wave of misconduct allegations, including claims that he made inappropriate sexual remarks about his former This Morning co-star Holly Willoughby. 

The accusations, which reportedly span over 12 years, suggest that ITV bosses were repeatedly warned about his alleged behavior but failed to take action.

Allegations of Inappropriate Comments

According to reports, D’Acampo, 48, made a crude remark when asked whether he would prefer to sleep with Willoughby or her close friend and fellow television star Fearne Cotton. 

He allegedly responded: “If I could put the face of one on the body of the other then maybe, but I’d probably choose Holly because I’d have more fun with her.”

A woman who witnessed the conversation described the remark as “vile and disgusting” and said she felt compelled to report it to ITV. However, she claims that her complaint, made in 2018, was dismissed by the network. She alleged that ITV’s response was dismissive, stating: “They essentially told me to go away.”

Longstanding Complaints from ITV Crew

The accusations against D’Acampo extend beyond inappropriate comments. Multiple members of production teams have reportedly raised concerns about his behavior over the years, with some describing him as “difficult to work with” and a source claiming that crew members “dreaded” being on set with him.

It is alleged that he frequently made explicit jokes about his genitalia and engaged in sexually suggestive conversations. According to reports, ITV management was formally warned about his conduct as recently as 2023.

Serious Misconduct Claims

An investigation by ITV News uncovered further troubling accusations, including claims of sexually aggressive language and bullying behavior. One reported incident from 2011 involved D’Acampo allegedly telling a female colleague that he would like to “turn [her] over and f*** [her] up the a*** against the kitchen counter.”

Another woman alleged that, during a location shoot, the chef greeted her while wearing only his boxers and made an inappropriate comment about his private parts.

A separate accusation from 2019 claims that D’Acampo threatened a young crew member in an aggressive exchange over ice cream. The report alleges that he said: “If you don’t get me a Cornetto, I will f** your girlfriend.”*

D’Acampo’s representatives have denied the allegations, stating that he is “mortified” by the claims and does not recall the incidents described.

ITV Responds and Takes Action

Following the emergence of these allegations, ITV has made several programming decisions regarding D’Acampo. The network has confirmed that Family Fortunes, which he hosted, has been axed. Additionally, two episodes of his travel series, Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South, which were scheduled to air over the weekend, have been pulled from the broadcast lineup.

Despite these actions, ITV has yet to provide a full response regarding the claims that they ignored previous complaints about his behavior. The network has faced increasing pressure to address its handling of misconduct allegations, particularly in the wake of other high-profile scandals in the British television industry.

D’Acampo’s Response

D’Acampo has firmly denied the accusations, calling them “deeply upsetting” and insisting they do not reflect his character. In a statement, he said: “These claims are simply not in my nature. I have always prided myself on treating my colleagues with respect and professionalism.”

His representatives have also emphasized that he does not remember making any of the statements attributed to him.

Holly Willoughby and ITV Yet to Comment

Holly Willoughby, who worked alongside D’Acampo for years on This Morning, has not publicly addressed the allegations. Her representatives have also declined to comment on whether she was aware of his alleged behavior.

Meanwhile, ITV has yet to release a statement specifically addressing claims that they ignored complaints from staff and crew members. However, with increasing public scrutiny and pressure from industry insiders, the network may soon be forced to respond more directly.

A Growing Scandal in British Television

The controversy surrounding D’Acampo is the latest in a series of scandals to rock British television, raising further questions about workplace culture and the responsibilities of broadcasters to protect employees from misconduct.

As the allegations continue to unfold, many will be watching to see how ITV handles the fallout and whether additional complaints from former colleagues or crew members emerge in the coming weeks. For now, D’Acampo remains firm in his denial of any wrongdoing, but the accusations against him have already had a significant impact on his television career.

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