clear move
ITV ‘doesn’t want a repeat of Philip Schofield scandal’ as it axes Gino D’Acampo over ‘sexually inappropriate behaviour’
Shows starring the TV chef scheduled for this weekend have already been pulled
ITV are understood to be keen to avoid a repetition of the Phillip Schofield scandal after claims of Gino D'Acampo's alleged inappropriate behaviour whilst at the channel were raised.
An ITV News investigation claimed to have found multiple instances of the celebrity chef acting inappropriately as well as making lewd and sexual comments to members of staff on his television productions.
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The scandal comes less than two years after former This Morning host Phillip Schofield was engulfed in a similar scandal as a result of the nature of his affair with a much younger junior colleague on the ITV daytime show, where Gino has appeared many times.
It is also just months after fellow TV cooking show star Gregg Wallace found himself axed from his TV roles amid similar allegations.
Insiders close to the situation now say that ITV want to avoid a repeat of Phillip's scandal and have proven this by axing Gino from their schedules instantly and shelving plans for any future work with the TV star.
A source told the Mail Online of the scenario: "He’s in a lot of trouble and ITV don’t want to be in a BBC situation [with Gregg Wallace] or have a repeat of Schofield so they are covering all their bases."
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In order to make their stance clear, ITV have dropped two episodes of Gino's Italy: Secrets of the South which were set to air this weekend and it will not be airing Family Fortunes going forward.
Gino's Italy: Secrets of the South was originally meant to air between 6pm and 7pm on Sunday on ITVBe, but has been replaced by Abbey Clancy: Celebrity Homes.
Family Fortunes, which D'Acampo hosts, has also been axed.
ITV News reports episodes of the game show that were filmed in 2023 will not be broadcast - and there is nothing else in the pipeline for him.
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"Most recently Gino D'Acampo has been the host of one of ITV's longest-running gameshows Family Fortunes," ITV News states.
"But ITV News understands the series, filmed in 2023, is not currently scheduled for broadcast and ITV has no plans to work with D'Acampo."
Watch Gino D'Acampo say he ‘played around Holly Willoughby’s genitals’ in resurfaced This Morning clip
Dozens of allegations have been made against the TV chef, spanning over 14 years - and ITV News has seen evidence at least one production company was aware of concerns made by crew.
D'Acampo, 48, says he ";firmly denied" all allegations made against him.
And Gino's travel show with Fred Sirieix won't get another ITV series after the investigation into his "sexually inappropriate" behaviour.
ITV has decided to axe the series, Emission Impossible, after just two episodes.
It followed Gino, 48, and Fred, 53, on an epic eco-friendly adventure across Austria and Croatia as they discovered the true cost of going green.
But now a source has told The Sun: "Even though viewers loved Gino and Fred's chemistry, their Emission Impossible shows were only ever meant as a two part special."
They added: "There has never been a conversation about turning it into a full series or even another special."
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