New allegations have emerged against TV chef Gino D’Acampo, accusing him of bullying and intimidation on production sets. These claims come to light following an ITV News investigation that examined his behavior over more than a decade, touching on incidents reported by former crew members from various ITV shows aired between 2010 and 2024. Crew members described feelings of being “belittled,” “humiliated,” and said they experienced a “fear of him” while working alongside D’Acampo.
Details of Allegations
The latest accusations follow numerous earlier claims made against D’Acampo for sexually inappropriate conduct. A former television executive, Sue Fowler, has publicly shared her experiences for the first time, emphasizing the need for better protections for freelancers who often feel unable to speak out against powerful individuals in the industry. According to Fowler, concerns raised about D’Acampo’s conduct were largely ignored due to his commercial value to ITV.
Incident on Location
- Fowler reported a troubling incident on a filming location in Naples, where a crew member collapsed.
- She alleged that D’Acampo made insensitive remarks, saying things that demonstrated a lack of concern for the crew member’s health and safety.
- Others on set corroborated Fowler’s claims, expressing a shared fear of D’Acampo’s behavior.
Fowler described herself as “absolutely distraught” and stated she found D’Acampo’s behavior to be extremely intimidating, further claiming that his comments created a hostile environment that hindered the crew’s morale. Despite her formal complaints, she felt that no substantial actions were taken against D’Acampo.
Ongoing Concerns
Reports indicate that allegations regarding D’Acampo’s conduct date back to 2010, and crew members continue to raise concerns about his behavior. During the production of “Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South” in 2023, several complaints were made regarding his use of crude language and unacceptable behavior, particularly towards female crew members.
Response from ITV and Production Companies
ITV has acknowledged previous complaints, stating that they investigated them and addressed the issues raised. A spokesperson confirmed that D’Acampo was reminded of the expected conduct during productions and completed training modules focusing on harassment and bullying in the workplace. However, Fowler believes that ITV has failed to hold D’Acampo accountable, claiming that his lucrative contracts continued despite the complaints.
The production company Betty TV, involved in D’Acampo’s projects, maintained that they prioritize the welfare of their staff. They reported conducting a thorough investigation after an incident in 2022 involving D’Acampo and implemented corrective measures following their findings.
Broader Industry Implications
The allegations against D’Acampo have reignited discussions about the prevalence of bullying and harassment within the television industry. Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, noted that freelancers often fear repercussions when reporting incidents, perpetuating a culture of silence.
The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) has acknowledged widespread issues of bullying in the sector and is working to establish standardized reporting protocols and support for whistleblowers.
As the narrative around workplace behavior in the television industry continues to evolve, the case surrounding Gino D’Acampo highlights ongoing challenges faced by many in the field regarding power dynamics and the fear of speaking out.
