Television presenter and producer Richard Osman has shared his perspective on the recent controversy surrounding Gino D’Acampo,
shedding light on why ITV has removed the celebrity chef’s shows from its schedules.
The scandal erupted last week following an ITV News investigation, which detailed allegations of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behavior against Gino, 48.
Over a dozen individuals have reportedly come forward with claims of misconduct spanning 12 years, describing his actions as both “unacceptable” and “horrendous.”
Richard Osman, best known for hosting Pointless and producing popular shows such as Deal or No Deal and Whose Line Is It Anyway?,
discussed the allegations on his podcast, The Rest is Entertainment, co-hosted with journalist Marina Hyde.
In the latest episode, the duo analyzed the claims against Gino and questioned why it took so long for these allegations to come to light.
A Pattern of Behavior, Not a One-Time Incident
Addressing ITV’s decision to pull Gino’s programs from the air, Osman dismissed the idea that the network was overreacting. He explained that such decisions are rarely made based on isolated incidents but rather due to repeated misconduct.
“You could look at it on one level, as some papers have done, and say, ‘Oh my God, you can’t say anything anymore, this is a huge overreaction,’” Osman remarked. “But people do not lose their jobs 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.”
He further elaborated that in the television industry, presenters who maintain good relationships with their crews and are respected by their colleagues often receive support even during controversies. However, when allegations persist over a long period, it becomes increasingly difficult for networks to ignore them.
“If you’re in trouble as a presenter but your crew loves you and the people who work with you say, ‘That’s just what they do, and he’s a really decent guy,’ then you don’t get fired,” Osman explained. “There have to be a whole series of things that happen. It has to go on long enough and be tiresome enough—which is a word we never use.”
Why Did It Take So Long for Allegations to Surface?
During the discussion, Marina Hyde explored why Gino’s alleged behavior may have gone unchecked for so many years. She pointed out that, in some cases, inappropriate actions are dismissed or excused under the guise of a celebrity’s persona.
“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,” Hyde said.
She also highlighted the economic factors at play in television production, suggesting that addressing misconduct on set can sometimes be deprioritized in favor of keeping a show running smoothly.
“The shows he is involved in are not expensive to make, and so taking time out of the schedule to reprimand Gino would likely derail a production by ‘an hour or two,’” Hyde noted. “There are these constant value judgments being made by people. ‘How bad is it?’”
ITV Takes Action
As allegations against Gino D’Acampo continue to surface, ITV has swiftly responded by pulling his shows from the network’s programming.
While neither ITV nor the chef has publicly addressed the full extent of the claims, the decision to remove his content suggests that the network is taking the accusations seriously.
The scandal has sparked broader conversations about workplace behavior in the entertainment industry and whether certain personalities are given leeway due to their public image.
With Osman and Hyde offering insight into the inner workings of television production, it becomes clear that addressing misconduct is often a complex process influenced by multiple factors—including financial and reputational considerations.
For now, Gino D’Acampo remains under scrutiny, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks. However, one thing is certain: the television industry is no longer willing to overlook repeated patterns of inappropriate behavior, regardless of a celebrity’s popularity.
