A shocking moment when Phillip Schofield accused Gino D'Acampo of crossing the line with a risque joke has resurfaced, as the chef now faces allegations of sexually inappropriate and intimidating behaviour.
In a throwback clip from This Morning from 2013, Gino, 48, is seen cooking a dish alongside former hosts Phillip, 62, and Holly Willoughby, 43. However, he seems to upset co-star Phillip with a saucy remark about 'tough meat' and 'making love to your wife', leading the host to chastise the Italian star live on air.
The footage shows Phillip jovially saying: "We do not want tense meat" as he stirs a sauce, likely under the guidance of the chef, who regularly hosted cooking segments on the ITV daytime show.
Gino is seen agreeing, telling the pair: "We don't want that because tense meat, it becomes tough meat. Right?" Phillip, addressing the camera, affirmed: "Tense meat is a friend to no one."
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ITV)Standing next to Holly, Gino then added: "No seriously, tense meat it comes a tough meat. That's why you should never annoy your wife before you make love. You want her to be nice and soft."
After Gino's sexually explicit statement, Holly raised an eyebrow but chose not to comment and instead continued to prepare her dish. However, Phillip appeared to be annoyed by Gino's comment. Turning to Gino, his expression hardened as he declared: "Now you've gone too far. That's too far." As Gino insisted he was innocent, Phillip sharply retorted: "That's a step too far."
It comes after dozens of people have detailed experiences described as "unacceptable," "distressing" and "horrendous" while working with TV chef Gino over a period spanning more than 12 years. Responding to the claims in their entirety, in a statement to ITV News, Gino said: "I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago.
"I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.
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ITV)"Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately.
"I am a father, 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 and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting."
The TV chef who has appeared on the likes of ITV's Family Fortunes and Gino and Fred: Emission Impossible faces accusations dating back over ten years. Individuals are said to have been fearful of any consequences if they ever spoke of their alleged encounters with the 48-year-old.
Gino has "firmly denied" the allegations made by "dozens" of people", adding that they were "deeply upsetting". One woman, who has been named as Hannah to protect her identity has told an investigation that she was on the receiving end of vulgar comments from Gino in 2011.
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