Celebrity chef Gino D’ACampo had a stint in prison before tying the knot with his wife.
The 48-year-old Italian star has recently been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague between 2006 and 2011. The woman, who remains anonymous, lodged a complaint with ITV bosses last week, following a series of allegations against BBC MasterChef’s presenter Gregg Wallace.
This comes amid reports that Gino is gradually being phased out by ITV due to multiple claims about his conduct. He was removed from Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip after refusing to sign a morality contract clause and has been enrolled on a language and behavioural course by concerned executives.
Off-camera, Gino has been married to his ‘first love’ Jessica Stellina Morrison for over two decades, and they have three children together, Luciano, 22, Rocco, 19, and Mia, 12, the Mirror reports.
However, their relationship hasn’t always been smooth sailing, as they briefly split up in the past. They first met when Gino was 18 and working at Sylvester Stallone’s Mambo King restaurant in Marbella.
After a short break, they reunited in 1995 and got married in 2002. Four years prior to their wedding, Gino was found guilty of burgling singer Paul Young’s home and served two years in jail.
It wasn’t until Gino appeared on I’m A Celeb that the public became aware of his previous conviction. He had stolen £4,000 worth of guitars, a platinum record, cash and jewellery from Young’s home.
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Gino’s DNA was matched to a discarded cigarette butt at the scene, leading to his arrest. While in prison, he vowed to turn his life around upon release. He recalled: “I was a boy, so I decided to get married and then I will be a man.”
Describing their union as “traditional marriage”, Gino said: “I clean her car every week. I charge her toothbrush every time the battery is low, and I always bring her a bottle of cold water just in case she’s thirsty at night. My wife is a clever woman, she knows when to say something and when to bite her tongue.”
In an interview with the Daily Star, Gino attributed their marital bliss to giving each other space. He explained: “We allow each other to have our own lives, that means going on holiday with our friends. My wife goes for dinner with male friends and I go for dinner with female friends or business friends. We are very relaxed.”
Interestingly, Gino revealed that he and his wife hardly spend time together, but he prefers it that way. He told Love Sunday in 2014: “Jessica and I don’t really spend any time together.
“I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve lasted for 20 years. It’s a good thing, I don’t really want to know everything my wife does, because otherwise she will be boring to me.”
The celeb quipped that lovey-dovey gestures weren’t his style, instead opting to spoil his missus with sparkly gifts when he’s stepped out of line as he revealed he buys his wife diamonds when he’s been ‘naughty’.
He said: “I don’t care about flowers or chocolates or anything like that, that’s not me”. Revealing his own way of showing affection, he added, “I tell you what I do. I charge her electric toothbrush, because if I don’t she’ll never do it. I make sure I always do the petrol in her car because I know she hates that, and I clean her car every week.”
His partner, a whizz in the kitchen, knows exactly how to whip up Gino’s preferred meal – pasta topped with aubergine, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil.
He noted: “She always does that for me, especially when she wants to be forgiven. When I want to be forgiven, I’m going for the sweet option, so chocolate cake with homemade ice cream – well, actually, if I’ve been really bad it’s a new car or a diamond.”
When nudged about often he has to atone with presents, Gino chuckled, “Let’s put it this way, in the last five years, she’s changed her car three times… I still haven’t changed mine once.”
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