Gino D’Acampo once made an explicit comment to Fearne Cotton on live TV, leaving her speechless.
The celebrity chef, who is known for his appearances on This Morning and host of Family Fortunes, has been quietly dropped by ITV.
It comes after he is facing accusations of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour after dozens of people came forward with experiences described variously as “unacceptable, distressing and horrendous”.
The claims have been made over a period spanning more than 12 years. Gino has “firmly denied” the allegations made by “dozens of people”, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”.
A clip of Gino has since emerged of him making an X-rated comment to Fearne Cotton on Celebrity Juice, hosted by Keith Lemon.
In a segment on the comedy panel show, Fearne’s face was compared to a pizza that had olives for eyes, pineapple rings for a nose and red pepper for its mouth. Host Keith Lemon – real name Leigh Francis – said: “Look at the likeness!”
Despite the situation starting off as an innocent joke, Gino then made a horrifying comment about Fearne.
He said: “I have a theory and I’m sorry, you know how much I like you, right, but I think when you have big nostrils, actually you can suck like f***.”
Fearne was visibly shocked as Keith also put a hand over his mouth, following the comment which related to oral sex.
The live audience started chanting ‘Gino’, while he continued: “It’s because you can breathe easier.”
Fearne replied: “Alright, you don’t need to elaborate!”
Gino then said: “It’s just a theory I have.”
The TV chef is facing allegations from ‘dozens’ of people, reports The Mirror.
In an ITV News’ investigation, one woman claimed Gino told her he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter” while working on a photoshoot.
Another claimed that when she went to brief him about a location shoot, he opened the door in his boxer shorts and made jokes about his privates, which made her uncomfortable.
Another claim accused Gino of threatening a junior member of staff on his show Gino’s Italian Express.
A female crew member said: “I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto, I will f*** your girlfriend’”.
Responding to this influx of claims 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.
“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.”