Latest news with #GinoDAcampo
Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Cooking shows get the chop as controversies leave a bitter taste
For years they have been the toast of television: mouth-wateringly wholesome fun, cheap to make and often a sure-fire ratings hit. But new data, coupled with a string of high-profile controversies, suggest cookery shows are starting to leave a bitter taste with producers as the number of food and drink programmes commissioned by major broadcasters begins to plummet. In February, allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving the celebrity TV chef Gino D'Acampo and spanning more than 12 years became public, forcing ITV to drop all forthcoming shows featuring the star. In recent weeks, MasterChef became mired in controversy and, while the future of the show is secure, BBC bosses are hunting for two new presenters after they opted against renewing the contracts of Gregg Wallace and John Torode amid allegations of misconduct. Separately, Nadiya Husain, a BBC cooking stalwart, has criticised the broadcaster after it terminated its long run of 14 shows with her since she won The Great British Bake Off in 2015. 'The BBC has decided that it didn't want to commission the show, and I suppose for me that was a huge turning point because it's something I have done for past ten years,' she said. Now, an analysis of the sector by Broadcast Intelligence, a service offered by the TV industry magazine, has revealed that only 12 shows have been ordered over the first seven months of the year, down from 42 last year and a high of 100 in 2019. Though forthcoming shows being made include Jamie Oliver's Eat Yourself Healthy for Channel 4 and a second serving of Tom Kerridge's Secrets of the Pub Kitchen for Food Network, producers say that the well worn 'chop and chat' format is coming to an end. 'Traditional recipe shows have been 'eaten' by TikTok,' said one producer. Others noted that the number of shows being commissioned by broadcasters is down across the board, with cookery shows a casualty of wider declines, despite the ongoing draw of food programming. 'People are lazy and don't know how to cook but continue to watch them as a form of escapism,' said Steven D Wright, a veteran producer. He said there was a desire among commissioners to 'reinvent' cookery show beyond traditional competitions, how-to shows and food-based travelogues. 'There's a bit of navel-gazing going on at the moment. These shows are bankers for a reason — because audiences like people making delicious food in a lovely setting — but they have changed shape,' he said. 'Do we need any more Mary Berrys or Nigellas doing pieces to camera?' Plans to reinvigorate food programming are, however, under way with ambitious forthcoming food formats include a Michelin-star themed documentary for Apple TV+ and a Harry Potter-inspired format for Warner Bros Discovery. Apple TV's Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars is executive produced by Gordon Ramsay and will follow Jesse Burgess, the co-founder and presenter of social media brand Topjaw. In the eight-part series Burgess will follow the fates of elite chefs at some of the world's most celebrated restaurants to determine if they will win, maintain or lose their precious Michelin star. Warner Bros Discovery's cookery competition Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking has been given a second series, following a debut run that reached more than 16 million viewers globally following its launch in November. The show aired on Amazon Prime in the UK and featured James and Oliver Phelps, who played Fred and George Weasley in the films, as they tasked nine teams of pastry chefs and cake artists with crafting edible showpieces inspired by moments and themes from the Potter universe.
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gino D'Acampo kicks off 'apology tour' with bizarre social media blitz as he hugs and kisses female employees in a 'bid to be uncancelled' after ITV axe following accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women
Gino D'Acampo has kicked off his reported 'apology tour' with a string of bizarre social media posts that saw him kissing and hugging female employees, following his ITV axe amid a series of misconduct claims. In recent months the TV chef, 48, has faced a string of accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women - which he has denied. ITV subsequently pulled all of Gino's shows from its upcoming schedules after the accusations were revealed in an investigation. But now in his bid to be uncanceled, Gino returned to the kitchen for a 'cheery corporate video' at one of his five remaining restaurants, after they were saved from closure earlier this year amid his company's mounting debts. And in one Instagram clip he offered his chefs tips before sharing warm hugs with female kitchen workers and pecking one on the cheek. A source told The Sun that while Gino knows he is 'persona non grata at ITV' he cannot be stopped 'having a voice' and 'rebuilding his brand' on social media. They said: 'The happy cheery corporate videos on Instagram are always part and parcel of any apology tour. Gino wants to maintain a united front and thinks the power of persuasion goes a long way'. 'Gino hopes people will see it and think "he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him, having laughs and banter"'. They went on to claim that amid Gregg Wallace and John Torode's Masterchef axing and fears the spotlight might turn back to him, Gino hopes to use his new social media presence as a 'distraction'. 'He's not naive, he knows he's not getting a primetime ITV slot anytime soon. But if he proves he can behave and audiences abroad respond well, the UK execs might just look twice'. MailOnline have contacted Gino's reps for comment. Following the chef's axe an insider told MailOnline: 'He's in a lot of trouble and ITV don't want to be in a BBC situation [with Gregg Wallace ] or have a repeat of Schofield so they are covering all their bases.' But now Gino has revealed he'll be back on screens this September with An Italian In Malta, a brand-new travelogue exploring the Mediterranean island he now calls a second home. And in one Instagram clip he offered his chefs tips before sharing warm hugs with female kitchen workers and pecking one on the cheek 'Gino hopes people will see it and think "he's such a nice, down to earth guy, not too high and mighty to work in his own restaurant and look at everyone getting on with him,"' Gino's firm who control the restaurants, Upmarket Leisure Ltd, has allegedly been struggling with mounting debt and a sale of the company fell through (pictured restaurant in London) He told The Mirror: 'The idea is to show everyone all over the world a bit about the country - I want to find the perfect restaurant, the perfect recipe, the perfect spot, I will speak to the local people, what they cook and how they cooked 200 years ago.' In another twist, Gino has also been quietly filming an acting project in Ireland, playing a grease-covered mechanic, marking his first proper stab at a scripted role. He revealed: 'I am playing a part in a series, my part is this Italian-American mechanic that is always in trouble with the police or always in trouble with the law and then he became a mechanic and he's helping the main character in the show. 'This is acting now, I'm not becoming a real mechanic, I'm useless at stuff like that.' MailOnline has approached representatives for Gino for comment. The comeback news follows months out of the limelight for the This Morning star, who stepped back from TV duties after ITV News published allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour - including claims of aggressive, sexualised language - spanning more than a decade. Gino said he 'firmly denied' the accusations, calling them 'simply not in my nature.' Despite his TV career imploding following the allegations, which sparked job offers to dry up, Gino insists he's ready to move forward, adding that not everyone has turned their back on him. Addressing rumours of a fallout with long-time co-star Gordon Ramsay, Gino insisted the two are still tight and described him as 'a very generous, cool guy'. He told The Mirror: 'If I FaceTime here he would answer of course, but if I FaceTime him and I'm on a show he will be really annoyed.' Earlier this month, Gino launched his first international restaurant, Luciano, in Malta, however, not everyone will welcome Gino's return with open arms. Just last month, during a risqué radio interview, the former I'm A Celeb star sparked fresh backlash with a string of crass comments about women's bodies claiming a 'real man' likes women to have 'things to grab' and admitting a preference for curvier figures. Responding when one of the presenters, named Nicole, said that she regularly dieted, he said: 'Only dogs like bones. 'A real man, he wants the meat, you know, the things to grab. Don't get too skinny, otherwise it's like, no.'
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Gino D'Acampo makes a load of dough from his food supply firm - days after seeing his media company profits suffer following allegations of inappropriate behaviour
TV chef Gino D'Acampo is celebrating after making a load of dough from his food supply firm – days after seeing his media firm profits suffer. His Bonta Italia outfit - which supplies high-quality produce, plus pasta and sauces to the catering world - turned over £11.6m in the 12 months to the end of March this year. Accountants revealed the firm made a gross profit of £9.5m – slightly up on the previous 12 months. The company tells would-be customers: 'Founded in 2003 by food industry expert Marco Silvagni and celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo, today we supply every sector of the UK food industry. 'Britain's food service businesses trust us to provide the best Italian ingredients and products, backed up by fast, reliable delivery and exceptional service.' Earlier this week however books for his media firm revealed his riches had taken a battering after he was embroiled in a row about his behaviour. The star's firm made around just £35,000 in a year - compared to more than £1.5m in the previous 12 months. He was reportedly taken off the Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip show following his refusal to put his name to a conduct agreement. Books filed to Companies House for his Gino D'Acampo Ltd firm show that cash in the company coffers dropped from £704, 204 for the year to the end of April last year to £119,070 for the last 12 months of trading. The firm's value with creditors paid dwindled to £195,999 from more than £350,000. But he still valued himself as an asset of 'goodwill' worth £1.2m to the firm. He paid around £7,000 in Corporation Tax based on an income five times that figure – in the previous 12 months, the bill was almost £297,000, meaning he made a profit of around £1.5m. A representative for Gino has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. The chef is now said to be orchestrating a significant move to Australia, five months following ITV's decision to sever ties with him amid the serious misconduct claims. The renowned culinary star, aged 48, is reportedly gearing up to establish multiple new enterprises across Australia, encompassing two dining establishments, a kitchenware collection, and a technology platform, as he distances himself from the British media scene. His spokesperson alluded to the substantial relocation, commenting: 'He loves Australia a lot - the people, culture, cleanliness and environment.' Earlier this year, ITV News launched an inquiry into 'unacceptable', 'distressing' and 'horrendous' conduct attributed to D'Acampo, with some allegations reportedly spanning more than a decade. Last year, it emerged that he had been enrolled in a language and behaviour programme by ITV executives. Additional allegations surfaced that ITV had failed to respond to numerous complaints, including episodes involving unsuitable remarks directed at This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby in 2018. MailOnline recently revealed the chef, 48, has put his £2.45million Hertfordshire mansion up for sale after he was axed from ITV amid a string of accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women - which he has denied. ITV subsequently pulled all of Gino's shows from its upcoming schedules after the accusations were revealed in an investigation. However, sources have now said he is gearing up to launch a 'cookware range for the international market' and is set to take on projects in Australia. A source told The Sun: 'While Gino has always denied any wrongdoing, he's a pragmatist and knows it's time for new adventures. 'He's been inundated with offers Down Under following a really successful tour there.' They added: 'He spent some time in Australia a few years ago, and loved it. He still has a large social media following and plans to capitalise on that in the next stage of his career.' MailOnline has contacted Gino D'Acampo's representative for comment. Last month, Gino put his Hertfordshire mansion up for sale, MailOnline revealed. He listed the Grade II listed seven-bedroom Georgian property after having overseen a huge restoration project with wife Jessica. The couple, who share three children Luciano, 23, Rocco, 20, and Mia, 13, also have a property in Sardinia, where Jessica recently hosted a get-together among her female pals. The decision to put their family home on the market also comes after Gino's restaurant empire racked up debts of £7.3million before going into administration. A source told MailOnline: 'Gino's had a tough time lately so selling the family home will also add to the sadness. 'Himself and Jessica put so much work into turning the property into their dream home.' The end of terrace property has six bathrooms, a giant kitchen/breakfast room and a living area featuring a grand piano next to a spectator Georgian fireplace. Gino has previously pictured himself playing guitar in the room in front of the roaring fire. The 4,720 sq ft property also includes period features typical of houses of its era including fireplaces in eight of the rooms, tall ceilings with roses, original ornate cornices and large shuttered windows which flood the rooms with natural light. The garden is also perfect for entertaining, featuring an outdoor kitchen, mains gas BBQ, heated gazebo and a Jacuzzi with led lighting system and sound connection. There is also a garden studio currently used as a cinema room and a gym.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Slump in Gino D'Acampo's wealth since being axed by ITV revealed as shamed chef plots new life abroad
GINO D'Acampo's earnings have dropped by over £150,000 after he was axed by ITV. The channel cut ties with him in February after allegations of inappropriate behaviour. 4 New documents filed at Companies House show net assets of £195,999 for the financial year ending in April, compared to £352,534 in 2024. The shamed chef faced a considerable loss in earnings, with cash intake of £199k - down from £704k the year before. It comes after The Sun told how the former This Morning telly cook is relaunching his brand in Australia amid his UK woes. The Italian, 48, is launching 'multiple work projects', including two new restaurants and a culinary tech platform, 11,000 miles from his Hertfordshire mansion, which is now on the market for £4.2million. Last week Gino's representative said: 'He loves Australia a lot - the people, culture, cleanliness and environment.' While Gino will keep a base in the UK, he will be spending increasing amounts of time Down Under over the next two years as he also sets up a new cookware range for the international market. A source added: 'Gino has had a fantastic career over here - and still has an incredibly loyal fanbase. 'But it's been made clear to him that TV opportunities over here are few and far between in the wake of recent allegations, and that's frustrating. 'While Gino has always denied any wrongdoing, he's a pragmatist and knows it's time for new adventures. 'He's been inundated with offers Down Under following a really successful tour there. Gino D'Acampo slammed for 'highly inappropriate' cooking video as fans say 'that's disturbing and upsetting' 'He spent some time in Australia a few years ago, and loved it. He still has a large social media following and plans to capitalise on that in the next stage of his career.' The source said the star will be launching two new restaurants in Australia and will split his time between there and the UK for the next two years. His wife of 22 years, Jessica, and their three children will remain in Britain. The source added: 'But if all goes well, Australia is a full-time option.' 4 4
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrity chef James Martin using 'protection dog' in London after past attack
Celebrity chef James Martin has shared that he now has a 'protection dog' while in London. Posting a picture of the Belgian Malinois, the dog was wearing a harness with a label attached reading "working dog". Captioning the Instagram post, Martin simply wrote: "London", leading many to believe the chef was using the dog for protection. Earlier this year, Martin revealed that his car was attacked by a group when its windscreen was smashed in. He later added that, along with his car being attacked, two of his friends had their cars stolen while another was mugged, all in broad daylight in central London. Previously writing on his Instagram: "So in a week, two of my friends' cars got stolen, one other mate got mugged, and now I had this happen all in broad daylight, all in central London. "London is broken big time…next time I'm bringing the Mali's." Reacting to the post, one follower of Martin commented: "So sorry this has happened to you." Recommended Reading Saturday Kitchen's James Martin reveals career break to fans 'Is it a bird?' Londoners wowed as Superman spotted flying above London Gino D'Acampo reportedly 'being ditched by ITV' following allegations Martin previously shared that he would be taking a short career break after a cancer diagnosis. Sharing in 2023 that he had been diagnosed with cancer but that it would be "sorted" soon. As the chef said, "For me personally, I've been through a lot of s*** with cancer but I'm getting sorted at the end of next month. "I will be back fighting at the end of February but I'm going on a little bit of a break to get that sorted. I just wanted to say thank you for all your support and all your messages."
