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The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Inside Gino D'Acampo's ‘mastermind plan' to be uncancelled as axed ITV star goes on ‘apology tour' after allegations
FIVE months after being sacked by ITV over his 'inappropriate and intimidating' behaviour, celebrity chef Gino G'Acampo has embarked on an 'apology tour' in a desperate bid to be 'uncancelled'. As The Sun revealed last week that Gino, 48, is planning to embark on some new business ventures in Australia, insiders tell us he is also masterminding a secret plan to save his career in the UK. 7 Those in the know tell us that the Italian TV chef has hatched a strategy to use his social media platforms, a place where he feels he can control his image and narrative, to win back the public. 'The power of persuasion' A source familiar with the situation explains: "TV bosses can refuse to put him on air but no one can stop him from having a voice on social media. "He can use that platform to stay connected with those who have stuck by him, reform his image for those who have turned their back on him and, he hopes, win over a new fanbase." But already it looks like Gino's endeavours on his social channels are landing badly. Just this month, Gino made a painfully transparent attempt to challenge claims he created an uncomfortable working environment. Posting footage of him hugging, kissing and holding hands with some of his restaurant staff during a recent visit to his Italian chain in Newcastle, Gino said: 'Another fantastic day with my team. 'I've always said… A happy kitchen creates fantastic food.' He chose Mark Ambor's song 'Belong Together' to play over the video. Our source continues: "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'." Gino D'Acampo slammed for 'highly inappropriate' cooking video as fans say 'that's disturbing and upsetting' However, amid his increase in social media content, Gino came under fire for posting a 'highly inappropriate' video involving two live quails that was described as 'disturbing and upsetting'. The unapologetic chef was seen kissing the two birds in one shot before dangling their corpses in another - choosing Bob Marley's hit Three Little Birds as the accompanying music. It comes after more than 40 people described "unacceptable", "distressing" and "horrendous" experiences while working with Gino over a 12-year period. Despite ITV yanking his shows off air, including a brand new series of Family Fortunes, the TV chef - who denies any wrongdoing - is refusing to accept his television career is over. Soft rebrand As well as ramping up his presence on content creation online, last month, Gino announced he's filming a new cooking show, An Italian in Malta. It's not known which production company it's been picked up by or when it will air. An insider told The Sun: "Gino knows he's persona non grata at ITV, so the plan now is to rebuild his reputation elsewhere quietly and carefully. "He's been telling people this new travel series is about food and culture, but really it's a soft rebrand. If it lands well internationally, he can turn around and say, 'look, I've still got it'. "Gino thinks he's being smart about not throwing himself straight back into the UK spotlight. The idea is to go away, be seen working, stay visible, but not too visible and then come back once the dust has settled." 7 7 7 'A welcome distraction' It is understood that Gino is secretly relieved that other presenters are copping the heat in the public eye too. "With Gregg Wallace's scandal exploding, as well as John Torode's recent sacking, there's a sense that the spotlight might shift and the focus will be on him. He's hoping by using the distraction, he can quietly edge back into the fold. "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. "It's early days, but there's talk of him expanding the format to other countries if Malta and Ireland go well. He's already been in touch with producers in southern Europe about spin-offs." It's believed Gino is also pinning hopes on his upcoming ventures in Australia paving the way for him to get back into good graces in Blighty too. Gino is set to split his time between the UK and Down Under over the next few years, as he is planning to launch two new restaurants and a cookware line in Oz. 'He's been inundated with offers Down Under following a really successful tour there," a source told us. '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.' It's thought that Gino hopes he'll land more TV work in Australia, which might then encourage British telly bosses to take another chance on him. "Gino knows it won't be easy, but he's confident he can rebuild his reputation and one day, he's convinced he will be back on UK screens." Gino was a regular chef on This Morning from 2009 - forming a close friendship with then-hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. But when an ITV News report in February first revealed the allegations against Gino on set, Holly distanced herself publicly from her once firm friend. His former ITV co-stars Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix also appear to have stepped back from their friendship. In 2022 an internal investigation into Gino was launched at production company Betty TV in relation to alleged inappropriate behaviour and language on the set of Gino's Italy – Like Mamma Used to Make. The production company Objective Media Group said in an email seen by ITV in 2024 that issues also arose in 2023 on the Emission Impossible set. Gino told ITV News at the time: "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." The Sun has approached Gino for comment.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
New TV chef rumoured 'to replace MasterChef's John Torode' after he was sacked for 'using N-word twice while singing Kanye West song'
A new TV chef is rumoured to replace former MasterChef host John Torode after he was sacked. The BBC reportedly sacked the Australian chef, 59, after he allegedly 'used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song'. Saturday Kitchen 's Matt Tebbutt is thought to be in the running to replace the axed star as well as Great British Menu star Andi Oliver. A source told The Sun said: 'Matt is seen as a really safe pair of hands by the BBC. He has been in the frame for some time and is now being lined up for MasterChef. 'The BBC are keen to bring Andi Oliver on board too. She has been so popular as host of the Great British Menu. They're not sure if she can commit at this stage because of her schedule with that show but everyone is hoping they can get her on board.' MailOnline has contacted the BBC and John and Matt's representatives for comment. Meanwhile, Grace Dent is set to be announced as sacked Gregg Wallace 's permanent replacement on MasterChef UK. Grace, who has now been pipped to take over Gregg's role, has already appeared as a judge on Celebrity MasterChef. Torode was said to have been singing the rapper's hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly 'caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago'. The Sun claimed Torode used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef production team, who didn't take offence. The Australian-born chef has insisted 'he had absolutely no recollection' of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago. The person who raised the complaint is understood to have 'overheard the conversation'. The production pal allegedly backed Torode and said he only used the racial slur as an 'example' and 'apologised afterwards'. A witness told investigators he had apologised immediately, 'was mortified' and 'didn't use the term as a slur' in 2018. The BBC said on Tuesday that Torode's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during an evening out after filming the show. The corporation has refused to say what the racist term was - as has Torode, who has claimed he did 'not believe that it happened'. But it was today described as the 'worst racial slur there is' by Richard Osman, who added of the investigation: 'They found that to be substantively true. They found evidence that they were happy with - that that was true'. On Thursday, The Times claimed that two people 'close to the report' alleged that Torode had used the N-word. There has also been feverish speculation online for days that this was the slur he allegedly used. Torode has left MasterChef after an allegation of using racist language was upheld against him. He faced nine allegations of poor behaviour between 2012 and 2019. Investigators said of the other eight that two could not be substantiated and there was insufficient evidence in the remaining six. One insider told MailOnline on Thursday that there was 'relief' at MasterChef HQ that Torode is gone, saying he was 'horrible' to work with at times. A third source claimed they had found him to be a 'very rude and patronising man'. Torode was sacked after being accused of saying the 'worst racial slur there is'. Torode said this week, after his sacking, in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram: 'Although I haven't heard from anyone at the BBC or Banijay – I am seeing and reading that I've been "sacked" from MasterChef and I repeat that I have no recollection of what I'm accused of.' It was also claimed the BBC and Banijay had asked Torode to leave MasterChef citing mental health problems. The BBC declined to comment on the claims. But an insider said: 'The BBC and Banijay spoke to his reps before the announcement on Tuesday. The BBC never suggested he resign nor raised mental health.' Richard Osman appears to know the racist term Torode was claimed to have used. Speaking on his Rest Is Entertainment podcast with Marina Hyde, he said that his sources were shocked when they heard Torode's claim he was not told he was being sacked before it was announced. 'This is not woke gone mad. He used I think probably the worst racial slur there is and they found that to be substantively true. They found evidence they were happy with. He said that he couldn't remember it. But that one was upheld,' Richard said. 'More people are going to come out. They [the BBC and Banijay] are going public with the things they believe will stand up in court.' He added: 'If I were working at Banijay I would not be comfortable with that person working on a production that I was on.' Osman claimed that Torode was offered a year off and some training as a 'second chance' - but he refused. So he was fired. 'My understanding is that they took John Torode aside. And said we believe this happened and you used this language. He denied it. They said to him: "We will accept if you want to take a year off. You have to do a mandatory training course to understand and accept this is something we want in our workplace". 'That was denied. He said of course not. I didn't do it. Why would I do this,' Richard claimed. Osman dismissed claims by Torode he wasn't told by the BBC or Banijay that he was being sacked. He said: 'My understanding is that isn't true. The first time he heard it was when he was told it.' And on the claims Torode was told by the BBC he could quit blaming a mental health crisis, he added: 'I have rarely heard a more vehement denial from everyone involved that that conversation certainly didn't happen.' Torode is said to be considering taking legal action against the BBC after he was sacked from MasterChef. Sources suggest the chef is 'preparing to launch a lawsuit against the BBC' and wants to pursue bosses for unfair dismissal. 'He's telling people there is no proof of his supposed comment. It was not in a work capacity, it was just hearsay. John is determined to clear his name,' sources told The Mirror. But such legal action may prove impossible for Torode as sources told MailOnline his contract was with Banijay rather than the BBC. This comes as MasterChef bosses are reportedly pushing to air Gregg Wallace and John Torode's final series 'when the dust settles' after they were both sacked from the cooking show. The upcoming series - which have already been filmed - feature former I'm A Celeb star and restaurant critic Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace to co-host with Torode. The Sun reports that The BBC and production company Banijay plan to air both the amateur and celebrity editions. However, MailOnline understands BBC director general Tim Davie, who has the final say, has not yet made his decision on whether MasterChef will or will not be aired. A source told the Sun: 'The BBC and Banijay have faced a moral and professional dilemma like never before. Obviously Gregg's case was more clear cut, but John being dragged through the mud wasn't what anyone wanted or expected to happen. 'But at the same time, and as a publicly funded body, the BBC has a duty to both provide entertainment as well as fulfil its obligations to cast, crew, contestants and viewers alike. 'If they were to can these two series, hundreds of people - those who appeared or worked on the shows - would be so bitterly disappointed. So the feeling at present is that the show, quite literally, must go on - albeit once the dust has settled and all the fuss died down.' The Australian chef was dramatically axed from MasterChef hours after the BBC's director general refused to back him over an allegation of using racist language. The corporation said the host's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during drinks after filming the show. The complaint against Torode was revealed in the report into co-presenter Wallace's inappropriate behaviour. Wallace, 60, was sacked after dozens of complaints against him were upheld. Torode identified himself on Monday as an unnamed person in the report who was accused of using 'racist language'. However, the presenter said 'he had absolutely no recollection' of the incident and did 'not believe that it happened'. But in a statement yesterday, the BBC said: 'This allegation - which involves an extremely offensive racist term being used in the workplace - was investigated and substantiated by the independent investigation led by the law firm Lewis Silkin. 'The BBC takes this upheld finding extremely seriously. 'We will not tolerate racist language of any kind and we told Banijay UK, the makers of MasterChef, that action must be taken. John Torode's contract on MasterChef will not be renewed.' Hours before the announcement, BBC director general Tim Davie had refused to back him and said he expected 'action to be taken' over the allegation. He delivered the remarks as the BBC released its annual report - an occasion overshadowed by controversies for the second year in a row. Last year's was published amid the fallout over news presenter Huw Edwards who pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children. Asked about the Torode racism row, Tim Davie said: 'The BBC in some ways are quite simple on this - if someone is found to not live up to our values we expect the independent company, Banijay in this case, to take action and report back to us on what they have done. 'These are not BBC employees, but we absolutely expect action to be taken.' Mr Davie added: 'I think a great programme that's loved by audiences is much bigger than individuals. 'It absolutely can survive and prosper, but we've got to make sure we're in the right place in terms of the culture of the show.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Torode's future with ITV revealed after MasterChef sacking
ITV is standing by John Torode after the BBC sacked him from MasterChef over the racist language claim, Yahoo UK understands. The TV chef, 59, was dismissed over an allegation he used "extremely offensive racist language" while filming MasterChef – a claim he denies. His sacking comes after the BBC also ruled it was "untenable" for Gregg Wallace to return to MasterChef following a report into his behaviour upheld allegations about inappropriate sexual language and humour. Torode will remain on our TV screens with ITV. No changes are expected to be made to the current TV schedule for ITV, Yahoo UK understands. Only weeks ago, Torode has said he "never" takes his shows for "granted". And in the wake of his MasterChef firing, he said on Instagram: "I have been considering my life and the shape of it now and in the future... Life is ever-changing and ever moving and sometimes personal happiness and fulfilment lay elsewhere." John & Lisa's Weekend Kitchen John & Lisa's Weekend Kitchen, which sees Torode join his wife Lisa Faulkner in the kitchen, has reached a milestone this year as it is in its 10th series on ITV. It started on Sunday, 6 July, and it will continue to run on ITV1 and ITVX. The five-episode series sees the cooking couple present delicious recipes with a focus on affordability and accessibility. Over the summer months, Torode and Faulkner put together fresh dishes. John & Lisa's Weekend Kitchen opened with a Masterclass Magic special where they share tips and tricks to mastering basic recipes. Only weeks ago, the husband and wife said: "We love our little show and we feel so grateful we get to do it. We have such an amazing team who give us so much freedom to just cook together and it's always the food we love and believe in. We never take it for granted as we just love doing our show!" Torode and Faulkner are a partnership both in their personal lives and in the kitchen; as for their personal lives, they got engaged in 2018 and married in 2019. John & Lisa's Christmas Kitchen ITV has plans to run a festive series too in the coming months. Torode and Faulkner have filmed their five-episode series John & Lisa's Christmas Kitchen, which will be available to watch in the festive season in 2025. They share their secrets to hosting in the Christmas period and delight with festive favourites. This Morning Torode remains a regular guest chef on This Morning, although he doesn't appear on the show every month. In July, he joined the ITV daytime chat show alongside his wife, Faulkner, to demonstrate their strawberry flan cake recipe. It was a timely appearance to promote their latest series of John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen. He doesn't only do appearances with Faulkner. In June, the TV chef brought the fire into the kitchen with his chilli-themed dishes. Yahoo UK has reached out to This Morning representatives for further comment. Books Outside of the TV world, Torode has penned several cookbooks. Last year he co-wrote Everyday Recipes from a Professional Chef and a Home Cook with his wife Faulkner. It was the recipe book that accompanied the ninth series of their show John & Lisa's Weekend Kitchen.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
MasterChef fans start campaign for telly favourite to land hosting spot after John Torode and Gregg Wallace axed
MASTERCHEF fans have declared another TV chef as their favourite to take over from John Torode after his exit from the long-running programme. Torode was axed from the BBC favourite after 20 years this weekend, after a complaint of racist language was upheld against him during the investigation into co-host Gregg Wallace's behaviour. 6 6 The chef has maintained he has 'no recollection' of the incident itself and did not believe it happened, with the report noting a complaint was not received at the time, but had been raised with investigators. The BBC was also unable to specify the time or date of the allegation, narrowing it down to '2018 or 2019'. Regardless, after the production team confirmed they would not be renewing his contract, Torode acknowledged in his own statement it was 'time to pass the cutlery to somebody else' when it came to the show. Now fans have started speculating over who could take his place, with Andi Oliver emerging the current favourite. Andi, mother of another presenting fave Miquita Oliver, has been host of Great British Menu for the past nine years – another BBC long-running cooking show that pits established chefs against each other in heats before the finale banquet. Now cooking show superfans believe she could be the saviour of the flailing show now that both of the hosts have been booted. Speaking on Reddit, one fan wrote: 'Probably jumping the gun on new presenters, But Andi Oliver and Lisa Goodwin-Allen were a great double act in GBM.' 'Andi Oliver, Grace [Dent] and Jay [Rayner],' responded another. "I think they're among a small group that would at least make it feel like there was a reason to keep watching. 'I suspect it'll be a mash up of one of the mainstays with a whole new person from the bottom drawer of the beeb to 'reinvigorate' the series though,' they added. Masterchef meltdown as BBC asked John Torode to RESIGN over 'racist remark' before Gregg Wallace sacking 'Andi would be beyond excellent,' said a second. 'I'd also love to see Jay Rayner in the role. What about a three presenter lineup?' The Story So Far Torode's exit comes eight months after co-host Gregg Wallace had multiple complaints made against him while on the set of MasterChef. Following the complaints, an inquiry carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin for production company Banijay produced a report that upheld 45 of 83 allegations of bad behaviour against Wallace. Of all the complaints, only one is believed to involve Torode in any way, with the chef reportedly making a 'racist remark' in a social situation, without malicious intent and with an immediate apology. A source close to him saying he was 'absolutely devastated to have been pulled into this mess'. The dad of four later said in a statement: 'The allegation is I did so sometime between 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and the person I was speaking with did not believe it was intended in a malicious way and I apologised immediately afterwards. "I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened. 'However, I want to be clear that I've always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. 'I'm shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.' 6 6 6
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hairy Biker Si King returns to Sycamore Gap tree site
When the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree was illegally felled in September 2023, TV chef and Hairy Biker Si King was among those devastated by the wanton destruction. He was so angry he could not bring himself to visit the site again - until now. He takes several deep breaths, steeling himself, then walks slowly up to the the fence surrounding the remains of the sycamore, several green shoots are growing."Dear me," Si says simply, before turning away, too overwhelmed by the "big yawning gap" in the landscape."I've put off coming to see it, because I didn't want to," he inspects the scars left by a chainsaw blade."Absolutely mindless," he the morning of 28 September 2023, when news that the much-loved landmark had been felled spread globally, Si was among those expressing their fury."You've just murdered a sentinel of time and elemental spirit of Northumberland," he raged on social media. "For whatever warped reason you've done it, it's shocking."The TV chef, best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers, had to postpone filming that day because of his "visceral reaction" to the news. In his direct message to those responsible - a 44 second clip that's had almost two million views on X - he furiously ranted that he hoped they had a from the north-east of England, where the tree had grown for more than 100 years, Si knew its importance."There was a magic and majesty to it," he says, calling it an "absolute exclamation mark of who we are in this part of the world".Men jailed for felling 'irreplaceable' sycamoreListen to Felled: The Sycamore Gap storyWatch The Sycamore Gap: From Roots to Ruin Si had been sent the news of its felling in a text message by a close friend, who had come to cherish the tree following a personal hoped she was mistaken, but links to news articles sent in follow-up messages brought the dreaded was his anger, he had to record his condemnation video several times because of the swearing in the original versions. Following a third expletive-free attempt, he asked fellow Hairy Biker and best friend Dave Myers if it was acceptable to be shared with their one million followers on X."I was absolutely raging," Si says."That level of vandalism and brutal bitterness was beyond my comprehension."I can't comprehend the mindset that would just do that. I don't understand that character and personality. That was just plain nasty."It felt so personal."That sentiment was shared by millions both in the UK and around the world. Sycamore Gap was the scene of marriage proposals, wedding photographs and somewhere grieving families scattered Si, it was a "special place" that provided moments of "peace", "solace" and "counsel." It was also somewhere he visited when "in crisis."Five months after the tree was cut down, his on-screen partner and "best mate" Dave died at the age of 66, two years after revealing he had the tree still been there, Si says he would have gone there to reflect on his loss, "given the year everybody involved with the Hairy Bikers has had". However, with only the stump remaining, it was "too much" for him to visit in the immediate aftermath of Dave's one occasion he drove to the road adjacent to Sycamore Gap, but his emotions halted his return and he "looked away", unable to bring himself to stop his was only in June, after Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, both from Cumbria, had been found guilty of chopping down the tree, that he says he felt ready to return, accompanied by a BBC film crew for the documentary The Sycamore Gap: From Roots to Ruin."It's quite difficult to put into words," he says, as he surveys the scene."I'm an emotional human being and it's sorely missed - tragically so." Sycamore Gap had extra poignancy to Si because of another personal close friend who had texted him on the day to say the tree had been cut down had lost her son when he was just the teenager's death, Sycamore Gap became a natural place for them to gather and grieve."The impact of that, because we were all very close, was enormous," Si peacefulness of Sycamore Gap was "of solace" to them all, so much so the tree was depicted on the young man's gravestone."Sycamore Gap is that important," Si says."It's not just a tree." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
