ITV 'warned about Gino D'Acampo's behaviour a DECADE ago' as he shares video hugging fans amid string of 'inappropriate behaviour' claims

This Morning staff reportedly raised concerns about chef Gino D'Acampo a decade ago.

Multiple crew and production members are alleged to have reported issues to bosses, accusing the 48-year-old of bullying and making sexually inappropriate comments.

According to The Sun, ITV management was informed as recently as 2023.

An insider reportedly told the publication: 'It was no secret that Gino was difficult to work with and many staff members dreaded being on set with him. He would constantly joke about his manhood and make sexually explicit comments that would make people uncomfortable.

'He knew he was 'The Talent' and would throw his weight around. A lot of people found him to be a bully, but felt they weren't taken seriously when they approached senior staff members.

'Gino seemed to get away with it because it was all part of his cheeky charm and appeal.'

MailOnline has contacted Gino's representatives for comment. 

It comes as Gino returned to Instagram for the first time since facing multiple misconduct allegations.

The chef posted a video of himself hugging fans during a visit to an Asda store, where he was promoting his latest cookbook.

The minute-long clip showed a queue of shoppers waiting to have their books signed as Gino greeted them.

While he shared the clip video on his page on Saturday, Asda confirmed to The Sun that it was taken in November 2024.

Alongside the video, he wrote: 'Always fantastic to meet my fans, you guys are just awesome. Thank you ASDA for having us… '

Gino was hit with more claims of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour as 40 people have now come forward in total.

ITV News said it has now spoken to 'over 40 people' during its investigation, all of whom claim to have had either seen or experienced alleged inappropriate or intimidating behaviour by the celebrity chef.

Gino's TV shows have been removed from the ITV schedule because of the claims.

'This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me.'

He added: '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.'

Dozens of people described their experience of working with the chef as 'unacceptable,' 'distressing' and even 'horrendous', according to the investigation.

Among the allegations are that Gino described a young woman's breasts as 'perfect' and 'like a mouthful', and that he threatened to have sex with a colleague's girlfriend if she did not bring him an ice cream.

At least one production company was reportedly aware of complaints about the Italian star's behaviour - yet continued to work with him on further TV projects.

One woman told the investigation that D'Acampo made a vulgar sexual comment towards her during a magazine shoot in 2011.

She claims the celebrity chef said he would like 'like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter' in front of the entire crew.

The woman said there were laughs from other employees when he made the comment and she was left feeling humiliated.

'I remember a ripple of laughter,' she recalled, while others 'looked nervously into their cups of tea'.

She said the incident left her feeling 'horror' and 'shock' but admitted she was not surprised nobody intervened.

She said the comment was 'aggressive' and she saw it as 'some kind of powerplay'.

Gino's legal team firmly denied this allegation. They said: 'This allegation from almost 15 years ago has never, until now via a media request, been raised or put to Mr D'Acampo.

'He does not recall it, nor accept that it happened.'

An ITV spokesperson said it is 'production companies who have the primary responsibility for the duty of care of everyone they work with, both on and off screen, when making shows', describing the behaviour as 'inappropriate and unacceptable'.

The spokesperson added: 'Most of them (the allegations) were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.'

Gino began his TV career in the early 2000s as a judge on ITV cookery competition Too Many Cooks, before achieving fame after winning series nine of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2009, going on to become a regular chef on This Morning.

The chef has also presented ITV gameshow Family Fortunes, and has hosted a number of his own cooking programmes.