Gino D’Acampo’s time on ITV looks well and truly over, as Family Fortunes has now been officially replaced in the schedule. The change comes after serious allegations surfaced against the TV chef, prompting the broadcaster to remove his pre-recorded episodes from the air quietly.
The 48-year-old, best known for his cheeky personality on This Morning and Road Trip with Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix, has been accused by multiple people of inappropriate behaviour over 12 years. The claims include allegations of bullying and sexually inappropriate comments—allegations that D’Acampo has strongly denied. He’s remained out of the public eye since the scandal broke, reported Metro.co.uk.
With his Family Fortunes slot left empty, ITV has confirmed that Stephen Mulhern’s Celebrity Catchphrase will move into the Sunday night slot previously occupied by D’Acampo’s game show. Mulhern’s show, which has been a fan favourite for years, was originally set for Saturdays but is now taking a prime spot on Sundays.
ITV commissioner Gemma John-Lewis told TV Zone: ‘We’re delighted to announce a further series of the much-loved family favourite, Celebrity Catchphrase. The only show where you say what you see, the hugely popular series continues to win legions of fans, and with Stephen’s infectious and playful humour, it’s a firm favourite with our viewers.’
Meanwhile, STV Studios Entertainment boss Gary Chippington hailed the show’s success, saying: ‘It’s testament to Catchphrase’s fantastic format and universal appeal that it’s still one of the UK’s most-loved entertainment shows, four decades after ITV first commissioned it. The incomparable Stephen Mulhern is a huge part of the show’s success, and we’re looking forward to getting back in the studio with him and a great lineup of stars later this year.’
Mulhern, 47, seems to be ITV’s golden boy at the moment, as he continues to front Dancing On Ice, Deal or No Deal, and even the revival of You Bet! However, it’s been reported that Holly Willoughby won’t be joining him on these ventures.
As for D’Acampo, ITV appears to be distancing itself from him completely. His pre-recorded episodes of Family Fortunes, filmed in 2023 and originally set to air this spring, have been scrapped. The broadcaster has also reportedly removed all of his upcoming shows from its schedules.
A source 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.’
Reports from December already suggested that ITV was quietly phasing D’Acampo out, after claims of inappropriate behaviour surfaced. In response to the allegations, ITV released a statement saying: ‘All of the concerns and complaints raised by those who have spoken to ITN describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable. Most of them were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV, action has been taken.’
D’Acampo, for his part, has denied all accusations, stating: ‘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.’
He added that throughout his career, he has worked with over 1,500 people across 80 productions and has always received support from ITV executives. However, with the latest developments, it seems that ITV is determined to cut ties.
The broadcaster reiterated: ‘ITV has made our position very clear. Our promise to those we work with is that where a complaint is made to ITV or serious concerns are raised, we will look into it, and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action.’ For now, it looks like ITV has moved on, and with Stephen Mulhern stepping in, viewers might not even notice D’Acampo’s absence from their screens.
