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.
Gino D’Acampo has kicked off his reported ‘apology tour’ with a string of bizarre social media posts that saw him kissing and hugging a female employee, following his ITV axe
In recent months the TV chef, 48, has faced a string of accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards women – which he has denied
But now in his bid to be uncanceled, Gina returned to the kitchen for a ‘cheery corporate video’ at one of his five remaining restaurants – after they were saved from closure
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
A source said 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
‘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,”‘
They also claimed that amid Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s Masterchef axing and fears the spotlight might turn back to him, he hopes to use his social media presence as a ‘distraction’
Another bizarre clip saw the TV star kissing quails before cooking them
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.
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
As well as a surprise appearance in a new drama series where he plays a grease-covered mechanic (pictured during filming)
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.’
