TV presenter Richard Osman has claimed a ‘big Saturday night’ star made sexualised comments when at work in the 1990s amid allegations against Gino D’Acampo
Richard Osman has claimed a “big Saturday night star” would make constant sexualised remarks when at work.
His claims come after TV chef Gino D’Acampo is facing accusations of “distressing” and “sexually inappropriate” behaviour after dozens of people detailed experiences described variously as “unacceptable, distressing and horrendous”. The claims to ITV News have been made over a period spanning more than 12 years with over 40 people said to have come forward.
D’Acampo has “firmly denied” the allegations, adding that they were “deeply upsetting”. TV presenter Richard shared his opinions on the claims as he spoke about the entertainment industry, including allegations about an unnamed star. He claimed: “A friend of mine who worked in the 90s with a very big Saturday night star.
“She was saying, day after day after day, it was sexualised comments all day every day. Always being laughed in by the producers, always laughed in by the crew. In those days, there was nothing you could do. There was nowhere to go, because what are you going to say?”
While on his podcast The Rest Is Entertainment, Richard spoke about the pattern of men in TV being accused of inappropriate behaviour. He said: “This stuff does not happen, people do not lose their jobs just because they said a couple things a couple of times. It is a pattern of behaviour. It has upset a number of people over a number of years.
“If you are in trouble as a presenter but actually your crew loves you and the people that work with you just go ‘that’s what they do and they’re a really nice guy’. Then there has to be a whole series of things that happen.”
In ITV News’ investigation, one woman claimed Gino told her he would “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter” while working on a photoshoot. Another alleged that when she went to brief him about a location shoot, he opened the door in his boxer shorts and made jokes about his privates, leaving her feeling uncomfortable.
While a separate claim accused Gino of threatening a junior member of staff on Gino’s Italian Express. “I was present when Gino said to the runner, ‘If you don’t get me a Cornetto, I will f*** your girlfriend’,” one female crew member said. Responding to the claims in their entirety in a statement to ITV News, Gino said: “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. 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.”
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