An awkward exchange between the two stars during an episode of This Morning has resurfaced

A clip of an uncomfortable exchange between Gino D’Acampo and Phillip Schofield has resurfaced in wake of the allegations made against the celebrity chef.

Dozens of people have accused D’Acampo of ‘inappropriate and intimidating behaviour’, according to ITV News.

A string of production staff who worked alongside him over a more than 12-year period have claimed they had ‘unacceptable’, ‘distressing’ and ‘horrendous’ experiences with him.

D’Acampo firmly denies the allegations, which have resulted in ITV shelving ten episodes of him hosting Family Fortunes, which were due to air this spring.

The publication reported that it ‘understands the series filmed in 2023 is not currently scheduled for broadcast and ITV has no plans to work with Gino D’Acampo.’

D’Acampo himself has addressed the allegations in a statement to ITV News.

Footage of a sexual joke Gino D’Acampo made on This Morning has resurfaced in wake of the allegations (ITV)

He 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.”

Footage of a disagreeable moment between the TV chef, who has been a staple on This Morning since 2009, and the show’s former host Phillip Schofield has since resurfaced online.

In an episode of the show from 2013, D’Acampo is seen cooking alongside Schofield, 62, and Holly Willoughby, 43, before he cracks a sexual joke.

Phillip Schofield made it clear he didn’t find the TV chef’s joke funny (ITV)

While each preparing a component of the dish, Schofield is seen stirring a sauce as he says: “We don’t want tense meat.”

In agreement, D’Acampo responds: “We don’t want that because tense meat, it becomes tough meat. Right?”

The former presenter of The Cube then says that ‘tense meat is a friend to no one’, only for D’Acampo to make a crude joke.

The chef responded: “No seriously, tense meat it comes a tough meat. That’s why you should never annoy your wife before you make love. You want her to be nice and soft.”

The joke didn’t appear to go down well with the This Morning hosts, as Willoughby awkwardly looked around while Schofield shot back at D’Acampo.

“Now you’ve gone too far,” Schofield said disappointedly. “That’s too far. That’s a step too far.”

As D’Acampo began to protest his innocence, Schofield seemed keen to move away from the comment and interjected to say: “Do you need salt and pepper in this?”

D’Acampo also made a joke at Schofield’s expense on This Morning after the presenter stepped down from his role after admitting to an ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair with a younger male colleague.