Here we go again. Another broadcaster following pretty much the same recipe card as the last one.
What’s the best way to distance yourself from the alleged bad behaviour of a top celebrity chef that’s making headlines?
Distance yourself by pointing the finger of blame at the independent production company that makes his shows, then simply repeat the term “robust duty of care policies” until everything’s cooled down.
Gino D’Acampo. File pic: PA
The only problem is this kind of approach tends to leave a bad taste in the mouth.
Those who both pay for and air the shows where staff claim to have been too scared to “speak up”, it seems to often end up trading responsibility just because they weren’t the ones pressing record.
Gino D’Acampo “firmly denies” claims made about his behaviour off-set and there will be those who cry “but what’s he actually done wrong?”
While ITV is now clearly distancing itself from its former star – shelving an entire new series of Family Fortunes and saying it has no plans to work with him again – the onus really needs to be on the broadcaster to follow-up.
Read more: A look at D’Acampo’s meteoric rise
Gino D’Acampo has been on This Morning for over 10 years. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
In a position of power, was D’Acampo able to say and do anything he liked?
An anonymous woman quoted in the ITV News investigation claims talent was “furiously protected” because they brought in the cash.
At the very least, going forward, while ITV says it makes sure production companies know what standards it expects, bosses need to get the message that if you’re airing a show where one of its stars regularly gets his junk out on screen in pursuit of a cheap laugh, it might just be worth checking-in a little more on the wellbeing of those who’re filming it.
