Gino D’Acampo seen in public for the first time since ITV sacking scandal as comeback plans revealed
TV presenter Gino D’Acampo has been seen in public for the first time since his ITV sacking.
The star has broken cover after laying low amid claims of inappropriate behaviour were lodged against him and saw ITV take him off the airwaves for good.
Gino, who has been spending time in his native Italy since the scandal broke in February, was spotted getting into a taxi on a Hertfordshire high street.
He kept a low-profile as he made his way into the waiting car in a now rare public sighting for the star who was once regularly on TV screens.
Earlier this year, an ITV investigation found there were multiple claims of “unacceptable,” “distressing” and “horrendous” treatment while working with the TV star over more than 12 years.
Gino told ITV News he “firmly denied” all the allegations, which he called “deeply upsetting”.
Now, new reports have emerged that state Gino is hellbent on a career comeback with the star hiring a new PR firm in order to tackle his reputation.
Insiders close to the star have told the Mail Online that Gino feels “hard done-by” and is now hoping to make a successful career return.
The source told the publication: “Gino believes he is the fall guy, the scapegoat, if you like.
“ITV loved him being the one who larked around. He worked for them for more than a decade and they loved him while it was going on.
‘He feels pretty hard done by with all of this.
“You have to wonder, ITV surely profited from it and now they are running away from it by getting rid of him.
“Gino is adamant that he did nothing serious and a lot of it was pretty low level shenanigans that goes on in the television industry. He wants his career back.”
Following the revelation of the allegations, ITV confirmed that it will no longer work with Gino, or air repeats of his television shows.
ITV axed re-runs of his shows amid the “unacceptable, distressing and horrendous” allegations of disgusting sexual jibes to female colleagues over 12 years.
It emerged that one female telly producer claimed to ITV that Gino drew an explicit picture of her during live filming.
It has also been alleged that Gino kissed a footballer’s wife in front of her husband, before telling charity gala guests he did it “because I can”. He denies all the allegations.
Gino has “firmly denied” all the allegations against him and In a lengthy statement issued at the time of them coming to light, 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.”