Stephen Mulhern will instead return with Celebrity Catchphrase

Gino D’Acampo’s Family Fortunes has been replaced in the ITV schedules by Celebrity Catchphrase, amid allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour against the presenter.

It was reported last month that pre-recorded episodes of Family Fortunes, hosted by D’Acampo, 48, had been dropped by the broadcaster.

Now, the programme’s Sunday night slot has been taken over by Celebrity Catchphrase, presented by Stephen Mulhern, which is set to return to screens on March 23.

ITV commissioner Gemma John-Lewis told TV Zone: “We’re delighted to announce a further series of the much-loved family favourite, Celebrity Catchphrase.”

The London Standard has contacted a Gino D’Acampo’s representatives for comment.

Stephen Mulhern will be presenting Celebrity Catchphrase on Sunday nights (Ian West/PA)
PA Wire

In February it was reported that ITV had pulled D’Acampo from schedules.

“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,” an insider told the MailOnline.

The chef denies claims of sexually inappropriate behaviour made by women he has worked with over a twelve-year period.

Several women made the claims about the broadcaster in an ITV news segment in February, including incidents in which he is alleged to have made sexually inappropriate comments.

In a statement to ITV, D’Acampo rejected any claims of impropriety and said the allegations were “deeply upsetting”.

In one alleged incident, he is said to have told a colleague that he would like to “like to turn me over and f*** me up the a*** against the kitchen counter,” one woman told the broadcaster.

In another, one woman alleged “aggressive” behaviour by D’Acampo on a location shoot, claiming he opened the door in his boxer shoots before making reference to his genitalia.

She told ITV it made her feel “disgusted,” adding: “I think he feels he’s in a position of power and he can say and do what he wants. I see it all as quite aggressive, really.”

In a statement, lawyers for D’Acampo told the broadcaster that he rejected the claims, and that he considered some of the allegations aired in the ITV news segment to be a “fabricated work of fiction.”

The star is best known for appearing on shows including This Morning, Let’s Do Lunch and Gino’s Italian Escape.

He has also appeared on Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip, alongside Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix, which follows the trio travelling to various countries and exploring the local cuisine.

An ITV spokesperson said: “All of the concerns and complaints raised by those who have spoken to ITN describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable. Most of them were not reported to ITV at the time.

“Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.

“We can only act where we know that concerns have been raised, and will now be following up on those that had not previously been reported to us.”