By DOLLY BUSBY, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 00:22 GMT, 19 February 2025 | Updated: 00:23 GMT, 19 February 2025

Gino D’Acampo’s former co-host Melanie Sykes has slammed the chef and television bosses, saying the industry needs to ‘clean out’ the ‘monsters’ amongst its talent.

She presented ITV’s cookery and chat show Let’s Do Lunch for three years alongside D’Acampo, 48, but quit television in 2021 after what she claims was an inappropriate remark from MasterChef host Gregg Wallace.

Ms Sykes, 55, reflecting on her turbulent time in the industry, said: ‘I’ve been watching what’s happening with all these misogynists on telly and I’m supporting anybody who’s experienced anything that’s beyond pale.

‘There is no protection. Some of it’s being done behind closed doors, but it’s happening on set. When channels say, ‘It’s not our problem because it’s with a production company’, it’s just appalling.’

And Ms Sykes went on to say: ‘I remember once when Gino said to me he can just go up to the powers that be and knock on the door and go in. He doesn’t need a meeting. He was quite pleased with himself he could do that.

‘I feel like I was in a war zone in that industry – 24 years of battling through an industry that didn’t feel right to me anyway. If you’re spending all your time cleaning up people’s s***, just clean the house, clean out the house and start again, that’s all I’m saying.’

Melanie and Gino pictured together in 2012 on their show Let’s Do Lunch with Gino and Mel

Melanie and Gino pictured together during an appearance on ITV's This Morning in 2012

Melanie and Gino pictured together during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning in 2012 

Melanie and Gino pictured hugging on the set of their cooking show Lets Do Lunch with Gino and Mel in 2014

Melanie and Gino pictured hugging on the set of their cooking show Lets Do Lunch with Gino and Mel in 2014

The mother-of-two, who now shares content on her YouTube channel Melanie Sykes Is, also laid into Celebrity Juice.

The ITV gameshow, which was hosted by Keith Lemon, 51, and ran for 14 years until 2022, was described by Ms Sykes as ‘an abomination’ and she added: ‘The industry creates monsters.’

D’Acampo, who co-presented Let’s Do Lunch until 2014, is currently facing allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour spanning more than 12 years.

One allegation involves him kissing a footballer’s wife without consent during a 2012 charity event, reportedly telling the audience, ‘You know why I did that? Because I f****** can.’ D’Acampo has ‘firmly denied’ the ‘deeply upsetting’ allegations to ITV via his legal team.

While on Celebrity MasterChef, Ms Sykes said she was undermined by Wallace, 60, who said appearing on the BBC show ‘would do a lot’ for her career.

She was left outraged and quit the industry ‘for good’ because she said she ‘would no longer tap dance to the corporations who couldn’t give two hoots about my wellbeing’.

Wallace has been dropped by the BBC after more than 13 women accused him of sexuality inappropriate behaviour.

He has denied all allegations of sexually inappropriate comments and behaviour.

Melanie SykesGino D’Acampo

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Melanie Sykes slams TV industry bosses for not doing enough to banish ‘monsters’, amid allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour from former co-host Gino DiCampo

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