John Barrowman has defended Gino D’Acampo and has claimed ITV encouraged his “inappropriate” behaviour by “sexualising” the way he appeared on shows.

The Italian chef was reportedly discreetly fired from Gordon, Gino, and Fred: Road Trip because he refused to sign a contract that included a morals clause.

A morality clause, sometimes referred to as a morals clause, is a condition in a contract that compels a party or individual to follow particular behavioural guidelines.

If one of the parties acts in a way that harms the other party’s reputation or image, the other party has the right to end the contract.

Gino “firmly” denied the “over 40”  accusations and stated he “would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone” in a statement to ITV News.

He added: “I am a father, husband… the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting.”

According to John, he claimed producers suggested certain television segments, like the 2011 This Morning segment in which Gino cooked naked except for an apron, which likely sparked other behaviour that has now been deemed inappropriate.

The 57-year-old actor revealed he has struggled to get work himself after allegations of sexual assault dating back to early 2008 resurfaced.
Gino D’Acampo
He told The Mirror: “No, you won’t see me. Nothing lies ahead for me because of all the c**p that was said about me, which is not true.”

“It’s the same with Gino D’Acampo at the moment, which is unfortunate because they’re the ones who – the TV shows, and I use this as example – like the one where he’s on the TV show and he’s standing there cooking in an apron but he’s naked.”

“Now he didn’t decide to do that. Production asked him to do it. So they’re sexualising him in the same way as when I was on camera, and they would do something like, “You gotten be naked. You’ve got to do this.”
Gino D’Acampo and Gordon Ramsey
Last week, a source has told the MailOnline Gino has “instructed his legal team to fight the allegations with ‘whatever it takes’ as he gears up for a fight to clear his name.”

The TV presenter has reportedly continued to insist to his friends and family that the allegations are untrue – further claiming he will still have a career.

The source continued to claim Gino has vowed to “never work with ITV again,” following reports the broadcaster has pulled his shows from the schedule.

The insider added the celebrity chef is set to “jet to the US later next week to work on a TV project.”