Making a fresh new start with the launch of Bear Grylls’ Celebrity Bear Hunt on Netflix last week, Holly Willoughby - who also made her Dancing on Ice return last month - appeared to be putting a tough few years behind her.
But now insiders say that while Holly has moved on from the turmoil surrounding her former best friend Philip Schofield’s shock exit from This Morning in 2023, the mum-of-three has been ‘unnerved’ that her name has been thrust into the limelight again amid the latest scandal to envelop the daytime show - as chef Gino D’Acampo faces over 40 complaints of inappropriate behaviour.
A source says, ‘Gino’s sacking, coupled with all the allegations which are surfacing, has really unnerved Holly and she can’t help but start to feel anxious, like she did when the news of Philip’s affair emerged.
‘They knew each other’s families and even went on holiday together, so the allegations are understandably extremely difficult for Holly to hear and have pulled her right back into the trauma and upset she endured with Phil.
‘She’s feeling torn between her loyalties as a friend and damaging her reputation by supporting someone who’s been hit with such damaging claims.’
Holly, 44, and Gino, 48, both made their debut This Morning back in 2009, and viewers have often watched on as Holly has giggled through suggestive jokes that have, on occasion, been labelled as ‘crude’ by fans.
Back in 2021, viewers were left outraged when Gino made a joke about Holly’s genitals when using her body parts as a map of Italy.
‘I went to school where Vesuvius is. It's more inland so I can technically say I spent my youth training and playing around... your vagina,’ he said.
But despite viewers calling the married father-of-three ‘a pig’ and labelling his comments as ‘disgusting’, the pair – who also appeared on Celebrity Juice together - have maintained a friendship that has seen them holiday together.
Gino - who has been married to wife Jessica for 23 year - has previously said, ‘Holly and I have been friends for a long time. We go on holidays together, our families know each other…’
However, while viewers have questioned whether Holly and Phil should have raised their concerns over Gino’s on-screen ‘banter’ to producers, it is understood that Holly was unaware of a complaint that arose in 2018, when an unidentified woman reported that Gino has made lewd comments about Holly.
An email sent alleged that, when asked by an unknown person whether he would like to have sex with Holly or their Celebrity Juice co-star Fearne Cotton, Gino replied, ‘If I could put the face of one on the body of the other then maybe, but I'd probably choose Holly because I'd have more fun with her.’
Gino now faces a litany of allegations including complaints of ‘degrading’ and ‘inappropriate’ behaviour towards members of several production teams, who have accused the chef of wielding his status as a TV star to make lewd comments and behave in a way that has been perceived as ‘unacceptable’, ‘distressing’ and ‘horrendous’. Gino strongly denies all allegations.
But now the source says Holly fears speaking out against Gino after the vitriol she faced following Phil’s departure in May 2023.
At the time, Holly was forced to publicly deny any knowledge of her close pal’s ‘unwise but not illegal’ affair , which led to Phil, 62, allegedly labelling her a ‘witch’ and strongly hinting that she had been part of a senior ITV clique had thrown him ‘under the bus’.
The scandal was followed just five months later by the unearthing of an unspeakably shocking plot to kidnap and murder Holly by former Essex security guard, Gavin Plumb, who was jailed for a minimum of 16 years in July last year.
Following what is likely to have been the worst year of her life, Holly resigned from This Morning in October 2023.
But now the source says Holly fears being dragged back into more drama just as her life is getting back on track.
They say, ‘Gino was very much in Holly’s fold on This Morning and knew everything about the Phil drama. There are still a lot of questions over whether Holly was aware of Phil’s affair and she’s worried that it could all be dragged back up.
‘She’s worried that by taking a step back, like she’s been advised to do, he could turn on her just like Phil did or try to turn the spotlight around on other major stars in some way - especially given now his loyalties with ITV have been broken and the betrayal he’ll no doubt be feeling.’
The source adds, ‘It’s yet another thing which has further tarnished what were mainly such happy years and while it’s all extremely heart-breaking for Holly, she’s trying to cling onto the hope that Gino will ride this out alone without bringing anyone else into it.'