Gino D’Acampo shocked fans on Sunday when he revealed he had quit popular ITV show Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip after three series.
The Italian chef, 46, insisted in a statement that his departure had nothing to do with co-hosts Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix, claiming ‘complicated’ contracts were to blame.
Yet MailOnline can reveal that the decision came as a shock to at least one of his co-stars – as well as show bosses – because Fred, 51, had been talking about working together just days before Gino, 46, claimed he’d made the decision to quit.
Gino’s departure comes just two weeks after Fred told MailOnline the show’s three big stars ‘were getting there’ in regards to settling contracts.
However, insiders wouldn’t rule out Gino changing his mind and making a U-turn, with a source saying: ‘A source said: ‘Everybody connected with the show was shocked by Gino’s post.
Keeping quiet: Fred Sirieix (right) found out Gino D’Acampo (centre) had quit Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip just DAYS before as he and Gordon Ramsay remain silent after news
‘As far as bosses were concerned, talks were ongoing and a settlement was in reach.
‘Contract negotiations are always difficult because of the trio’s schedules so the filming window where they can actually get the three of them together is pretty tight.
‘But clearly Gino has lost patience and pulled out.’
The source added: ‘Bosses hope to convince Gino to stay on with Gordon and Fred, because they genuinely have fun together and make great telly.’
Both Fred and Gordon have yet to comment on Gino’s post, or share their own messages about the show restructuring, despite it being on Instagram for hours.
During promotional interviews for his new Channel 4 series, Fred’s Last Resort, Gino’s co-star Fred Sirieix told MailOnline on March 7 the trio were busy organising the show’s next series.
However, he hinted that trouble was brewing behind the scenes – with Fred noting there was an issue trying to pin everyone down.
He said: ‘Yes, we are talking about dates at the moment to go together on the next road trip. It is a bit difficult to juggle all our diaries, but we are getting there.’
Confused: Gino’s co-star Fred Sirieix told MailOnline on March 7 the trio were busy organising the show’s next series and repeated the claims three days later on ITV’s Lorraine
He went on to say that a hectic schedule was no bother for him, explaining: ‘I’m busy… that’s the nice thing about my career is there are never two days the same and that’s why I like it it’s very diverse.‘
‘I get to meet a lot of people in different settings whether it’s restaurants or TV and I find it really exciting.
‘I don’t mind being busy, I like being busy in fact because the busier you are, the busier you get and when I’m busier I’m happy. When I’m not busy, I’m not happy.’
He echoed the sentiments 10 days ago during a chat with ITV’s Lorraine Kelly on saying on Friday 10: ‘We are talking about dates for the next one. It is difficult to juggle all of our diaries.
‘But we’re getting there – we’re getting there.’
MailOnline has contacted Fred and Gordon’s representatives for comment.
An ITV spokesperson told MailOnline that a new series of Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Road Trip in Spain has been filmed and will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX later this year.
The interviews have resurfaced after Gino said in a lengthy Instagram video on Sunday that he was leaving due to a row over ‘complicated’ contacts.
The show saw the Italian TV favourite travel the globe with fellow foodies Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix as they explore the local cuisine.
Gino said that his friendships with his former colleagues had nothing to do with his exit with their ‘strong’ bond meaning more to him than arguments over contracts.
Speaking out: The interviews have resurfaced after Gino said in a lengthy Instagram video on Sunday that he was leaving due to a row over ‘complicated’ contacts
He told his followers: ‘Last week I decided not to film any more Gordon, Gino and Fred Road trips. The reason is very simple – nothing to do with Gordon or Fred, the friendship is very strong.
‘It’s just because we can’t get the dates together and sometimes when we do get the dates together sometimes they get changed and it causes a lot of problems for me because I have other stuff that I have to do’.
‘Personal problems as well because when I have to change things with my family it is very complicated and also because contracts’.
Gino is married to Jessica Stellina Morrison with whom he shares sons Luciano, 21 and Rocco, 18 and nine-year-old daughter Mia.
Gino went on to say: ‘Because contracts start to become very complicated and very stressful, I personally value the friendship with Gordon and Fred so much that I would rather the friendship than arguments with the contract’.
‘So I have decided not to do it anymore because I want to be friends with the boys for many, many years ahead.’
The popular show first aired in 2018 with the trio travelling France and Italy, before heading to America in 2020 followed two years later by a trip to Greece.
The series has also spawned three Christmas specials.
Gino started his TV career back in 2004 and has gone on to become a household name and was crowned I’m A Celeb’s King of the Jungle in 2009.
As well as cooking he has also worked as a host and now fronts ITV’s Family Fortunes after the channel revived the show in 2020.
Gino previously admitted he has come close to being ‘cancelled’ by fans but insisted that he ‘doesn’t care’ what people think.
He has become known for his cheeky innuendos after shooting to fame on This Morning and has since hosted an array of popular cookery shows.
But Gino claimed that he he come very close to being hit by cancel culture for his saucy jokes, saying he ‘dangerously’ walks the ‘fine line’ with his humour.
He told The Sun: ‘There is a fine line on television and I think I walk the line, I’ve been walking that fine line for the last ten to 15 years.’
Family: Gino’s wife Jessica Stellina Morrison, sons Luciano, 21 and Rocco, 18 and nine-year-old Mia have all featured with him on screen (pictured together on the ITV show)
Gino said he thinks he ‘gets away’ with a lot more on TV than other people can because viewers have known him for around 15 years.
However, he insisted that he has never ‘crossed the line’ with his jokes, saying he would have been ‘fired’ if he did.
He said: ‘But I can get away with the accent and because I’m Gino and everybody knows me for a long time, I can get away with many things that someone else could not get away with it.’
Advising other people to brush off cancel culture, he added: ‘What they should do is instead of fighting the cancel culture is the way I do it – ‘I don’t care what you’ve got to say’ – that’s what I think.’
