Gino D’Acampo didn’t mind any awkward moments as he addressed the elephant in the room in his first This Morning broadcast following Phillip Schofield‘s departure.
The Italian chef appears on the ITV afternoon show, which was formerly hosted by Phillip and Holly Willoughby.
However, Phil abruptly left last Morning, and later ITV, last month after admitting to lying about an affair with a young runner on the show.
The impact was quick and severe, with Holly claiming she had been misled to and former guests and workers alleging a ‘toxic’ culture on set.
Holly returned to This Morning last week after a little absence, and she co-hosted the show with Dermot O’Leary on Tuesday, when chef Gino made his debut appearance after a brief absence.
Gino, being Gino, wasted no time in asking sharp questions.
‘I was in Italy for a month. I came back two days ago … any news? Anything from the last month that I should know?’
Dermot looked embarrassed as Holly said enthusiastically, ‘No!’
‘Anything I should know?’ Gino inquired again. Dermot had a The Office moment as he gazed directly into the camera while nervously nibbling on a pen, while Holly claimed there was “no news.”
And, just to make matters worse, Gino caught up on this and said loudly, ‘Why is Dermot not talking anymore?’
Gino didn’t only make light of the fact that Phillip was no longer on the sofa after more than 20 years of hosting This Morning.
He began the segment by describing the cuisine he was about to create and explaining that he had to adjust his recipe since ‘supposedly I can’t do anything with aubergine,’ leading Dermot to shudder noticeably.
It’s probable Gino was responding to a quip by This Morning CEO Martin Frizell, who made headlines when he was asked if it was true it was ‘toxic’ on set, and responded: ‘Do you know what’s poisonous, I’ve always thought toxic, is aubergine.
‘Do you like aubergine?’ he asked the journalist. ‘Do you?’
In response to Gino, Dermot quipped that it was the chef’s first day back at work, and maybe his last.
The very tumultuous moment ignited social media, with people flocking to Twitter to share their emotions to Gino’s inclusion as a wildcard.
‘Gino never disappoints, causing Dermot and Holly to squirm a bit making light of the Phil saga,’ one viewer laughed.
‘Bet ‘This Morning’ wish they hadn’t booked Gino today now,’ another laughed. ‘I was looking forward to baked aubergine as well!’
Another said: ‘Gino doesn’t disappoint does he “I’ve been in Italy for a month, any news I need to know about?” [Cue] poor Holly looking awkward.’
Others labeled Gino ‘a legend’ for ‘addressing the elephant in the room finally’, with one saying he ‘KNEW Gino was going to bring the Schofield saga.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV
Source My Celebrity Life.
