Melanie Sykes has blasted Gino D'Acampo as she admitted 'the industry has created monsters'.
Gino's former co-host Melanie urged TV bosses to take responsibility and 'clean out' their 'misogynistic' talent, amid a series of 'misconduct' allegations surrounding the chef.
Between 2011 and 2014, Melanie, 55, presented ITV's Let's Do Lunch alongside Gino, 48, but quit television for good in 2021 after an inappropriate remark from the now disgraced MasterChef host, Gregg Wallace.
Reflecting on her turbulent 24 years working in television on her YouTube channel, the mother-of-two said: 'Celebrity Juice was an abomination, the industry creates monsters.
'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 that 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.'
Gino is currently facing numerous allegations of inappropriate and intimidating behaviour spanning over 12 years.
One allegation involves Gino kissing a footballer's wife without consent during a 2012 charity event, reportedly stating to the audience, 'You know why I did that? Because I f***ing can.'
Celebrity Juice was an ITV gameshow hosted by Keith Lemon, 51, that ran for 14 years until 2022 and featured recurring panellists such as Holly Willoughby and Laura Whitmore.
While appearing on Celebrity MasterChef, Melanie was undermined as a television presenter by Gregg, who said appearing on the BBC show 'would do a lot' for her career wise.
Melanie was left outraged and quit television 'for good' because, 'I would no longer tap dance to the corporations who couldn't give two boots about my wellbeing.'
Gregg has now been dropped by the BBC after more than 13 women came forward accusing him of sexuality inappropriate behaviour over a 17-year period while he worked on television sets.
Melanie continued: 'There is no protection. None of this is being done behind closed doors, some of its being done behind close doors, but it's happening on set on the tele.
'And when channels say, 'It's not our problem because it's with a production company,' it's just appalling.'
ITV has reportedly come under 'pressure' to explain its response to allegations made about Gino's conduct after 'inappropriate' behaviour claims were made against the chef.
Gino has been rocked by allegations of sexually inappropriate and intimidating behaviour over a 12-year period - claims which he denies.
One woman has claimed that her 2018 complaints about Gino were not acted upon by ITV, while This Morning staff allegedly raised concerns about him a decade ago.
Now, it has been reported that ITV are under 'increasing pressure' to explain Gino's actions and why further action wasn't taken against him, according to The Sun.
In response, ITV told MailOnline that 'where a complaint is made to ITV or serious concerns raised, we will look into it, and if we find that something inappropriate has happened, we will take action'.
It comes after those complaining about of Gino's alleged behaviour accused ITV and other production companies of 'furiously protecting' the presenter for fear of losing financial investment.
Gino has 'firmly denied' the allegations made against him, saying they were 'simply not in my nature' and describing them as 'deeply upsetting'.
A previous statement by ITV said: 'All of the concerns and complaints raised by those who have spoken to ITN [the producer of ITV News] describe behaviour which is inappropriate and unacceptable.
'Most were not reported to ITV at the time. Where issues have been raised with ITV action has been taken.'
