Gino D’Acampo has announced his departure from This Morning as he prepares to head to Italy for several months.
The television chef, who on the series, joined Tuesday’s programme where he surprised his co-stars and with news of his exit.
‘I’m a little bit sad today because I’m going to go to Italy very soon in the next few days,’ Gino said. ‘This is my last This Morning.’
‘Until when?’ Holly probed.
‘Until probably autumn, winter,’ Gino replied, prompting Phil to breathe a sigh of relief. ‘Thank God for that,’ he quipped.
‘Unless you guys are going to come to the island of Sardinia, we may do something live there, maybe we can do something down the line,’ Gino suggested.
Addressing his fans, he then stressed: ‘Do not panic because I have got so many beautiful things for you guys.’
Gino first started making appearances on the ITV daytime show This Morning in 2009 and has been a regular guest chef ever since.
He has previously stressed the importance of taking six months a year, saying: ‘I’ve been having six months off for the last eight to ten years. I am a great believer that you need to have balance in life.
‘If I work for six months, then I want to have a holiday for six months because my life cannot always be about work.’
Gino regularly causes carnage on This Morning, having recently advised a caller to spice up her marriage by having a threesome during a phone-in. Yes, really.
It’s going to be a long, quiet few months without him…
airs weekdays at 10am on ITV.
