ITV legend slams channel for choosing to give Gino D'Acampo work

An ITV legend has slammed the channel for making "cheap TV", "tokenism" and its choice of presenters including Gino D’Acampo. Mr Motivator has blasted ITV — saying he could do a better job than presenters such as Family Fortunes’ Gino D’Acampo.

Mr Motivator, real name Derrick Evans, said: “I have earned the position where I should have my own show. Why should I not be presenting some of these shows? I look at Family Fortunes." He went on, adding: "It’s an easy show to present.

"You almost don’t even have to speak English to present it, if you know what I mean, right?” Evans also spoke about appearing on ITV daytime favourite This Morning back in in 2023 to talk about the link between mental health and fitness.

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He said: “I did one slot, had a great response, but I’ve heard nothing more. It’s almost tokenism, and I hate it.” He also accused TV bosses of producing “cheap television” such as quiz shows instead of programmes promoting health and fitness.

In 2000 Mr Motivator left GMTV because his youngest daughter Abigail was having "breathing problems" at the time. He went back to his home country of Jamaica but would return regularly to the UK to make appearances at events.

Derrick made a long-awaited return in GMTV in 2009 for a three-week long special to promote public health programme Change4Life. Mr Motivator moved back to the UK in 2018, and now lives in Manchester with his family.

In 2020 he made a huge comeback when he realised home workouts had regained popularity during the Covid lockdown. The same year he was awarded an MBE for services to health and fitness as part of the Queen's postponed birthday honours list.

He shared: "When I was depressed, the one thing that got me out of it was to start focusing on me and start counting my blessings every day. Get up in the morning, you tell yourself you are fabulous, you look in the mirror and tell yourself you are proud of who you are. If you practice being positive, negativity doesn't come into the picture."