I turned down tea WITH THE QUEEN (because I don't like tea!)

Gino D'Acampo reveals why he much prefers cooking and spending time with his family to presenting on TV

-  JORDAN PARAMOR

Gino D'Acampo has got to be one of the busiest men on television. As well G as his regular stint on ITV's This Morning, his presenting work and the entertaining travel shows he makes with friends Gordon Ramsay and Fred Sirieix, he is currently filming a TV show in Italy, while also working on his first-ever computer game. So we asked him, just how does he do it all?

I work very hard for six months of the year and I take the other six months off on holiday. I've been doing that for the past six or seven years, so when I work 15 or 20 hours a day I don't care. Then, when I'm on holiday, I'm on holiday, and I am relaxing and doing bits and pieces. The other secret is having a proper paper diary where I can write everything down. It has all my meetings and work commitments, and that keeps me organised.

Do you prefer presenting or cooking? Cooking, 100%. Doing television has never been my dream and it's not what I signed up to do. I am literally living someone else's dream. When I cook, that is my playground and my passion, and everything I'm about. I find cooking very relaxing. If I'm not in the mood to cook I won't because I want to enjoy it. I'll get a takeaway instead.

What is your favourite takeaway? Indian because it's the one that travels the best. Chinese and Italian don't travel well. The only thing that tastes OK when it comes on the back of a scooter is curry. You can't order a proper Italian pizza and expect it to taste nice because it will be soggy by the time it arrives at your house.