Giusina Battaglia Mourns Sudden Loss of Husband Sergio Colicchio
Television cook and food writer Giusina Battaglia is mourning the sudden death of her husband, Sergio Colicchio, who passed away unexpectedly over the weekend of October 19, 2026. The sudden loss has drawn an outpouring of public support from across the Italian entertainment industry, impacting the production and cast of the Rai 1 daytime cooking program where Battaglia serves as a regular contributor. Sergio Colicchio had been married to Giusi Battaglia since 2010 and previously worked as a Mediaset cameraman.
Antonella Clerici announced the news at the start of the October 19 broadcast of It’s always noon, telling viewers that the program’s cast and crew consider themselves a family. “A news story that concerns all of us and which, however, is not good news,” Clerici stated in the opening broadcast. The host directed her condolences toward Battaglia and the couple’s ten-year-old twin sons, Marco and Luca, noting that the television community would stand by her during the grieving process.
From Kitchen Experiments to Television Success
The culinary career of Giusina Battaglia, a journalist born in Palermo, traces back to domestic recordings made by her late husband. Battaglia was born in 1976 and left Palermo in 2005 to move to Milan, where she launched her career in the press office sector working with Benedetta Parodi, Antonino Cannavacciuolo, Enzo Miccio, and notably Ficarra e Picone. Battaglia began filming traditional Sicilian recipes from her home kitchen.
Those initial videos caught the attention of Food Network, leading to the launch of the television format Giusina in the kitchen – Sicily at the table, which has since reached its tenth edition. In January 2024, Battaglia joined the regular cast of It’s always noon on Rai 1. She also recently published her fifth cookbook, The great book of Sicilian cuisine, released on October 13, 2026, through Cairo Editore.
Public Condolences and Family Life
Following the announcement, cultural and journalistic organizations issued formal statements of condolence. Gianluca Caltanissetta, provincial secretary of Assostampa Palermo, released a statement honoring Battaglia as both a dedicated professional and a vital ambassador for Sicilian gastronomic traditions, extending solidarity from the regional journalistic community.
Media coverage highlighted the personal impact on the family, noting that Battaglia had shared photographs of a weekend outing with her twin sons just prior to the tragedy, accompanied by the caption: The happiness of a weekend together is incomparable. Tonight, dinner out. And it’s always a magical moment.
. On October 19, Battaglia broke her silence with a message posted to her Instagram stories against a black background: I’m heartbroken but overwhelmed by your overwhelming love. Thank you all. I’ll be back soon: I need you all.
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Responses and Industry Support
- Broadcaster Announcement: Antonella Clerici opened the October 19, 2026, episode of It’s always noon on Rai 1 to inform viewers of the family tragedy.
- Family Impact: Condolences from colleagues focused heavily on supporting Battaglia and her ten-year-old twin sons, Marco and Luca.
- Professional Solidarity: Assostampa Palermo issued a public statement offering the regional press corps’ backing to the journalist and food writer.
- Authorial Milestone: The bereavement occurred shortly after the October 13, 2026, release of Battaglia’s fifth book with Cairo Editore.
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