Former BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas has spoken out about his recent dismissal, expressing his deep regret and shame over the situation. In an interview with the Sun newspaper, Jenas admitted to sending “inappropriate messages” to two colleagues on the One Show, leading to his contract being terminated by the BBC.
The 41-year-old, who is married with four children, described the texts as a “huge error of judgement” and expressed his remorse for letting down his colleagues, friends, and most importantly, his family. He emphasized that he did not engage in any illegal behavior and that the messages were exchanged between consenting adults.
Jenas revealed that he is currently undergoing therapy and acknowledged that he fell short of the BBC’s standards. He described the moment he was informed of his dismissal during a video call while on a family holiday as devastating, stating that he feels like he has lost everything.
Despite the controversy surrounding his departure, Jenas denied sending any explicit pictures or videos and refused to disclose the specific details of the allegations against him. He also mentioned that he considers his actions as a form of cheating, even though nothing physical occurred.
The former Match of the Day and One Show host, who also works as a pundit and co-commentator for TNT Sports, had a salary between £190,000 and £194,999 at the BBC in the last financial year. His earnings from The One Show, however, remain undisclosed as they are paid by BBC Studios, the corporation’s commercial production company.
The BBC has not provided further information regarding the allegations against Jenas, but a spokesperson confirmed his departure from the presenting line-up. Jenas expressed his feelings of being judged and targeted, stating that he is facing a challenging time in the aftermath of his dismissal.
