Jermaine Jenas, the former One Show presenter who was sacked by the BBC nearly two years ago, has spoken out for the first time to give his version of events. The 43-year-old ex-Newcastle United star appeared on Good Morning Britain (GMB) on ITV to address the allegations that led to his dismissal.
Background of the Scandal
Jenas, who co-presented The One Show from 2020 to 2024 alongside Alex Jones, was fired after allegations that he sent unsolicited texts to a female staff member. It was later reported that multiple women had come forward about explicit messages he sent to colleagues. At the time, Jenas said there were "two sides to every story" and that he would let his lawyers handle the matter.
Interview on Good Morning Britain
Interviewed by hosts Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway, Jenas described the past two years as a tough period. "I've lost everything, essentially. My job, my family, everything was kind of taken away from me," he said. He admitted to being in the wrong but noted that he was not given the opportunity to apologize directly to those involved.
When asked if he recognized he was in the wrong, Jenas replied, "100 per cent," adding that it was a marital issue and he needed to apologize to his wife. Jenas and his wife, Ellie Penfold, announced their separation in March 2025 after nearly 20 years together.
Confrontation with Ranvir Singh
During the interview, Ranvir pressed Jenas on whether he had apologized to the women he texted. Jenas said he had always apologized but felt the questioning was accusatory. "I'm not skirting around anything," he said. "I know what I did was wrong and accept the punishments."
Ranvir asked Jenas to share advice for other men in positions of power, but he declined, saying he was not there to dictate. The interview ended with a statement from a BBC spokesperson: "We do not comment on individuals, but we will always look at any issues raised with us and take the action as appropriate."
Jenas's Career
Jenas began his career as a professional footballer, playing for clubs including Newcastle United, before retiring at age 32. He then transitioned to presenting, becoming a regular on The One Show and Match of the Day. His BBC salary for FA Cup, Match of the Day, and World Cup coverage was between £190,000 and £194,999 before 2024. His salary for The One Show was not disclosed as it was produced by BBC Studios.
