Jermaine Jenas, the former One Show presenter who was fired by the BBC nearly two years ago, has spoken out for the first time to share his side of the story. The 43-year-old ex-Newcastle United star appeared on Good Morning Britain (GMB) on ITV, where he discussed the allegations that led to his sudden dismissal.
Background of the Scandal
Jenas was a regular face on The One Show from 2020 to 2024, often co-hosting alongside Alex Jones. He also appeared on Match of the Day until allegations emerged that he had sent unsolicited texts to a female staff member. Reports later indicated that multiple women had come forward about explicit messages he sent to colleagues. At the time, Jenas stated there were "two sides to every story" and said he would let his lawyers handle the matter.
First Interview Since Firing
In his first interview since the scandal, Jenas spoke with GMB hosts Ranvir Singh and Kate Garraway. He admitted to feeling uncertain and fearful about his future. "I'd reached a point recently where there was a lot of uncertainty in my life, a lot of fear in terms of the direction, in terms of where it was going," he said. "It's been a tough two-year period, in particular for my family. I got to this point where I was like, 'I feel like I need to start speaking.'"
Jenas acknowledged the consequences of his actions, stating: "I've lost everything, essentially. My job, my family, everything was kind of taken away from me. And that's not for me to decide the punishment, but that's exactly what happened - it's what I had to face."
Apology and Responsibility
When asked by Ranvir Singh whether he apologized to the women involved, Jenas responded: "I've always apologised. I don't think that's something I've never done. I've always apologised to everybody that was involved in it, whether it was the women who I was messaging and who were messaging me. I wasn't given the opportunity to sit in front of anybody and really apologise to anybody, and that's fine. There's a duty of care around the situation."
He admitted he was 100% in the wrong, adding: "It was something I shouldn't have been doing, but also, this was a marital thing more than anything, I need to apologise to my wife." Jenas and his wife, Ellie Penfold, announced their separation in March 2025 after nearly 20 years together.
Confrontation with Hosts
During the interview, Ranvir pressed Jenas on whether he understood the power imbalance, suggesting he was "skirting around" the issue. Jenas firmly denied this, saying: "I'm not skirting around anything, Ranvir. I'm more than happy to have the conversation, which is why I'm here. I'm not here to be defending myself in any way, shape or form. I know what I did was wrong and accept the punishments, so nobody's skirting around the responsibility of what I did. I know what I did and I know what I did was wrong, so I don't understand where this line of questioning's coming from."
When asked to advise other men in power, Jenas replied: "I'm not here to dictate to people. I understand why you have to come up with this line of questioning, and it's completely fine. And if you feel like I've not been punished enough, then go ahead and keep going."
BBC Statement
At the end of the interview, the hosts read 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."
Career Background
Jenas began his career as a professional footballer at age 16, playing for clubs including Newcastle United. He retired at 32 and transitioned into presenting. Before 2024, he earned between £190,000 and £194,999 at the BBC for his work on the FA Cup, Match of the Day, and the World Cup. His salary for The One Show was never disclosed, as it is produced by BBC Studios, which does not reveal presenter pay.
