Jermaine Jenas will be absent from The One Show's 20th anniversary celebrations, following the termination of his BBC contract in 2024. The former Premier League midfielder presented the show alongside Alex Jones from 2020 until his dismissal.
Anniversary celebrations planned
The BBC's tea-time magazine show, which launched in 2006, is marking its 20th year with a week of celebrations. An extended hour-long anniversary special is scheduled for Friday evening, August 14, with hosts past and present set to return to the sofa.
Among those involved are Vernon Kay, Angellica Bell and JB Gill. However, Jenas will be a notable absentee from the festivities.
Contract terminated over texts
Jenas had his BBC contract terminated in August 2024 after it emerged he had sent inappropriate texts to two female employees. The 43-year-old, who played for Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa, later apologised for his "wildly inappropriate" and "self-destructive" behaviour.
His broadcasting career, which included punditry on Match of the Day, has since collapsed. His wife of 14 years, Ellie Penfold, announced their marriage had ended last year.
Jenas reflects on fallout
Jenas, who has since found love again with French estate agent Anne Leplaideur, admitted earlier this year that he has "lost everything" in the wake of the scandal. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: "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."
He added that he was "not begging for a job" or eyeing a return to television, but felt he had already been "heavily punished" for his actions.
Co-host reaction
Jenas' former co-host Alex Jones admitted she was "the last to know" about his BBC sacking. Speaking on Jamie Laing's Good Company podcast last year, she said: "JJ and I had become good friends. I was the last to know. The BBC dealt with it and I think if people feel uncomfortable they have to deal with it."
She added: "If it was my daughter and she was at work in whatever industry and she felt uncomfortable I would hope to God that I'd given her the tools to be able to speak up. And if she was brave enough to speak up, because it is a brave thing to do, I would hope that that company, or corporation, whoever, would deal with it."
