Jermaine Jenas ‘speaking to lawyers’ after BBC sacking

Former Match of the Day and One Show star Jermaine Jenas has mentioned he’s “talking to his attorneys” after being sacked by the BBC for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a feminine colleague.

Jenas mentioned there have been “two sides to each story” and he would let his “attorneys cope with it”.

The ex-footballer’s contract was terminated this week following allegations involving unsolicited digital communications together with texts to a member of a manufacturing crew.

The subject was dropped at the BBC’s consideration a couple of weeks in the past. The company introduced his departure on Thursday, however did not give additional particulars of the allegations.

Later that day, he was requested concerning the claims on speakSport radio, however mentioned: “I am unable to actually speak about it.”

He advised the station: “As you possibly can most likely see, I’m not pleased about it.”

Asked if he was shocked that any complaints had been made towards him, Jenas replied: “I am unable to actually speak proper now.

“I’ve simply obtained to go away this to a crew of attorneys on the minute who’re, yeah, I suppose simply managing the state of affairs,” he mentioned.

“This is… yeah, it is powerful, you recognize. But I’ve obtained to hearken to my attorneys.”

A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “We can verify Jermaine Jenas is not a part of our presenting line-up.”

He was final on air for the company earlier in the summertime.

BBC News has contacted 21 individuals who have labored on his programmes, however of those that responded, no-one commented publicly.

When the information of his BBC exit broke, he was on air as a visitor presenter on the speakSport drivetime present.

A press release from the station mentioned: “We have been made conscious of a breaking information story involving Jermaine Jenas as he went on air for a one-off presenting slot on speakSport Drive.

“We decided – with Jermaine – that he ought to proceed to current the present.

“Given the array of great allegations being reported because the story continues to evolve, it is for Jermaine as a non-public particular person to handle them in the best way he chooses.

“There aren’t any plans for Jermaine to broadcast as a presenter on speakSport within the quick future.”

Jenas additionally works for pay TV channels TNT Sports as a soccer pundit and co-commentator, and fronts their Formula E racing protection.

TNT has not commented about his future.

Jenas’s profile was faraway from his agent’s web site on Thursday night.

His firing from the BBC got here three months after he obtained a prize for Women’s Football Ally of the Year on the 2024 Women’s Football Awards.

He mentioned on the time he had “at all times supported the ladies’s sport” and that his mom had raised him as a “robust advocate of girls in sport”.

In earlier years, the award winner had been chosen from a shortlist of nominees, however Jenas’s award was given to him outright.

At the time of writing, the Women’s Football Awards web site has been taken down for upkeep. The BBC has approached the organisation for remark.

Jenas made his footballing debut on the age of 17, and performed for his boyhood crew Nottingham Forest, then Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. He went on to play 341 occasions, in addition to making 21 appearances for England.

He retired in 2016 aged 32, though he had not performed since 2014.

Jenas turned his consideration to media work, as a pundit whereas recovering from a knee damage and have become an everyday on Match of the Day, in addition to BT Sport.

He turned a everlasting member of the flagship BBC One present’s presenting crew in 2021, showing on the couch beside long-time host Alex Jones.

He began performing as a stand-in host on The One Show in 2020 following the departure of Matt Baker.

It was introduced the following April that he and Boyzone star Ronan Keating can be given everlasting positions, with Jenas presenting alongside Alex Jones from Mondays to Wednesdays.

He mentioned on the time that he was “actually wanting ahead to becoming a member of as a full-time host”.

Jenas was additionally the face of Match of the Day spin-off present MOTDx till that was cancelled in 2023.

Jenas, who’s married and has 4 youngsters, earned between £190,000 and £194,999 on the BBC within the final monetary yr for his work on protection of soccer together with the FA Cup, Match of the Day and the World Cup.

His wage for his work on The One Show has not been made public as a result of it’s made by BBC Studios, the BBC’s business manufacturing firm, which does not reveal how a lot it pays presenters.

He additionally arrange the Aquinas Foundation with a pal to assist incentivise and lift the aspirations of younger folks in faculties throughout Nottingham.

The charity shouldn’t be at present commenting.

In December 2023 he collected an honorary diploma from Nottingham Trent University.