Jermaine Jenas slams BBC for ‘taking away his life' after sexting scandal – as he reveals new venture

The Irish Sun

06-08-2025

JERMAINE Jenas has slammed the BBC for "taking away his life" in the wake of his high profile sexting scandal.
The former England footballer, 42, has also opened up on his latest venture following his controversial exit from the broadcaster.
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Jenas has opened up on his sacking by the BBC
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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Jenas was booted off the Beeb last year after women came forward to complain about his workplace conduct
Credit: Peter Jordan
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The flirty texts cost him his high-paid telly gigs on The One Show and Match of the Day
Credit: BBC Press Handout
Jenas was booted off the Beeb last year after women came forward to complain about his workplace conduct.
He was sacked in an excruciating meeting with HR and senior execs, including being shown a string of X-rated messages he'd sent.
The flirty texts cost him his £190,000 salary, including his high-paid telly gigs on The One Show and Match of the Day.
Away from work, it also led to the collapse of his marriage to his wife of 14 years, Ellie, with the pair announcing their split in March.
And in a recent podcast, he explained that he had been "blocked" from other job opportunities while at the BBC.
Speaking to Reece Mennie, Jenas told how he had started up his own production company after his exit as he looks to rebuild his career.
The former Tottenham star said: "It's been a really difficult moment for myself and my family what happened.
"I have always held up my hand and taken full responsibility for it, that's very important to do.
"You go through a lot of different emotions of anger and blame, but eventually you realise 'take responsibility and you'll be able to move forward'.
"Because of their ability to take away my life, in terms of every deal I had, the jobs that I had at that particular time, I said that is never happening to me again.
"You're in this kind of media bubble where you work for the BBC, there are so many walls in terms of what they want you to do and what you're not allowed to do.
"So I've recently set up my own production company. My agency that I had at the time weren't that supportive of it.
Jermaine Jenas 'handed career lifeline & TV return' after BBC sacked him over 'inappropriate texts'
"Betting companies want to work with me because I'm in football. BBC hate that because of the issues to do with gambling in general, so they block all of that.
"So there were a lot of blocks on one side and football was bringing me some stuff, but the reality is that it all got wiped out.
"It all got taken away."
Speaking on the scandal, he admitted he had "made a mistake" which saw his career taken from him in an instant.
He continued: "It was a mistake that is something that me and my wife and my family have to deal with.
"I worked 10 years post-retirement from being a footballer and I can take it as far back as I want from starting from nothing to becoming a footballer to getting myself in a very fortunate position to work on television.
"It's a lot of hard work that you put into the job, but at the same time, it can be taken away from you like that.
"That's one thing that I've recognised."
The corporation has scrubbed him from their websites and removed his mural from their Manchester headquarters Media City UK.
Speaking to the Sun at the time of his sacking from the BBC, Jenas apologised to his wife but denied being a sex pest.
He insisted he had done nothing illegal but said he was sorry if he made the women involved uncomfortable.
He told the Sun: 'I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry."
He confessed to lying to then-wife Ellie during a family holiday and sneaking off to take a call with BBC bosses over his X-rated messages.
Ex-model Ellie later announced the couple were separating in an Instagram post.
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Ex-model Ellie later announced the couple were separating in an Instagram post
Credit: Instagram
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The corporation has scrubbed him from their websites and removed his mural from their Manchester headquarters
Credit: Instagram
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The former England star slammed the BBC for 'taking his life away'
Credit: Getty Images - Getty
It read: "I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary.
"After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways.
"We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children's privacy during this challenging time."
The pair had been married for 14 years since they tied the knot in 2011.
They also share two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, and boy, Jacob, together.
In 2023, Jenas and Ellie clashed as he started spending more time socialising with his One Show work colleagues.
The pair had explosive rows but, Jenas admitted, they quietly worked through their issues with the help of couples therapy.
In February, he returned to talkSPORT for the first time in six months, telling listeners he was coming back a "better person".
Ahead of his return, Jenas told the station: 'The biggest thing in this whole situation is about taking responsibility and that has been at the forefront of my min
"There's a reason why you're in this position and there's a reason why this has happened.
"Once you accept those things, then you can work on yourself and you can work on the other things and you can work on your family and work towards a brighter future.'