Disgraced One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas wanted to stay with wife and be 'unhappy'
Disgraced BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas has admitted that he wanted to stay with his ex-wife Ellie Penfold and "be unhappy for the rest of [his] life" before she ended their marriage earlier this year.
The former Premier League midfielder, who presented The One Show and worked as a pundit on Match of The Day, had his contract terminated by the BBC in August last year, after it was revealed he had sent inappropriate texts to two female employees at the corporation.
Jenas later apologised for his "wildly inappropriate" and "self-destructive" behaviour and admitted that his wife - whom he married in 2011 and with whom he shares two children - was "absolutely raging" after news of his sacking broke.
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Having reportedly kicked the ex-Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur player out of their bedroom, Penfold announced in March that the couple had gone their separate ways after 16 years together.
In a statement posted on social media, she wrote: "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. Thank you, Ellie."
Jenas - who had been tipped to succeed Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day before the texting scandal emerged - has now broken his silence over his marriage ending, revealing that he had been "prepared to be unhappy" and stay with his wife but she had decided otherwise.
"It was her decision and one that I had to accept," he told the Filthy Fellas podcast. "If it was up to me - and I think a lot of men are like this - I'd probably be prepared to be unhappy for the rest of my life if [it meant] I had my kids in it.
"It's a man thing. If I wake up with my kids everyday, I'm quite happy to sacrifice the happiness. The reality is, we were both in a position where we like: 'Are we really happy?'
"From her side of things, she's probably ran the course much more than me. But I was much more happy to go: 'I'll be unhappy if I can stay in this house with you and these kids'. But it wasn't to be for her and we went our separate ways.
"She has understood the scenario that we've been in as a family. Kids first is our motto. We have to be the best parents we can possibly be. So I've been spending so much time at home."
The former England international added that their marriage has become "more of a friendship" and came to an end for more reasons than just the texting scandal.
"Not loads has changed really, it's just mine and her relationship has gone into more of a friendship than a relationship," he continued.
"I do believe there is going to come a moment where I'm sat in my apartment one day and be like: 'This is mad. I had my whole family around me every single day. I'm not hearing that pitter patter of feet'.
"That's going to be the tough side of it. But that's part of dealing with the situation. The reality is, me and my wife didn't split up because I sent some text messages to some people at work. We had issues for a period of time and it all comes to a head.
"Eventually, you make a decision to say, as adults, we will be better parents for our children if we remain friends. We had 16 amazing years together. She's a great woman."
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