“Jermaine Jenas says ‘I’m not happy’ after being sacked by BBC while live on air at talkSPORT.”
The former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder has been a presenter on BBC’s *The One Show* since 2020 and has also served as a pundit on *Match of the Day.*
Former footballer Jermaine Jenas expressed his dissatisfaction after being dismissed by the BBC amid allegations of inappropriate behavior. The broadcaster confirmed that Jenas is “no longer part” of *The One Show’s* “presenting line-up.”
The news of his sacking emerged just as Jenas began co-hosting a three-hour drive-time show on talkSPORT radio with fellow ex-footballer Jermaine Pennant.
Jenas, 41, has also been removed from his punditry and presenting roles on the BBC’s flagship football highlights program *Match of the Day,* as well as *Match of the Day 2* and Radio 5 Live.
BBC News reported that Jermaine Jenas’s contract was terminated earlier this week due to alleged issues related to workplace behavior. The termination reportedly followed allegations involving digital communications, such as texts, which were brought to the corporation’s attention a few weeks ago.
During a conversation with a talkSPORT reporter on Thursday evening, Jenas commented, “I can’t really talk about it. As you can probably see, I’m not happy about it. But currently, as it stands, I’m going to have to let the lawyers deal with it. There’s two sides… that’s all I can say now.”
He continued, “I’m not happy about this situation. I’m going to be speaking to my lawyers about it, is all I can say right now.”
When pressed by the interviewer, Jenas admitted he couldn’t discuss most of the questions asked but acknowledged, “I can see you’re fuming.” The former footballer also refrained from confirming whether he has initiated legal proceedings.
In an email to staff, as reported by Sky News, the BBC stated, “I wanted to inform you that Jermaine Jenas is no longer working for the BBC.”
A spokesperson for talkSPORT commented that the station was “made aware of a breaking news story involving Jermaine Jenas as he went on air for a one-off presenting slot on talkSPORT Drive.”
The statement continued, “We made a decision—alongside Jermaine—that he should continue to present the show. Given the range of serious allegations being reported as the story develops, it’s up to Jermaine as a private individual to address them as he sees fit. There are no plans for Jermaine to broadcast as a presenter on talkSPORT in the immediate future.”
Jenas last appeared on *The One Show* in mid-July and on *Match of the Day* in May.
Jenas, who earned between £190,000 and £194,999 from the BBC for his work on the FA Cup, *Match of the Day*, and the World Cup during the 2022/23 season, also serves as a presenter for TNT Sports.
His salary for hosting *The One Show* has not been disclosed, as the program is produced by BBC Studios, the BBC’s commercial production company.
Jenas began his football career at the age of 17 with Nottingham Forest and later played for Newcastle United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Queens Park Rangers. He also earned 21 caps for England, scoring one goal.
After retiring from professional football in 2016, the former midfielder transitioned into punditry and presenting roles with the BBC and BT Sport.
As a father of four, Jenas joined *The One Show* in 2020 as a stand-in co-host after Matt Baker’s departure and was made a permanent co-host the following year.
Following news of his sacking, Jenas’s agency, M&C Saatchi, announced that it no longer represents him.
TNT Sports declined to comment on his employment with the BBC, but it’s understood that Jenas is not scheduled to appear on their channels for several weeks. He served as a co-commentator for the Ipswich vs. Liverpool match on TNT last Saturday as the Premier League season resumed.
It’s believed that TNT Sports was unaware of the status of Jenas’s employment with the BBC.
