Jermaine Jenas Consults Lawyers Over BBC Firing: ‘I’m Not Happy’

Former footballer Jermaine Jenas has stated that there are “two sides to every story” following his dismissal from the BBC amid complaints regarding his workplace conduct.

The former Premier League star, known for his roles on The One Show and Match of the Day, expressed his displeasure with the termination and mentioned he would be consulting his lawyers.

“Look, I can’t really talk about it,” Jenas mentioned in an interview with talkSPORT News.

“I, as you can probably see, am not happy about it. But currently, as it stands, I’m going to have to let the lawyers deal with it.

“You know, there’s two sides to every story, as we know. So that’s all I can say right now.”

When asked about allegations that he sent unsolicited texts to a female staff member at The One Show, he responded: “Like I said, I’m not happy about this situation.

“You know, I’m going to be speaking to my lawyers about it is all I can say right now.”

Jenas refrained from giving more information about the specific nature of the complaint, whether it involved more than one colleague, if he was surprised by the complaint, or the timing of when he became aware of it and when the BBC informed him of his dismissal.

He did not disclose whether legal proceedings were taking place, his future prospects in sports presenting, or if he felt an apology was necessary regarding his departure from the BBC.

“I can’t talk about that right now. I’ve just got to leave this to a team of lawyers at the minute who are, yeah, I suppose just managing the situation,” he mentioned.

“This is … Yeah, it’s tough, you know. But I’ve got to listen to my lawyers.”

The BBC confirmed through a spokesperson to the PA news agency that Jenas “is no longer part of our presenting line-up.”

According to BBC News, the 41-year-old’s contract was terminated following concerns raised about digital communications, including texts, in recent weeks.

BBC’s Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore acknowledged the situation but refrained from divulging further details following inquiries by PA after she participated in a panel at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Official figures from last year showed that Jenas earned between £190,000 to £194,999 for his roles on the FA Cup, Match of the Day, and the World Cup with the BBC.

Jenas began presenting a drive-time show on talkSPORT with former footballer Jermaine Pennant just after news of his dismissal surfaced.

He did not discuss the news during the broadcast and left the News UK building in a car following the radio show.

Jenas also appears on TNT Sports’s football coverage, but he isn’t scheduled to appear for several weeks.

It is reported that TNT Sports was unaware of Jenas’s employment status with the BBC.

The father of four joined The One Show in 2020 as a temporary co-host, filling in after Matt Baker’s departure, and became a permanent host the following year.

He has been a regular pundit on Match of the Day, Match of the Day 2, and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live.

During his football career, Jenas played for the England national team, as well as Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Queens Park Rangers.

Besides broadcasting, Jenas hosts Formula E race coverage for TNT Sports.

His agency, MC Saatchi, no longer represents him, and his profile on their site now shows a “page not found” notice.

Source: PA Archive, BBC News