Jermaine Jenas was sacked by the BBC on Monday after a woman complained of his workplace conduct and a junior staffer raised concerns over alleged flirty texts.
Now the football pundit, 41, admitted to ‘frantically’ sending inappropriate messages to a colleague over a 24-hour period but insisted he did ‘nothing illegal’.
Although he was speaking to ‘consenting adults’, he has apologised to the women involved – one of whom allegedly gave him her number at a boozy work event.
In an interview with The Sun, Jenas also insisted: ‘I’m not a sex pest.’
The former Match of the Day presenter denied sending images or videos as part of the flirty messages.
Jermaine Jenas admitted to sending the inappropriate messages in an interview with The Sun
Jermaine Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold at the Pride Of Britain Awards in 2023. Penfold is not speaking to Jenas and has kicked him out of the bedroom
His wife Ellie Penfold – whom he has been married to for 13 years – has kicked him out of the bedroom and the pair are no longer on speaking terms.
The ex-footballer said he has a tendency to ‘self-sabotage’ his own relationship, saying that sexting other woman may not have been a physical form of cheating but he still considers it an unfaithful act.
‘I think it would be fair to say I have a problem,’ he told The Sun. ‘I know I need help. And I am getting help.’
Jenas said he is riddled with fear over losing his family and has been suffering with insomnia and anxiety since the news broke.
He said: ‘I have let myself down, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology – especially the women with whom I was messaging. I am so, so sorry.’
The disgraced presenter spoke of his former BBC colleagues who have reached out to offer their support.
But his face dropped when he was asked about the Beeb itself, slamming their handling of the situation.
The BBC informed staff of their decision to let Jenas go after the story had already been made public by news outlets.
Jenas said he had fallen below the standard of responsibility that ‘needs to be upheld when you’re a member of the BBC’.
While an investigation into his behaviour continues, Jenas has had his BBC contract terminated and will no longer appear on Match of the Day or The One Show.
A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.’
He was last on air for the corporation earlier in the summer.