Jermaine Jenas has accused the BBC of making him a ‘fall guy’ for a series of recent scandals after he was sacked by the corporation on Monday over complaints of his workplace conduct and a series of raunchy texts.
The married football pundit, 41, slammed the Beeb for its handling of the situation and accused them of making him a ‘fall guy’ for the recent Huw Edwards and Strictly scandals.
Jenas told The Sun: ‘I think everyone has seen what’s been going on at the BBC recently with Huw Edwards and Strictly. I just don’t think I should be the one to be the fall guy. I think it sums up where they are at right now.’
He also criticised senior staff at the BBC who appeared to be openly discussing his dismissal.
‘That is something that my lawyers are going to be looking at,’ he said. ‘And that they themselves – the BBC – need to look into as well for everybody’s protection going forwards.’
BBC Sport presenters Jermaine Jenas has been fired following allegations of inappropriate behaviour
Jenas has slammed the BBC for their handling of the situation and criticised senior colleagues for speaking openly of his sacking in the office
Jenas added: ‘But my head is frazzled. I am focused purely on my family and keeping my kids protected, and so it’s in the hands of my lawyers.’
It comes as the Mail on Sunday revealed that BBC chiefs secretly complied a dossier of damning evidence against Jenas before confronting the star and sacking him over a video call while he was on a family holiday.
BBC insiders say bosses, including director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, wanted to investigate thoroughly after being told the ex-footballer had sent inappropriate and unsolicited text messages.
It led to executives speaking to his colleagues and examining mobile phone data before showing the presenter the evidence.
An insider said: ‘This was a pretty clinical dismissal.
‘Unlike some of the messy situations the Beeb have been in recent years with problematic staff behaviour, this investigation was already done. It left him no room to fight back.’
The disgraced presenter also revealed that he had asked HR if he could message the women involved to apologise ‘from the bottom of my heart’ but he was barred from doing so ‘because of the legal process’.
‘The handling of the situation wasn’t great,’ Jenas said. ‘It was quick — and hell.’
The former One Show Host, a favourite to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day, has admitted to sending inappropriate messages but claimed he did ‘nothing illegal’.
His contract was terminated due to ‘alleged issues relating to workplace behaviour’ and his colleagues were informed via a short email from the Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski.
All it said was: ‘Hello all. I wanted to let you know that Jermaine Jenas is no longer working for the BBC.’
Jenas revealed he didn’t think the Beeb had a ‘game plan’ for announcing his dismissal.
‘I think different departments were being told different things,’ he said. ‘I think it’s shocking.’
In the lengthy 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.
The email that was sent to BBC staff by the broadcaster’s Director of Sport informing them presenter Jermaine Jenas had been sacked
His wife Ellie Penfold – whom he has been married to for 13 years – is ‘raging’ and has kicked him out of the bedroom. The pair are no longer on speaking terms.
Jenas fears his wife may never forgive him but is focusing on caring for their two daughters and young son.
He said he had let everyone down, including his dog who looked at him ‘disappointed’.
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.’
He continued: ‘I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself a lot of questions at the moment. I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be hard.’
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.’
According to the BBC, the ex-Premier League footballer’s ‘contract was terminated earlier this week, because of alleged issues relating to workplace behaviour’. Jenas was named Ally of the Year at the Women’s Football Awards (pictured) just weeks before his sacking
Jermaine Jenas, 41, pictured with his wife Ellie Penfold
The former England international has told his wife of 13 years, Ellie Penfold, about the claims
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
Jermaine Jenas was pictured wearing his wedding ring hours before the interview was published
Jenas said he felt as though he is ‘the number one target right now in the country’ after allegations began to swirl around his sacking.
He said: ‘I don’t want to start going down the ‘who pursued who’ road, but when people are saying things that are wrong and false information is being spread, I do have to kind of defend my space.
‘In that particular instance, there was an adult conversation that took place in a bar in London where that person made it very clear that they had an attraction to me. Yes there was alcohol involved but I take full responsibility.
‘I feel people don’t know the truth and are forming opinions about me that aren’t accurate. I wasn’t going through some kind of BBC vault trying to get women’s numbers.’
He added: ‘I’m obviously going to say I’m not a sex pest. These were consenting adults I was texting.’
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.
Although Jenas said he had fallen below the standard of responsibility that ‘needs to be upheld when you’re a member of the BBC’, he said he is considering suing the corporation.
The BBC informed staff of their decision to let Jenas go after the story had already been made public by news outlets.
At the time, Jenas was hosting a three-hour drive-time programme with talkSport radio, forcing him into an awkward question and answer session with his colleague Ray Parlour.
Live on national radio, the married ex-footballer said he was ‘not happy’ about his dismissal and was leaving it to his ‘team of lawyers’ who are ‘managing the situation’.
‘It’s tough,’ he said. ‘But I’ve got to listen to my lawyers.’
At one point, Jenas demanded the recording of the segment be stopped.
Jenas pictured on his last episode of the One Show in July 22 of this year alongside Alex Jones
In his final appearance on the One Show in July (pictured), he interviewed former popstar Will Young (who is pictured far left)
TalkSPORT found out about Jermaine Jenas’ sacking just moments before he went live on air yesterday and say there are no plans for him to appear in the ‘immediate future’
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.