Jermaine Jenas sacked by BBC over "inappropriate texts"

By Craig Simpson of Daily Telegraph UK

Jermaine Jenas has been sacked by the BBC over complaints about inappropriate communications including text messages.

The One Show and Match of the Day presenter, a former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, had been touted by some as a long-term replacement for Gary Lineker.

Jenas, 41, has now been dropped by the flagship football programme, the BBC confirmed.

“It followed allegations involving digital communications such as texts, which were raised with the corporation a few weeks ago,” the BBC reported.

A BBC spokesman said: “We can confirm that Jermain Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.”

It is understood Jenas was cut from the presenting team following an internal process.

Alex Kay-Jelski, the head of BBC Sport, confirmed the decision in an email to staff on Thursday, informing them that “Jermaine Jenas is no longer working for the BBC”.

The former player covered this summer’s Euros in Germany, and acted as a co-commentator on the semi-final between Spain and France on July 9.

He last presented The One Show on July 22, having first joined the evening TV show in 2021. His various roles earned him between £190,000 and £194,999 per year, according to the BBC’s 2023 annual report.

As news broke of Jenas’s sacking from the BBC, he was on air in his role as TalkSport pundit. Jenas, who earned 21 England caps for England, did not address it during the drivetime show.

Alongside his BBC commitments, Jenas has a relationship with TNT Sport, formerly BT Sport. He has provided commentary for its football coverage, and presented its E Sport programming.

Jenas is not scheduled to appear on air again for a broadcaster for a number of weeks, it is understood.

He began his career with Nottingham Forest, where he quickly made his name as a promising young player. In 2002 he joined a youthful Newcastle United squad stewarded by the late manager Sir Bobby Robson, and soon won the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

He joined Spurs in 2005, and Aston Villa in 2011, ending his career at Queens Park Rangers two years later.

Jenas moved into punditry, first with ITV and BT Sport, before securing appearances on Match of the Day.

The former England striker suggested Jenas could succeed him, saying that he was “probably drifting more towards my role” and was “doing it really well, doing The One Show”.

Jenas has three children with wife Ellie Penfold, who he married in 2011, and one other child from a previous relationship.

In 2023, Lineker, the flagship show’s host, suggested his time at the helm of the programme was “nearly up” and hinted at his possible successor.