Jermaine Jenas responded to the news of his BBC dismissal in a live interview just moments after the charges surfaced.
The 41-year-old One Show host and Match of the Day presenter has been removed from air and dismissed by the BBC following accusations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
These included charges that he’sent unwanted SMS to a female staff member at The One Show’.
Jenas is ‘no longer part of our presenting line-up’, according to the BBC.
Jenas was presenting talkSPORT’s Drivetime show at the time, but he responded to the news in a live interview hours later.
When asked about his reaction to the decision that he had been sacked, the former footballer paused for a moment, before saying that he couldn’t really talk about it.
Appearing to choose his words carefully and pausing to deliberate over what he could say, he went on: ‘As you can probably see, I’m not happy about it.’
‘There’s two sides to every story,’ he added, but declined to go into any further detail when probed on the allegations.
When asked what the complaint was about and if it connected to more than one coworker, Jenas repeatedly stated that the matter was in the hands of his lawyers.
When asked if he was startled by the charges, Jenas replied: ‘It’s hard, there’s definitely two sides.’
As he repeated that the situation was in the hands of his lawyers, Jenas remained calm and respectfully declined the questions, noting that he realised the interviewer had a job to do.
The enquiries covered when he first learnt that a complaint had been filed and when the BBC informed him that he was being fired.
He also declined to comment on whether legal actions were underway, whether he believed he would be able to continue working in sports presenting or the industry as a whole, or whether he felt he should apologise to anyone for leaving the BBC.
Jenas said that this was ‘difficult’ but had to listen to his lawyers after repeatedly saying ‘I can not talk about that’ in response to multiple enquiries.
At the end of the conversation, Jenas admitted that he was ‘fuming’ before requesting if the feed could be cut and refusing to say how he felt.
Jermaine Jenas’ TalkSPORT interview in full after BBC sacking:
Jenas: ‘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 to every story, as we know, so that’s all I can say right now.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘It’s been reported that you sent unsolicited texts to a female member of staff at The One Show, is that true?’
Jenas: ‘Like I said, 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.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘Are you able to elaborate at all about the complaints that were made, what exactly did they relate to?’
Jenas: ‘No.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘Was it something concerning one colleague or more than one?’
Jenas: ‘I’m going to have to, like I said, speak to my lawyers about this situation.
‘I’m definitely, as you can see by, like I said, my reaction, I’m not happy at all about the outcome of this, but I’ve got to leave it in the hands of the lawyers right now.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘Were you surprised that any complaint was made against you?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t really talk… maybe as much… I can’t really talk right now, I’ve got to leave it in the hands of the lawyers like I said.
‘It’s hard, you know, there’s definitely two sides.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘Just a couple of logistical questions, when did the BBC tell you that you were being sacked?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t talk about that unfortunately. All of this is with my lawyers, and I’ll be probably – like I said – responding through my lawyers.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘I totally appreciate why that is what you’re going for, I’m sure you can understand why I just want to ask you…’
Jenas: ‘Yeah, you’ve got a job to do.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘When were you first made aware that a complaint had been made?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t talk about that.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘You’ve spoken about legal proceedings, are they already underway or are you in the process of getting them underway?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t talk about that.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘Do you feel that you have anyone to apologise to as a result of this and your departure from the BBC or not at this stage?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t talk about that right now, I’ve got to leave this to my team of lawyers at the minute, who are… I suppose managing this situation. This is tough, but I have to take the… listen to my lawyers.’
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘You’ve said on a few occasions that you’re not happy, that you will instruct your lawyers and that there are two sides to every story, and that that’s the case here.
‘Do you see therefore any reason why you wouldn’t be able to continue working going forward in sports presenting, or indeed in the industry as a whole?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t talk about that right now.
TalkSPORT interviewer: ‘I appreciate your time, thank you very much.’
Jenas: ‘Thank you very much.’
Second journalist: ‘Can I just say, Jermaine I can see that you are absolutely fuming, and I totally appreciate…’
Jenas: ‘Yeah, is this still on air?’
Second journalist: ‘Yeah we’re still recording.’
Jenas: ‘Can you turn it off?’
Second journalist: ‘I just want to ask you this on tape, I can see that you’re fuming, and I understand entirely there are certain things you can’t talk about.
‘But you are a major BBC star, can you articulate any of your emotions right now towards the BBC and towards this happening to you?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t talk about it right now.’
Second journalist: ‘You can talk about how you feel inside.’
Jenas: ‘No, I can’t talk about those things right now. Like I said, there’s definitely two sides to this whole thing, and my lawyers are going to be taking over from now on.’
Second journalist: ‘When do you hope your side can be aired? What sort of time scale would you hope you can give your side of the story out?’
Jenas: ‘I can’t… sorry I can’t talk give you any… I can’t talk about it.’
Second journalist: ‘Is there anything else you need to add?’
Jenas: ‘No, I really appreciate the position you’re in and the questions you’ve asked, and just thank you very much for your time.’
He had been speaking on talkSPORT after an earlier stint on the radio channel’s Drive programme between 4pm and 7pm, with the radio company now confirming ‘there are no plans for him to broadcast’ in the immediate future,
TalkSPORT the following statement: ‘We were made aware of a breaking news story involving Jermaine Jenas as he went on air for a one-off presenting slot on talkSPORT Drive.
‘We made a decision – with Jermaine – that he should continue to present the show.
‘Given the array of serious allegations being reported as the story continues to evolve, it’s for Jermaine as a private individual to address them in the way he chooses.
‘There are no plans for Jermaine to broadcast as a presenter on talkSPORT in the immediate future.’
According to Mail Sport, he was scheduled to appear on the show on Friday, but this has since changed.
Jenas got between £190,000 and £194,999 from the BBC for his work on the FA Cup, Match of the Day, and the World Cup.
He last presented The One Show, which he joined in 2020, on July 22 with Alex Jones, and appeared on Match of the Day on May 4, but did not appear in the opening episode of the new season.
Jenas began working as a Match of the Day analyst after retiring from football in 2016 after stints at Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. He was widely rumoured to be Gary Lineker’s eventual replacement.
Jenas resides in Hertfordshire with his four children, three from his marriage to Ellie Penfold and one from a prior relationship.
