Inside the decision to sack Jermaine Jenas: How rumours spread like wildfire on BBC WhatsApp chats... (original) (raw)
The news of Jermaine Jenas's 'inappropriate' text messages spread around his colleagues via 'rumours' before the BBC suddenly sacked him, an insider has claimed.
The TV host, 41, was fired this week, with the BBC confirming that Jenas is 'no longer part of our presenting line-up'.
A female member of staff claimed she received unsolicited communications via text from Jenas, reports claimed.
Jenas's removal from his £190,000-a-year job left his colleagues blindsided as the decision happened 'very quickly', a BBC insider has claimed.
'It all came as a massive shock but his colleagues have now been told the news and he won't be back,' they said.
'They were kept in the dark. They couldn't believe it when they found out.
'There were rumours going around about text messages to members of staff so the evidence was there and the BBC knew that they couldn't do anything else but terminate his employment. He was sacked very quickly; it's a sorry state of affairs.'
Jermaine Jenas on the phone as he leaves Talksport this evening after being sacked
Jenas, 41, leaves Talksport this evening after being sacked
Staff were officially informed of Jenas's departure in an email from the BBC's head of sport Alex Kay-Jelski at 3.39pm yesterday afternoon.
In a short message he wrote: 'Hello all, I wanted to let you know that Jermaine Jenas is no longer working with the BBC. Thanks, Alex.'
The message raised eyebrows among employees because it was sent from Mr Kay-Jelski's iPhone. Sources say that the announcement was rushed out after bosses were alerted that the Mail was aware Jenas had been axed.
'It must have really caught them on the hop for such an announcement to have the been sent from a mobile phone,' one member of BBC staff said.
Now sources at talkSPORT fear that Jenas' future there could also be under threat.
But a talkSPORT spokesman last night said: ‘We made a decision, with Jermaine, that he should continue to present the show.’
However, the official added: ‘There are no plans for Jermaine to broadcast as a presenter on talkSPORT in the immediate future.’
He is understood to be employed on a freelance basis but the Mail can reveal that bosses there were last night asking around for information on the behaviour that saw him sacked by the BBC.
An insider said: 'There is now some concern at talkSPORT, if there is a whiff that Jermaine has done something serious, then...'
Jenas's photograph has been removed from the BBC's studios in Salford and he appears to have parted company with his long-term agent MC Saatchi who have taken his picture down from their website.
Footage from Jermaine Pennant's Instagram story today shows Jenas making a face after the footballer says: 'When you and your best mate are on the radio'
In an uncomfortable interview this evening, Jenas refused to answer the questions put to him and demanded the recording was stopped.
The Talk Sport interviewer said: 'Can I just add, Jermaine, I can see that you are absolutely fuming,' to which Jenas replied 'yeah'.
The sacked presenter then cut in to ask: 'Is this still on air?'
When the interviewer responded with 'yeah we are still recording', Jenas demanded: 'Turn it off.'
The talkSPORT interviewer added: 'I just want to ask you this on tape. I can see that you are fuming right 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 this happening to you?'
Jenas replied: 'I can't talk about it right now.'
He added: 'I cant talk about those things [how I feel] right now. Like I said, There's two sides to this whole thing. My lawyers are going to be taking over from now on.'
Moments before, Jenas had admitted he was 'not happy' with his sacking.
He said: '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... that's all I can say now.'
He added: '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.'
The fired presenter was later seen on the phone as he was driven away from Talk Sport in a black Mercedes.
A spokesperson for Jenas had also released a statement while he was on air, saying: 'Right now I can't talk about it.
'I can tell you I'm not happy - there are two sides to every story - and I'm going to be speaking with my lawyers on the issue.'
According to the BBC, the ex-Premier League footballer's 'contract was terminated earlier this week, because of alleged issues relating to workplace behaviour'.
The corporation added: 'It followed allegations involving digital communications such as texts, which were raised with the corporation a few weeks ago.'
Sources at the BBC say Jenas will no longer host its evening show with immediate effect. He also appears to have been removed from agency MC Saatchi's website.
The ex-Premier League star even appeared laughing while hosting talkSPORT Drive's live show at 4pm today, just minutes after it emerged he had been sacked from the BBC.
Jenas is pictured on his last episode of the One Show in July 22 of this year alongside Alex Jones
The One Show host, pictured with wife Ellie Penfold at Wimbledon this year, has been accused for inappropriate behavior
The ex-Premier League star has yet to address his sacking - and even appeared laughing while hosting TalkSport Drive's live show at 4pm today, just minutes after it emerged he had been sacked from the BBC.
Jenas was set to appear on the show again tomorrow but Mail Sport understands this will no longer be the case.
It was revealed as he was hosting Drive, discussing the odds on Premier League managers getting the sack.
The married father of three continued to anchor the programme until 7pm, when he was seen leaving the station’s headquarters near London Bridge station in central London.
Footage from Jermaine Pennant's Instagram story today shows Jenas making a face after the footballer says: 'When you and your best mate are on the radio.'
It's understood the complaints related to his 'workplace conduct' and that the issues were raised with the broadcaster a few weeks ago, and it took action.
The married father of four last presented The One Show alongside Welsh co-host Alex Jones on July 22, interviewing popstar Will Young, and appeared on the Match of The Day panel on May 4.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.'
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'.
Speaking about the revelation, a source told the Sun: 'This is a categorical nightmare for the BBC.'
Jenas also previously hosted the Match of the Day spin-off and he was a regular studio pundit for the Beeb's Euros coverage.
He has also been mooted as a replacement for Gary Lineker on Match of the Day amid rumours that he is to leave in the near future.
The former player even covered this summer's Euros in Germany, and acted as a co-commentator on the semi-final between Spain and France on July 9.
Former footballer Jenas, 41, joined The One Show in In 2020, where he began co-presenting with Alex Jones.
A year later he became one of its permanent hosts.
As well as playing for England, he also played for Tottenham Hotspur for eight years between 2005 and 2013 after signing from Newcastle United.
Jermaine Jenas, pictured in Qatar in December, has been sacked by the BBC, the Mail this afternoon revealed
Sources at the BBC say the 41-year-old will no longer host its evening show - pictured with co-host Alex Jones
In his final appearance on the One Show in July (pictured), he interviewed former popstar Will Young (who is pictured far left)
A giant mural featuring Jenas alongside BBC Sport colleagues Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott
A giant mural featuring Jenas alongside BBC Sport colleagues Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott
As well as appearing on the One Show, Jenas also made a name for himself as a commentator on BT Sport (pictured in March 2021 shortly before he bagged his permanent slot on the One Show)
Jenas has even rubbed shoulders with royalty. He is pictured alongside his wife, Ellie, as the met Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh
Off the pitch, Jenas is married to wife Ellie who he tied the knot with in 2011.
They have two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, plus baby son Jacob, together while Jenas has an older daughter from a previous relationship who lives in the United States with her mother.
The saga is the latest to hit the BBC following the Strictly scandal and Huw Edwards pleading guilty to paedophilia.
BBC bosses are currently deciding how to announce the verdict of their investigation into Amanda Abbington's claims that Giovanni Pernice bullied her during rehearsals last year.
The ex-Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle star - who won 21 England caps - lives in a £1million house in Hertfordshire.
The ex-footballer made his first team debut for Nottingham Forest aged 17 and earned a big-money move to Newcastle United in 2002 where he was named PFA Young Player of the Year award in his first full season.
However his career was blighted by injury and was forced to retire with a knee injury in 2014 aged just 31.
But Jenas has managed to build a successful TV career off the back of his playing days, working not only for the BBC, both on TV and radio, but also with TNT Sports (previously called BT Sport) where he's worked on the channel's football coverage as a pundit and Formula E as host.
In 2020 he branched outside of football to take on a position among The One Show presenting roster.
He joined the show back as a stand-in for Matt Baker alongside former Boyzone heartthrob, Ronan Keating.
Jenas (pictured second from right) joined the One Show team full-time, alongside former Boyzone heartthrob Ronan Keating in 2021. The two are pictured with Alex Jones and designer Ant Anderson (far right) in September 2021.
Presenters Jermaine Jenas (back left) and Alex Jones (back right) with (left to right) Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Hannah Spearritt, Jon Lee, Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh and Jo O'Meara, of S Club 7 and actor Neil McDermott during filming for The One Show
Jenas is pictured arrives for the 2024 Shein Women's Football Awards at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, London
But the retired football ace proved so popular that in May 2021 he was bagged a prized slot presenting full-time alongside Alex Jones Monday to Wednesday.
And his turn on the TV appeared to inspire him to taking on future television gigs - with the star even hinting at becoming the next MOTD host.
Speaking to The Sun in 2021, Jenas admitted he would love to one day front the iconic football show, which fellow ex-Spurs star Lineker has hosted since 1999.
He said: In an interview with The Sun in October 2021, Jermaine said: 'Match Of The Day is the biggest job on television, and if I ever got the opportunity of course I'd say yes.
'When Gary decides to call it a day, I'm sure the BBC will have a look around and decide who's the best fit for the job.'
Lineker has previously heralded Jenas as his 'natural successor'.
In a conversation with the Belfast Telegraph, Jenas couldn't help but sing praises of his wife: 'She's been a rock keeping the family going through tough times.'
'She actually made me get rid of the car because it was too noisy! She's told me she thought when we first met that I was a bit of an over-confident idiot, but I won her over finally.'
The pair tied the knot in 2011 and Jenas regularly shares candid pictures of himself and Ellie playing with their children.
In October 2021, the couple welcomed baby Jacob to the family.
Sharing their first baby picture of their newborn, Ellie wrote on Instagram: 'Our beautiful son Jacob Anthony Jenas - we love you so much.'
News of the couple's announcement was first revealed on The One Show a couple of days earlier as Jenas's co-host Ronan Keating announced: 'First off congratulations to our very own Jermaine and his wife Ellie, who had a baby boy called Jacob at the weekend.
'Enjoy some time off, no sleep for you Jermaine.'
Jenas, who has also fronted programmes on BT Sport, announced he was set to become a father again during his debut appearance as a permanent host of The One Show in May 2021.
After being prompted by co-host Alex Jones, Jermaine said: 'I have a baby on the way. It's a boy. Very excited in our house.'
Away from the TV, Jenas and a friend set up the Aquinas Foundation to help incentivise and raise the aspirations of young people in schools across Nottingham.
In December 2023 it was announced he would collect an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University.