Soccer

Jermaine Jenas sacked from presenting BBC’s Match Of The Day

Former Newcastle player will also no longer present The One Show after alleged complaints

Jermaine Jenas. Photograph: Nigel French/PA Wire
Jermaine Jenas. Photograph: Nigel French/PA Wire
Thu Aug 22 2024 - 21:54

Former footballer Jermaine Jenas has been sacked from presenting BBC programmes The One Show and Match Of The Day.

The ex-Premier League player (41) has been removed from the hosting line-ups following an internal investigation by the corporation because of alleged complaints about his behaviour, The Sun has reported.

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

The father-of-four joined The One Show in 2020 as a stand-in co-host following the departure of Matt Baker, and he was made a permanent fixture the following year.

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During his football career, he played for Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers.

His agency MC Saatchi also no longer represents him.

In a bizarre twist, the 41-year-old was a surprise presenter on talkSPORT’s ‘Drive’ programme alongside Jermaine Pennant on Thursday afternoon as news of his departure from the BBC broke.

“Look, I can’t really talk about it,” he said in an interview with talkSPORT News after the show.

“I, as you can probably see, I am not happy about it. But currently, as it stands, I’m going to have to let the lawyers deal with it.

“You know, there’s two sides to every story, as we know. So that’s all I can say right now.”

When asked about reports that he sent unsolicited texts to a female member of staff at The One Show, he replied: “Like I said, I’m not happy about this situation.

“You know, I’m going to be speaking to my lawyers about it is all I can say right now.”

Jenas has three children with his wife Ellie Penfold and also a fourth from a previous relationship.