Jermaine Jenas opens up on text messages that got him sacked from the BBC and reveals marriage troubles led to scandal
The former England footballer, 42, revisited the scandal that cost him his high-paid telly gigs on The One Show and Match of the Day.
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It also ultimately led to the collapse of his marriage to his wife of 14 years, Ellie, with the pair announcing their split in March.
Speaking with comedian Katherine Ryan and professional boxer Derek Chisora on his Let Me Tell You Something podcast, he said: "I broke a vow. I feel my level of punishment was up there. I had to take it and have some broad shoulders and handle it, and I feel like I did that."
Jermaine likened his messages to Fifty Shades of Grey lothario Christian Grey, continuing: "It was sexting, as simple as that, but it was initiated to me and then I responded.
"It wasn't just me going out of my way and it definitely 100 percent wasn't 'me 'if you do this I will help you in your work'.
"There was no power element to it going on."
He then admitted his personal life and marriage weren't in a good place at the time, though he insisted it was no excuse for his behaviour.
"There's a lot of stuff with me and Ellie where we weren't in the best place ourselves," he said.
"And things were just spiralling a little bit. In no way is that blame. I'm fully accepting responsibility.
"I dealt with it wrong and got heavily punished for it by losing pretty much everything that I had at that time."
Though the fallout of the messages was costly, Jermaine claimed the BBC had him "locked in a creative prison".
He was sacked in an excruciating online meeting with HR and senior corporation execs, including being shown a string of X-rated messages he'd sent.
He told The Sun at the time: 'I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry."
In the same interview, he confessed to lying to wife Ellie during a family holiday and sneaking off to take a Zoom call with BBC bosses over his X-rated messages.
In 2023, Jenas and Ellie clashed as he started spending more time socialising with his One Show work colleagues.
The pair had explosive rows but, Jermaine admitted they quietly worked through their issues with the help of couple's therapy.
Heartbroken ex-model Ellie announced the couple were separating in March.
She wrote: "I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary.
"After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways.
"We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children's privacy during this challenging time.
"Thank you, Ellie."
The pair had been married for 14 years and share two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, and son, Jacob.
Jermaine also has an older daughter, Sancha, from a previous relationship.
Jermaine Jenas Scandal Timeline
JERMAINE Jenas was dismissed in August for sending inappropriate messages to the women he worked with.
Here's what happened:
August 22
The BBC receives complaints about Jenas workplace behaviour, in regard to text messages.
August 22 - Jenas was sacked by the BBC amid allegations he sent inappropriate messages to a female colleague.
The presenter is taken off air from both Match of the Day and The One Show.
Other colleagues begin to come forward.
Jenas responds to BBC sacking: "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."
The BBC responds to Jenas' sacking: "We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of the presenting line-up."
In an exclusive interview with the Sun on Sunday, Jenas revealed he wanted to say sorry to girls he texted but the BBC blocked him.
September 7
Jenas denies new claim he bombarded waitress with unsolicited explicit texts while working at World Cup for BBC.
November 24
Jenas apologises to wife "for all the BS" over text scandal as he vows to save their 13-year marriage.
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