A rather awkward clip of Jermaine Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold has been spread far and wide on social media from their appearance on the BBC's Michael McIntyre's Big Show.
The viral clip has piqued the interest of many following the Beeb's decision to sack Jenas following claims of inappropriate behaviour.
Jenas was dropped from his roles on The One Show, Match of the Day and BBC Radio following the allegations, for which he's since issued an apology.
Since his apology, Jenas has also admitted his wife is "raging" with his behaviour but he insisted he'd done nothing "illegal" and was under the impression that texts sent between himself and the women in question were between "consenting adults".
The topic of unsolicited texts came into play during his appearance on McIntyre's BBC show when the comedian gained access to the former footballer's phone.
Each week, McIntyre humiliates his celebrity guest by sending an embarrassing text to everyone in their contacts list and Jenas was no different.
Michael McIntyre sent Jenas's phone contacts this image
BBC
After a scroll through his phone, McIntyre chose a sweaty topless selfie of Jenas to send to all his contacts.
Urging the audience to pile in on the former footballer, McIntyre asked Jenas: "Everyone you know is going to receive that photo.
"When you look at, who are you most worried about that going to?" the comedian asked, to which Jenas replied: "Ellie's mum."
The crowd let out a huge laugh before cheering away when McIntyre asked: "Shall we send that to everyone on JJ's phone?"
Hmm… does Jermaine Jenas have Michael McIntyre to blame?! 👀🫢#THFC #COYS 🤍💙❤️🩹 #TOTEVEpic.twitter.com/bqaerQq6xq https://t.co/n4AhlFBwQ8
— Football Confidential 🌐 (@footballconfid1) August 24, 2024
McIntyre then revealed to the crowd that he'd received a text from a contact on Jenas's phone who had The One Show in their title.
"She's one of the producers on The One Show," Jenas told McIntyre with a chuckle, keen to hear what the response to the selfie was.
"Well, she's just said, 'I'm sending this to HR'," McIntyre said, prompting raucous laughter from the crowd and Jenas himself.
Jenas brushed the moment off as he too broke into laughter during the episode that aired before news of his sacking emerged.
Jenas has addressed the saga head-on since his dismissal and claimed he tried to apologise directly to those affected by his behaviour but was prevented in doing so by the BBC.
"I wasn’t allowed to contact the women at all," he told the Sun. "When it was all unfolding and I knew I was losing my job, I asked HR if I could contact the two women directly and apologise to both of them.
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Jermaine Jenas laughed off his One Show colleague's response
BBC
"But because of the legal process, I wasn’t allowed. I didn’t get the opportunity to say sorry to them at that particular point when I really wanted to apologise.
"I really want to apologise from the bottom of my heart in terms of what I’ve put them through.
"I’m genuinely sorry for what I’ve done to you. I always thought it was consensual and a two-way thing."
Jenas's exit from the BBC was ignored by his The One Show colleagues when the show return to the air on Thursday night.
