Jermaine Jenas reveals how wife has reacted to sexting scandal that saw BBC axe him

Jermaine Jenas has admitted he is fighting for his marriage

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Callum Vurley

By Callum Vurley


Published: 23/08/2024

- 22:06

Jermaine Jenas was axed by the BBC over unsolicited texts to female co-workers

Jermaine Jenas has admitted he is fighting for his marriage after being sacked by the BBC for sexting co-workers.

The 41-year-old has been dropped from his roles on The One Show and Match of the Day after an internal investigation alleged that he had committed inappropriate behaviour.


It has since emerged that he had been sent sexual texts to two female members of staff while Jenas has admitted lying to wife, Ellie Simmonds, who he has been married to since 2011 and has three children with.

He told The Sun: "We’ve not really spoken properly since. She’s absolutely raging.

Jermaine Jenas has admitted he is fighting for his marriage

Jermaine Jenas has admitted he is fighting for his marriage

PA

"It’s just about the children right now. It’s the school holidays and they’re trapped in the house because photographers are outside my house. They’re like, ‘What’s going on, daddy?’. It’s tough.

"I’ve got to take responsibility and I’ve apologised to all of them.

JUST IN: 'I am ashamed' - Jermaine Jenas admits to sexting scandal but pleads innocence

"I don’t know what to say about that, to be honest with you.

"It’s just hard at home for the kids right now. My wife’s a real one.

"My wife is solid and she’s amazing. She is kind. She just needs some time."

News broke of Jenas' sacking on Thursday afternoon as he broadcast live on talkSPORT, bizarrely skirting around the issue as he spoke with former Premier League player Jermaine Pennant.

READ MORE: Gary Lineker offered Jermaine Jenas his Match of the Day job before sacking as 20-word email sent to staff

Jenas had been tipped to replace Gary Lineker as the main presenter on Match of the Day while he was already a regular co-presenter alongside Alex Jones on The One Show.

He also told The Sun that the texts were between 'consenting adults' and that 'nothing physical happened' but insisted he was seeking help over his behaviour.

The former Tottenham star added: "I have let myself down, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology - especially the women with whom I was messaging. I am so, so sorry.

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Jermaine Jenas

Jermaine Jenas has revealed he is 'seeking help' over his behaviour

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"I think it would be fair to say I have a problem. I know I self-sabotage and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationship especially, and I know I need help. And I am getting help.

"I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself a lot of questions at the moment. I know there's a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be hard."

Jermaine Jenas

Jermaine Jenas has been dropped from his roles on BBC

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Jenas had first maintained that 'there were two sides to every story' after being asked about the situation on talkSPORT on Thursday.

He first stated: "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."

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