Former England international Jermaine Jenas was a recognizable face on the BBC and across soccer coverage, but the presenter has been sacked by the broadcaster .
It was announced on Thursday that Jenas had been sacked by the BBC after they received allegations of inappropriate behaviour. A statement from the broadcaster said: “We can confirm that he (Jenas) is no longer part of our presenting line up.” They later confirmed Jenas had been dismissed due to his “workplace conduct”.
Jenas began his career at Nottingham Forest before joining Newcastle United in 2002. The midfielder was most renowned in the Premier League for his eight-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur , who he joined for a reported £7million. Jenas last played for England in 2009 having made 21 caps and ended his career early at QPR in 2014 at the age of 32 due to injury.
· Match of the Day host Jermaine Jenas fired by BBC after 'behavior complaint'
· Who is Gary Neville? NBC Sports new big talent and Manchester United legend
He then jumped into punditry roles and swiftly took up a guest role on ITV Sport’s Europa League coverage for the 2014/15 season, also joining BT Sport in November 2014 where he regularly featured in the studio alongside other pundits and later as a co-commentator for the network across Premier League and Champions League matches.
Jenas later joined the BBC where he fronted the MOTDx show – a spin-off of the iconic Match of the Day programme which first aired in August 1964 and is currently hosted by former England striker Gary Lineker, showing highlights and analysis of Saturday’s Premier League action.
He had been touted as a potential replacement for Lineker, 63, and recently appeared as part of the punditry team for BBC’s coverage of Euro 2024. His ventures even took him outside of the sporting sphere as he hosted the broadcast’s ‘The One Show’ alongside Alex Jones. The program tackles current affairs and other issues in the UK, as Jenas seamlessly stepped into a reporting role outside of football.
Jenas’ popularity and experience as a presenter across a host of different shows saw him host the FIFA Best Awards in 2022 and 2023 – which saw Lionel Messi scoop both awards. He was also given the role as the ‘Draw Conductor’ for the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw.
His broadcasting roles also saw him appear on radio as a guest on talkSPORT alongside his fellow former England international Darren Bent, who he hosts the popular drive-time show alongside. The former footballer even appeared on Thursday’s show after the news of his BBC sacking had emerged.
Jenas currently remains an employee of TNT Sports, for whom he leads the Formula E coverage. TNT confirmed they will take any allegations of Jenas’ conduct “seriously” ahead of a possible investigation.
His BBC exit came after the governing body announced an independent review of Jenas’ workplace conduct. A statement read: "We remain concerned about the potential for inappropriate workplace behavior, particularly in creative and editorial environments.
"Whilst challenges related to power imbalances in the workplace are a challenge for multiple employers, the BBC must hold itself to the highest standards. The BBC has clearly articulated Values and a strong Code of Conduct and there has been much progress in recent years.
"That said, the Board will commission an independent review that will make recommendations on practical steps that could strengthen a workplace culture in line with BBC Values."
Most Popular
Comments / 0