The BBC has broken its silence following the firing of Jermaine Jenas.
The 41-year-old former footballer last hosted The One Show alongside Alex Jones on July 22, just weeks before his final appearance on Match of the Day on May 4. The company has now released a damning statement saying he will not be appearing on any future shows.
They said they “can confirm that he is no longer part of our presenting line-up” and claimed bosses at the royalty-funded company immediately launched an internal investigation after concerns were raised about his alleged conduct. The company reportedly terminated his employment after carrying out a routine investigation following the concerns.
BBC sporting director Alex Kagelski is said to have been involved throughout the process. Germaine has also reportedly parted ways with his long-standing agents at MC Search following the crisis. Jenas is said to have engaged a law firm to help clear his name.
Speaking to The Sun, a source said it had been a “nightmare” for the BBC following recent scandals surrounding the company. They added: “Following an immediate, routine investigation the decision was taken to remove him from the show and terminate his contract. It was also discovered that a mural of Jenas at BBC studios in Media City UK, Salford, had been removed.”
Meanwhile, a source told MailOnline: “His colleagues are surprised as they never expected it to happen. They were kept in the dark from the beginning and when they found out they couldn’t believe it.”
However, since the news of his dismissal was confirmed, Jermaine has secured a new job. He will appear on talkSPORT’s afternoon show Drive alongside Jermaine Pennant. He previously appeared on the network as a guest host.
Through his roles in Match of the Day and The One Show, Jermaine earned a handsome salary of between £190,000 and £194,999 annually. The former Tottenham Hotspur star was also a regular on BBC’s Euro 2024 coverage and Match of the Day spin-off show.
Since retiring from playing, Jermaine has had a distinguished career in front of the camera, working with the BBC and TNT Sports to present football coverage and Formula E in high profile roles. Before becoming a full-time presenter on The One Show, he worked alongside Ronan Keating as a stand-in presenter for Matt Baker.
However, his popularity on the show led to him signing a full-time contract in May 2021 to co-host the show on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays alongside Welsh presenter Alex Jones.