Jermaine Jenas reveals all on the ’50 Shades’ sex texts that ended his marriage and got him sacked from the BBC
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Former Match of the Day and One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas has opened up about the x-rated sex texts that led to his sacking and ended his 14-year-marriage.
The explicit messages – likened to something out of the Fifty Shades of Grey novel – were uncovered in August last year and culminated in an HR meeting with BBC bosses.
Jenas was fired as a Prime Time host and divorced by his then-wife Ellie Penfold just a few months later in March.
He has now told all on his podcast, admitting he felt awful about the fact he ‘broke a vow’.
Speaking to comedian Katherine Ryan and boxer co-host Derek Chisora on the Let Me Tell You Something show, Jenas revealed: ‘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.’
The star even likened the texts to something out of Fifty Shades of Grey and went so far as to compare himself to one of the main characters.
He explained: ‘It was Christian Grey in text messages, put it that way.
‘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 per cent wasn’t “if you do this I will help you in your work”. There was no power element to it going on.’
Jenas was fired as a Prime Time host and divorced by his then-wife Ellie Penfold (pictured) just a few months later in March
Ms Penfold had announced her split with Jenas at the time, saying: ‘I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it’s necessary’
Jenas, 42, was fired for sending inappropriate messages to female employees during his time at the BBC
Jenas also insisted the scandal had occurred during a bad time for him and his ex-wife when their marriage was already in turmoil.
He added: ‘There’s a lot of stuff with me and Ellie where we weren’t in the best place ourselves.
‘And things were just spiralling a little bit. In no way is that blame. I’m fully accepting responsibility.’
Following the scandal, BBC bosses called a meeting with the former Tottenham Hotspur footballer and read out a string of the inappropriate messages before his contract was officially ended.
In an interview at the time he said: ‘I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry.’
Ms Penfold announced her split with Jenas, saying: ‘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.’
Pictured hosting the One Show before he was sacked by the BBC
The sexting scandal also cost Jenas his marriage to his wife Ellie Penfrold, the mother of three of his four children
Jenas revealed that while on holiday he’d had another meeting with BBC execs about the texts – that he’d lied to his family about.
In the aftermath of the scandal he also lost gigs presenting for the electric racing series Formula E.
And despite being part of Soccer Aid coverage in previous years, this year ITV chose to favour Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott.
