BBC executives secretly compiled a dossier of damning evidence against Jermaine Jenas before confronting the star about his behaviour and sacking him, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Following a complaint from a female junior employee, Corporation executives launched an investigation without Jenas’ knowledge. The investigation reportedly lasted several weeks.
According to BBC insiders, bosses, including sporting director Alex Kay-Jelski, wanted to launch a full investigation after learning the former footballer had sent inappropriate and unsolicited text messages.
This led to the executives speaking to his colleagues and examining cell phone data, before showing the presenter the evidence.
Last week he was almost immediately sacked via video call from his £190,000-a-year job on Match of the Day and The One Show while on holiday with his wife, model Ellie Penfold, and their three children.
BBC executives secretly compiled a dossier of damning evidence against Jermaine Jenas before confronting the star about his behaviour and sacking him, The Mail on Sunday can reveal
He was called about the sacking while on holiday with his model wife Ellie Penfold (pictured with Jenas at Wimbledon in July) and their three children
He was sacked from his jobs at Match of the Day and The One Show (where he co-presented with Alex Jones, earning £190,000 a year)
An insider said: ‘This was a pretty clinical rejection.
‘Unlike some of the messy situations the Beeb has had in recent years with problematic staff behaviour, this investigation had already been done. It left him no room to fight back.’
Female BBC staff are furious at Jenas’ attempt to defend himself, telling The Sun the messages were between “consenting adults”.
They are also angry at threats from the 41-year-old former Premier League player to sue the BBC despite bosses believing they had evidence to sack him.
Staff are also angry that he appears not to acknowledge the powerful position he held over the junior production team involved – reportedly women in their 20s. One told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Jermaine has a bit of a reputation at the BBC as a womaniser.
This was a rather clinical rejection
‘He was loved by the bosses… and he knew it. That meant he was in a position of power, he was the star and not just any star, a former English footballer.
“When someone like that messages you, it’s awkward to say no or ask them to stop. There’s an element of fear in not responding.”
It was quite a fall for Jenas, the former England and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder who had beaten many other players to become a TV presenter.
His career began at BT Sport as a football analyst, before getting his big break as a presenter on the Match of the Day spin-off series MOTDx.
He became a household name after joining The One Show in 2021, alongside co-hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.
It was said that he had been chosen in time as Gary Lineker’s replacement as main presenter of Match of the Day.
But new boss Alex Kay-Jelski, who became the BBC’s director of sport four months ago and led the investigation, took a hard line.
It was said that Jenas was chosen in time as Gary Lineker’s replacement as main presenter of Match of the Day
Following a complaint from a female junior employee, Corporation executives launched an investigation without Jenas’ knowledge. The investigation reportedly lasted several weeks.
BBC bosses are aware they have been heavily criticised for their dithering over the Huw Edwards scandal, with the former newsreader seen out of court last month
BBC bosses are aware they have been heavily criticised for their hesitation over the Huw Edwards scandal. The presenter was convicted of three charges of making indecent images of children, months after being suspended.
In a terse, one-line email, Mr Kay-Jelski wrote: ‘Hi everyone, I wanted to let you know that Jermaine Jenas is no longer working at the BBC.’
Mr Kay-Jelski is no stranger to controversy, having claimed in The Times that transgender women competing in women’s sports is “not a big deal”.
This prompted angry reactions from women’s rights activists, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling, who said it was “completely predictable” for the BBC to hire someone with such views.
If Jenas has sent you inappropriate texts, please send me a confidential email at: katie.hind@mailonsunday.co.uk