Sacked BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas has revealed he cannot sleep and is ‘like a zombie’ after admitting to sending ‘inappropriate texts’ to two co-workers.
The former footballer was sacked from his presenting roles on The One Show and Match Of The Day after junior staffers raised concerns over his behaviour.
And Jenas now fears for the future of his marriage with his wife of 13 years, Ellie Penfold, who is said to be angry but has not ended their relationship.
The 41-year-old ex-England, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder told The Sun: ‘I haven’t slept properly since they told me, to be honest.
‘I mean, the anxiety that builds up in your body over these types of things. I haven’t had any sleeping pills. I’ve just not been sleeping.
BBC Sport presenter Jermaine Jenas pictured at Villa Park in Birmingham on October 22, 2023
Jermaine Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold at the Pride Of Britain Awards on October 8, 2023
‘You just kind of lay there, mind’s ticking over until you just pass out. Part of me would just rather go out and run until I collapse.’
Jenas, who has three children with Ellie and another teenage daughter from an early relationship, revealed his wife has not yet told him whether their marriage can last.
He also told the newspaper: ‘When I see Ellie most days, she just kind of gets up. She goes to make sure the children are OK. I feel ashamed. I feel I’ve let everybody down – friends, family, colleagues.
Jenas previously told his former female colleagues he is ‘genuinely sorry’ for sending inappropriate messages – issuing a direct apology after being allegedly told not to contact the two women due to ‘legal process’.
The presenter previously said he sent ‘inappropriate messages’ but insisted they were ‘between two consenting adults’ and that his behaviour was not illegal.
Jenas now fears for the future of his marriage with his wife of 13 years, Ellie Penfold (pictured)
Jermaine Jenas and Ellie Penfold at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships on July 3, 2024
Jenas, who is married and has four children, also revealed he has a ‘self-destructive streak’ with his relationships and he is receiving therapy.
In addition, he has criticised how his former employer handled his sacking and has said he will be speaking to his lawyers about the situation.
According to official figures published last year, Jenas earned £190,000 to £194,999 for his work on the FA Cup, Match Of The Day and the World Cup at the BBC.
His salary for working on The One Show was not in the public domain, as it is produced by BBC Studios.
It is the latest blow to the BBC after the Huw Edwards child abuse scandal and bullying allegations on Strictly Come Dancing.
Moments after it was announced he had been removed from all BBC presenting line-ups, Jenas began co-presenting a talkSPORT drive-time show with fellow former footballer Jermaine Pennant.
Jenas is pictured on his last episode of the One Show in July 22 this year alongside Alex Jones
Jermaine Jenas works for BBC Sport at the World Cup in Qatar on December 10, 2022
TalkSPORT said: ‘There are no plans for Jermaine to broadcast as a presenter on talkSPORT in the immediate future.’
Jenas appears on TNT Sports’ football coverage from time to time but it is understood he is not scheduled to appear for a number of weeks.
It is understood TNT Sports was unaware of the status of Jenas’s employment with the BBC.
The father-of-four joined The One Show in 2020 as a stand-in co-host following the departure of Matt Baker and he was made a permanent fixture the following year.
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Jenas has been a regular pundit on sports programmes Match Of The Day and Match Of The Day 2 and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live.
He has been widely regarded as a natural successor to replace Gary Lineker as host of Match Of The Day, but was noticeably absent from Saturday’s first episode of the new season.
Jenas was presenting his talkSPORT show as it was announced he had been axed by the BBC
During his football career, he appeared for England and played for Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers.
Jenas also hosts Formula E race coverage for TNT Sports.
But a Formula E spokesperson said the presenting line-up for the next series will be ‘carefully considered’ after the last season finished in July.
The fallout has also seen Jenas dropped by his high-profile TV and celebrity management company, M&C Saatchi Merlin, who looks after other names including Freddie Flintoff and Helen Skelton.
The BBC has not offered details on why Jenas’s contract was terminated.
A spokesperson for the corporation said before his interviews with the Sun: ‘We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.’
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