Jermaine Jenas is Back on talkSPORT: ‘I’m Taking Responsibility’

Jermaine Jenas is back on talkSPORT after months away following a scandal that cost him his BBC job.

February 7, 2025
3:32 pm

Jermaine Jenas is ready to come back “a better person” as he returns to talkSPORT after his controversial exit from the BBC.

The former England and Premier League midfielder, 41, took a six-month break from broadcasting after being let go from his £190,000-a-year gig at the BBC due to inappropriate texts sent to two female colleagues. While he denied any illegal activity, the scandal sparked a workplace misconduct investigation, leading to his removal from Match of the Day and The One Show.

Jenas is set to join talkSPORT’s commentary team for Sunday’s FA Cup clash between Aston Villa and Tottenham, marking his full return to mainstream broadcasting.

‘TAKING RESPONSIBILITY’

Before his comeback, Jenas reflected on his past mistakes and personal growth during his time away.

“The biggest thing in this whole situation is about taking responsibility, and that’s been on my mind,” he told talkSPORT. “There’s a reason why you’re in this position, and once you accept that, you can work on yourself, your family, and aim for a brighter future.”

He added: “This is about looking inwards, making some improvements, and coming back a better person.”

Liam Fisher, Head of talkSPORT, is confident about Jenas’ return: “Jermaine addresses his past behavior in this honest interview. He has a solid track record as a footballer turned pundit, and we can’t wait for his expert commentary during our FA Cup coverage this weekend.”

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BBC EXIT AND RETURN TO BROADCASTING

Jenas’ BBC dismissal became public just moments before he went on air at talkSPORT last summer. Reports later revealed that explicit messages sent to two female colleagues led to his firing under the BBC’s stricter workplace conduct policies.

After his dismissal, Jenas made a brief return to broadcasting in October, covering Arsenal vs. Liverpool for an overseas network that wasn’t aired in the UK.

At the time of his sacking, Jenas publicly apologized to his wife and insisted that while his actions were inappropriate, they weren’t criminal. “I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry,” he stated. “I’ve let myself, my family, friends, and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology—especially the women I was messaging. I am so, so sorry.”

Jenas was reportedly let go from the BBC after an online meeting with HR and senior executives, where he was confronted with the explicit messages he had sent.

With his return to talkSPORT, Jenas hopes to rebuild his career and reputation, starting with this weekend’s FA Cup coverage.