Jermaine Jenas ‘to return to TV’ after BBC sacking as presenter ‘handed career lifeline’

Jermaine Jenas is reportedly returning to television, as he’s said to have been given a career lifeline by TNT Sports.

The 41-year-old was taken off air and sacked by the BBC after complaints were made and allegations he ‘sent unsolicited texts to a female staff member at The One Show’.

The 41-year-old former Match of the Day regular later apologised if he made the women he messaged feel uncomfortable and insisted nothing illegal happened with the ‘two consenting adults’.

It was also claimed that there are no plans for Jenas to broadcast as a presenter on talkSPORT ‘in the immediate future’, where he was speaking when the news broke.

However, it’s now been reported that the dad-of-four will be ‘given a career lifeline’ and return to TNT Sports.

The Telegraph reports that Jenas is expected to return to the airwaves later this season.

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Sources have told the publication that they expect him back following next month’s international break.

A return date has yet to be formally discussed, it’s reported, though the publication notes that any further revelations of inappropriate behaviour by Jenas at the BBC could alter that position.

It’s also claimed that TNT executives are ‘in a difficult position’ over the former footballer, as they have not seen the evidence that led to his BBC sacking.

Jenas works as a freelancer for TNT, and also presents E Sport programming.

Following his BBC sacking, Jenas apologised if he made the women he messaged feel uncomfortable, and although he admitted the texts were consistent with cheating on his wife Ellie Penfold, he said nothing illegal happened with the ‘two consenting adults’ – and he denied being a ‘sex pest’.

He told The Sun: ‘I did nothing illegal – these were inappropriate messages between two consenting adults.

‘I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry.

‘I have let myself down, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology – especially the women with whom I was messaging. I am so, so sorry.

‘I am sorry for what I have put them through.

‘I think it would be fair to say I have a problem. I know I self-sabotage and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationship especially, and I know I need help. And I am getting help.’

He continued to say he’d made ‘a lot of mistakes’ and has booked in for therapy to ‘try and address’ his ‘issues’ which mean he is ‘hurting the people [he] love[s]’.

‘I do consider it cheating, yes, although nothing physical ever happened,’ he added.

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 – which he joined in 2020 – was not in the public domain, as it is produced by BBC Studios.

Jenas’ final appearance on The One Show was on July 22, alongside Alex Jones.

He also hosts Formula E race coverage for TNT Sports but a Formula E spokesperson previously told the PA News Agency that the presenting line-up for the next series will be ‘carefully considered’ after the last season finished in July.

During his football career, he appeared for England and played for Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers.

He was 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.

TNT declined to comment to The Telegraph. Metro.co.uk has approached BT Sport and Warner Bros Discovery for comment.

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