Jermaine Jenas is set to make his broadcasting comeback on talkSPORT this weekend, stating he is “coming back a better person” six months after being dismissed from the BBC.
The former footballer and presenter was removed from his roles on Match of the Day and The One Show following workplace conduct complaints. Speaking to talkSPORT’s Shebahn Aherne on Friday, Jenas emphasized the importance of “taking responsibility” and shared that he had been “looking inwards, making some improvements.”
Jenas previously admitted to The Sun that he had sent “inappropriate messages,” expressing shame and acknowledging he had “let everybody down.” His BBC contract was terminated amid allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a female colleague, though the broadcaster did not disclose further details.
The ex-footballer admitted to sending inappropriate messages to two colleagues on The One Show but insisted they were sent to “two consenting adults” and that he had “done nothing illegal.” He called the texts a “huge error of judgment” and apologized, stating he was “not a sex pest.” Jenas, who is married with four children, revealed he has been undergoing therapy and acknowledged he had fallen below the BBC’s standards.
Following his dismissal, talkSPORT initially stated there were “no plans” for Jenas to return as a presenter. However, he confirmed on Friday that he will be back on air, stating, “I’m doing what I love most, which is talking about football.”
When asked how he could assure listeners he had changed, Jenas responded, “You need to take responsibility for your actions [and] why you’re in this position… Once you kind of accept those things, then you can work on yourself, work on your family, and work towards a brighter future.” He also acknowledged the impact his actions had on his family, admitting, “They didn’t deserve to be in that position.”
Jenas will resume his role as a football pundit this weekend, serving as a co-commentator for Aston Villa vs. Tottenham in the FA Cup on talkSPORT. He had been hosting the station’s drive show when news of his BBC dismissal surfaced.
Earlier this week, reports of Jenas’s potential return to talkSPORT sparked concerns from Women in Football, who criticized the station’s handling of the situation. The organization stated it was “no surprise” that talkSPORT employees were reportedly uneasy about his comeback. A talkSPORT spokesperson responded, stating, “The talkSPORT team has been consulted, as you would expect.”
Jenas began his football career at Nottingham Forest at 17 before playing for Tottenham and Newcastle United. He made 341 club appearances and earned 21 England caps before retiring in 2016. Transitioning to media, he became a regular pundit on Match of the Day and BT Sport before co-hosting The One Show in 2020. In April 2021, he and Ronan Keating were named permanent hosts, with Jenas co-presenting from Monday to Wednesday.
In December 2023, he received an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University.
Source: Swifteradio.com
