Jermaine Jenas has told the Sun newspaper he is “ashamed” and has “let everybody down” after being sacked as a BBC presenter.
He told the paper he sent “inappropriate messages” to two colleagues on the One Show, but insisted he “did nothing illegal” and said they were sent to “two consenting adults”.
The former Match of the Day and One Show host had his contract terminated this week for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a female colleague.
The BBC has not disclosed further details about the allegations against him.
He told the Sun the texts were a “huge error of judgement” for which he was “deeply sorry”, adding that he was “not a sex pest”.
Jenas, who is married with four children, told the paper he is receiving therapy and accepted he “fell below [the] standards” of the BBC.
The 41-year-old continued: “I feel so ashamed. I’ve let everybody down – my colleagues, my friends and, most importantly, I’ve let my family down.”
The issue was brought to the BBC’s attention a few weeks ago. The corporation announced his departure on Thursday.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.”
The BBC has not commented since Jenas spoke to the Sun.
Jenas said he was fired during a video call on Monday while on a family holiday, five days after being told of the allegations against him by the BBC.
In a lengthy and at times tearful interview on camera, Jenas said “nothing physical ever happened” but said he considered what he did “cheating”.
He continued: “I was given an incredible opportunity and I know it’s on me that right now I feel I have lost everything.
“I feel like people are judging me and that I am the number one target right now in the country.”
He denied sending any explicit pictures or video, the Sun reported.
