Jermaine Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold have ended their 16-year relationship, just months after his BBC dismissal.
The former football player was removed from his roles as a Match of the Day pundit and One Show host due to “inappropriate texts” sent to female colleagues.
Ellie, a former model, shared the news of their separation in an Instagram post earlier today, expressing her heartbreak.
Her statement read: “I never thought I’d share something this personal publicly, but given the circumstances, it feels necessary.
“After 16 years and 4 amazing children, Jermaine and I have decided to separate.
“We will remain friends and dedicated co-parents. We kindly request privacy for our children during this difficult time.”
The couple has been married for 14 years, having wed in 2011.
They have two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, and a son, Jacob. Jenas, 42, also has an older daughter, Sancha, from a previous relationship who resides in the United States.
The former England midfielder has been publicly apologizing to his family since the text message scandal emerged.
Jenas’s father, Dennis, mentioned last year that Ellie had asked him to leave their shared bedroom at their £1 million Hertfordshire home.
Speaking about his BBC dismissal, Jenas apologized to his wife but denied being a “sex pest.” He admitted to making women uncomfortable but insisted he had not acted illegally.
Shortly after news broke of his firing from Match of the Day and The One Show, Jenas expressed his shame and deep regret.
He was dismissed in an online meeting with BBC HR and executives, where he was shown the explicit messages he had sent.
He confessed to lying to Ellie about the situation, even taking a Zoom call with BBC bosses during a family vacation, which further angered his wife.
In 2023, tensions arose between Jenas and Ellie as he spent more time with his One Show colleagues.
They experienced intense arguments but reportedly worked through their issues with couples therapy.
Jenas recently returned to work last month, appearing on talkSPORT after a six-month absence, stating he was “coming back as a better person” and had used the time to reflect and improve himself.
Jermaine Jenas Scandal Timeline
Jermaine Jenas was dismissed in August for sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues.
Here’s a timeline of events:
August 22
- The BBC received complaints about Jenas’s workplace behavior related to text messages.
- Jenas was fired by the BBC amid allegations of inappropriate messages to a female colleague.
- He was removed from Match of the Day and The One Show.
- Colleagues began to come forward with further information.
- Jenas responded to his BBC sacking, stating he was unhappy and would consult lawyers, hinting at “two sides to every story.”
- The BBC confirmed Jenas was no longer part of their presenting team.
- Jenas expressed his desire to apologize to the women he texted but claimed the BBC prevented him.
September 7
- Jenas denied claims of sending unsolicited explicit texts to a waitress during a World Cup event for the BBC.
November 24
- Jenas publicly apologized to his wife for the text scandal and vowed to save their marriage.
