JERMAINE Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold have split up after 16 years together – only months after he was sacked by the BBC.
The former footie star was fired as a Match of the Day pundit and One Show host over “inappropriate texts” sent to female colleagues.
Heartbroken ex-model Ellie announced the couple were separating in an Instagram post earlier today.
It read: “I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it’s necessary.
“After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways.
“We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children’s privacy during this challenging time.
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“Thank you, Ellie.”
The pair have been married for 14 years since they tied the knot in 2011.
They also share two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, and boy, Jacob, together.
Jenas, 42, also has an older daughter, Sancha, from a previous relationship who lives in the United States with her mother.
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The ex-England midfielder had spent the last few months apologising to his family and the public since the texts came to light.
Jenas’ dad Dennis openly admitted last year that Ellie had kicked him out of the main bedroom the couple shared at their £1million home in Hertfordshire.
Speaking to the Sun at the time of his sacking from the BBC, Jenas apologised to his wife but denied being a sex pest.
He insisted he had done nothing illegal but said he was sorry if he made the women involved uncomfortable.
Speaking less than 24 hours after The Sun revealed he had been fired from Match of the Day and The One Show following the complaints, Jenas said: “I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry.
He was sacked in an excruciating online meeting with HR and senior corporation execs, including being shown a string of X-rated messages he’d sent.
He told the Sun: “I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry.”
In the same interview, he confessed to lying to wife Ellie during a family holiday and sneaking off to take a Zoom call with BBC bosses over his X-rated messages.
He told The Sun in August: “We’ve not really spoken properly since. She’s absolutely raging.”
In 2023, Jenas and Ellie clashed as he started spending more time socialising with his One Show work colleagues.
The pair had explosive rows but, Jenas admitted, they quietly worked through their issues with the help of couples therapy.
Jenas only returned back to work last month as he appeared on talkSPORT after a six-month break.
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He made it clear he was “coming back as a better person” and has spent the time off “looking inwards, making some improvements”.
The pundit made an initial return to broadcasting in October – at the Emirates stadium covering Arsenal v Liverpool for an overseas network but it wasn’t shown on British airwaves.
Jermaine Jenas Scandal Timeline
JERMAINE Jenas was dismissed in August for sending inappropriate messages to the women he worked with.
Here’s what happened:
August 22
- The BBC receives complaints about Jenas workplace behaviour, in regard to text messages.
- August 22 – Jenas is sacked by the BBC amid allegations he sent inappropriate messages to a female colleague.
- The presenter is taken off air from both Match of the Day and The One Show.
- Other colleagues begin to come forward.
- Jenas responds to BBC sacking: “Right now I can’t talk about it. I can tell you I’m not happy – there are two sides to every story – and I’m going to be speaking with my lawyers on the issue.”
- The BBC responds to Jenas’ sacking: “We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of the presenting line-up.”
- In an exclusive interview with the Sun on Sunday, Jenas revealed he wanted to say sorry to girls he texted but the BBC blocked him.
September 7
November 24
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
