Sometimes, the people we work closest with can have entire lives behind the scenes that we know nothing about.
That’s exactly how Alex Jones, presenter of The One Show, felt when she found out about the scandal surrounding her former co-host, Jermaine Jenas.
‘I Had No Idea’: Alex Speaks Out
In a recent interview with The Big Issue, Alex opened up about the moment she learned that Jenas had been pulled off air due to serious misconduct.
“I very much take people on face value,” she admitted.
“But with JJ, I didn’t know what was going on. I thought he was just taking extended leave.”
Alex, a mother herself, added that she hoped any company would swiftly handle situations that made women feel uncomfortable.
“If that was my daughter… I’d want it sorted immediately.”
Why Jermaine Jenas Was Really Fired
Jenas, 42, was quietly sacked by the BBC after it emerged that he had sent inappropriate messages to several female employees during his time at the broadcaster.
It wasn’t just his career that took a hit—his 13-year marriage to wife Ellie also came to an end earlier this year.
The scandal forced him out of his regular gig on The One Show, as well as his pundit roles on Match of the Day and 5 Live.
His agency, MC Saatchi, also dropped him before he brought in a crisis PR team to try and manage the growing storm.
Family Fallout and a Secret Zoom Call
Jenas later revealed the pressure he was under as the story started to unfold.
While on a family vacation, he sneaked away to take a Zoom meeting with BBC bosses as the scandal broke inside the organisation.
He lied to Ellie at the time—but the truth eventually came out.
He confessed to sending sexually inappropriate messages to two colleagues.
The admission led to Ellie kicking him out of their £1 million home in Hertfordshire.
‘We Had Our Problems’: Jenas Reflects on the Breakup
Speaking candidly on the Filthy Rellas podcast, Jenas claimed that the breakdown of his marriage wasn’t solely due to the sexting allegations.
“The reality is, me and my wife haven’t split up because I sent some text messages,” he said.
“We had issues for a while. Eventually, we both realised we’d be better co-parents as friends.”
Despite the hurt, he spoke fondly of their time together: “We had 16 amazing years.
How many people manage that? Ups and downs. She was with me through the toughest part of my football career.”
‘She’s Raging’: Jenas Shares Aftermath at Home
In another interview with The Sun, Jenas admitted that things were still incredibly tense at home.
“We’ve not really spoken properly since. She’s absolutely raging,” he said, referring to Ellie.
With photographers camped outside their house, even his kids are starting to feel the pressure.
“They’re asking, ‘What’s going on, Daddy?’… It’s tough.”
Jenas said he’s tried to own up to everything and has apologized to everyone affected.
“It’s just hard at home for the kids right now. My wife’s solid—she’s amazing. She just needs some time.”
More Allegations Continue to Surface
Despite insisting that there were no more skeletons in the closet, more claims against Jenas emerged in the following weeks. MailOnline revealed that during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Jenas sent explicit messages to a woman working at the event—even after she made it clear she wasn’t interested.
One message reportedly read: “You want my boy now?”—followed by an unsolicited photo.
History of Misconduct Goes Back Years
And that wasn’t all. Another woman came forward alleging that back in 2017, when Jenas was working at BT Sport, he propositioned her for sex even after she told him she had a boyfriend.
His alleged response? “Just come to my dressing room early and I’ll [perform a sex act] on you… that’s not cheating.”
At the time, Jenas was considered a rising star in the world of football punditry.
Now, his fall from grace has been swift and messy.
What’s Next for Jenas?
With his career in broadcasting on hold and his personal life in pieces, Jenas faces an uncertain road ahead.
He’s brought in PR support, but whether he can ever rebuild the trust he’s lost—both professionally and personally—remains to be seen.
One thing’s for sure: Alex Jones wasn’t the only one caught off guard by how much was going on behind the scenes.