Former footballer and broadcaster, Jermaine Jenas, has made his return to the broadcasting scene with Talksport. This comes after his dismissal from the BBC last summer due to inappropriate behaviour.
Jenas made his comeback as a guest on Talksport on Friday and co-commentated Aston Villa’s FA Cup victory over Tottenham the following weekend. His appearance marked a significant moment in his career after being sacked by the BBC for sending inappropriate messages to colleagues.
During his guest appearance, Jenas acknowledged that he made a mistake. However, he clarified that these messages were exchanged between two consenting adults and did not constitute illegal behaviour. He further elaborated on this incident during an interview.
Jermaine Jenas, Former Premier League player, said:
“I made a mistake. It was a mistake that is something that me and my wife and my family have to deal with. I think that the big thing here is that your career is one thing. I worked 10 years post-retirement from being a footballer and I can take it as far back as I want from starting from nothing to becoming a footballer to getting myself in a very fortunate position to work on television.
“It’s a lot of hard work that you put into the job, but at the same time, it can be taken away from you like that. That’s one thing that I’ve recognised. When it is taken away from you like that, the only people there for you is your family and friends and it’s the people that are really close to you. That’s what has been my biggest support system during this period of time.
“Me and my wife have had some honest conversations. Me and my family have had some honest conversations and that’s who this is really between. So moving forward, that’s where my focus is, making sure that my kids are okay, my wife is supported and that I’m continually working on improving myself.”
Coverage of Aston Villa's victory
As part of Talksport's coverage, Jenas provided live commentary during Aston Villa's 2-1 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup match. Interestingly enough, news about his removal from BBC broke while he was live on air with Talksport.
Despite some staff allegedly expressing their discontentment about Jenas' return according to The Telegraph report, Broadcast Sport confirms that all staff members at Talksport were consulted prior to welcoming him back into their fold.
Previous stints in broadcasting
Before facing professional setbacks due to misconduct allegations at BBC, Jermaine also worked with TNT Sports where he presented Formula E coverage shown by the broadcaster along with working directly for its football broadcasts as a freelancer.
However, it is yet unclear whether he will resume work there again. Formula E has stated that its presentation team for its 2025 season is yet unconfirmed while Broadcast Sport reports suggest that there are no current plans for Jenas' return to TNT Sports.
Jermaine Jenas' return to broadcasting with Talksport marks a new chapter in his career. While he acknowledges past mistakes, he is also eager to move forward and contribute positively to the sports broadcasting industry. His journey serves as a reminder that while professional setbacks can be challenging, they can also provide opportunities for growth and self-improvement.
