Jermaine Jenas has revealed that he and his wife Ellie Penfold attended couples therapy after a series of explosive fights last year.
The presenter, who admitted sending inappropriate text messages to women at the BBC, says he has “let himself down” by revealing his 13-year marriage is in crisis.
However, it appears tensions within the relationship had been building for a while after he previously revealed that he and his wife received couples therapy in an attempt to overcome their struggles.
While Jermaine, 41, began spending more time socialising with his One Show colleagues, Ellie was at home with her children.
He said The sun: ‘It was all ostentatious, but to my wife it was like diapers and milk. I’m a very hands-on parent and always try to help, but still, she wasn’t achieving that fulfillment in her own life.
Jermaine Jenas has revealed he has attended couples therapy with wife Ellie Penfold following explosive rows as he battles to save his marriage following his BBC sacking.
He revealed: “It was all glitz, but for my wife, it was like diapers and milk. I’m a very hands-on father and always try to help, but still, she wasn’t getting that fulfillment in her own life.”
Speaking openly about seeking help, he said: “It was actually for marital reasons. We’ve worked together in the past. But that’s my wife’s business, if I’m completely honest. I’d rather not go into details.”
‘We’ve been together for about 15 years and the whole process takes work, you know?’
The couple have been married since 2011 and share three daughters, Geneva, 11, and Olivia, eight, and a two-year-old son, Jacob.
The challenger has said he is “ashamed” and “deeply remorseful”, admitting to “frantically” sexting a woman for 24 hours after she gave him her number at a work event.
The scandal-plagued broadcasting company fired Jermaine in an excruciating video call, while he was on a family holiday in Marbella, Spain, with his wife Ellie and their three children.
However, he went on to confess that he lied to his wife after being informed of the allegations in order to “find a way out of this mess.”
But she told the publication that she is not a “sex pest” and that she has to defend herself.
Meanwhile, Ellie kicked him out of the bedroom and the couple are no longer talking to each other.
The scandal-plagued broadcasting corporation fired Jermaine in an excruciating video call, while he was on a family holiday in Marbella, Spain, with his wife Ellie and their three children.
The couple have been married since 2011 and share three daughters, Geneva, 11, and Olivia, eight, and a two-year-old son, Jacob.
Ellie kicked him out of the bedroom and the couple no longer speaks after the scandal.
The former footballer said he has a tendency to “self-sabotage” his own relationship, saying that sexting another woman may not have been a physical form of cheating, but he still considers it an act of infidelity.
This comes after a source close to the club claimed the text messages were “totally exaggerated” and that the former footballer “has no arguments to defend himself” over the “flirtatious messages” that led to his dismissal.
Jermaine was sacked by the corporation after women complained about his workplace conduct and a junior member of staff, who is said to have previously been impressed by the BBC star, raised concerns about alleged flirtatious text messages.
The corporation acted “swiftly and decisively” because “the BBC cannot be considered slow to act,” said one source.
The BBC informed staff of its decision to let him go after the story had already been made public in the media.
While the investigation into his conduct continues, Jermaine has had his contract with the BBC terminated and will no longer appear on Match of the Day or The One Show.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting line-up.”
He was last on the air for the corporation in early summer.
