Jermaine Jenas’ wife has admitted the last few months have been “incredibly difficult” after her BBC star husband was sacked amid a sexting scandal.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Jenas, 41, was sacked after sending explicit text messages to two employees at the station, where he worked on Match Of The Day and The One Show.
Jenas revealed that his wife, Ellie, with whom he shares three young children, was “absolutely furious” after finding out about the messages and had kicked him out of the bedroom they share in their £1million family home.
He confessed to lying to her during a family holiday when she snuck out to have a Zoom call with BBC bosses over his inappropriate messages.
Ellie, who has almost 14,000 followers on Instagram, remained silent on social media in the weeks after Jenas was fired.
But today she appeared in public to launch her new business, Preppy Skin, a personal care brand aimed exclusively at those under 16 years of age.
Addressing the scandal, Ellie, who was seen without her wedding ring, admitted the past few months had been “incredibly difficult” for her and her family.
She added that her “sole focus has been on our children” and launching the personal care brand and that she was willing to “move forward.”
Jermaine Jenas, 41, was sacked by the BBC, where he worked on Match Of The Day and The One Show, earlier this year after sending explicit text messages to two female employees.
The One Show presenter, pictured at Wimbledon this year with his wife Ellie Penfold, who admitted the last few months have been “incredibly difficult” after her husband was sacked by the BBC.
Jermaine Jenas, 41, pictured with his wife Ellie Penfold. He admitted that she was “absolutely furious” after finding out about the messages and had kicked him out of her room.
Ellie said the sun at the Battersea launch event on Tuesday: “Naturally this has been difficult for me but my only concern has been our children and that won’t change.”
“Now I just want to move forward.”
She added that Jermaine had been “supportive” of her decision to create the brand and she is “excited” about what the future holds.
Ellie appeared at the launch event with two of the couple’s three children and her business partner Steph Leggit.
She said she and Steph had been working on the brand for three years, and came up with the idea after giving birth to their youngest son, Jacob.
Ellie and Jermaine have been married for 13 years and tied the knot in 2011.
They live in a £1 million house in Hertfordshire and together have two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, as well as their son Jacob.
Jenas also has an older daughter, Sancha, 16, from a previous relationship who lives in the United States with her mother.
Jenas with his ex-model wife Ellie Penfold (pictured) at an event in Hyde Park in 2009
The former England international pictured with his wife of 13 years, Ellie Penfold, at Wimbledon in 2024.
The couple married in 2011 and live in a house in Hertfordshire (pictured above).
The corporation sacked Jenas after women complained about his workplace conduct and a younger member of staff, said to have previously been impressed by the BBC star, raised concerns about alleged messages from flirty text.
The corporation acted “quickly and decisively” because “the BBC cannot be considered slow to act,” a source said.
The married star insisted she did nothing illegal and that the messages were between consenting adults, one of whom she said made it clear she was interested. He denied ever sending indecent images or videos.
In a long interview with the Sun after his dismissal, the presenter revealed how and Ellie were on holiday in Marbella, Spain, with their children when he was contacted by the BBC.
He then confessed to his wife that he had been sacked because she was expecting him to go to work on The One Show on Monday.
“I just said, ‘I’ve been fired from the BBC.’ She said, ‘For what?’ and I said, ‘For sending text messages that weren’t appropriate for two girls.’
Bosses at talkSPORT and TNT Sports later followed suit by letting Jenas go, saying they were taking allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” very seriously.
The radio station said it would no longer appear on the show for the “immediate future” after learning of the BBC presenter’s dismissal moments before it went on air.
Jenas pictured on his final episode of One Show on July 22 this year alongside Alex Jones.
TalkSPORT learned of Jermaine Jenas’ sacking moments before it went on air yesterday and says there are no plans for him to appear in the “immediate future”.
Jermaine Jenas (left) photographed for the L’Oreal Wing Men campaign with Jamie Redknapp and Peter Crouch
Jenas had long been regarded as one of the rising stars at the BBC and was previously touted by Gary Lineker himself as a future Match of the Day presenter.
Speaking to The Sun in 2021, Jenas admitted he would love to one day front the iconic football programme, which former Spurs star Lineker has presented since 1999.
He said: In an interview with The Sun in October 2021, Jermaine said: ‘Match Of The Day is the biggest job in television, and if I ever got the chance, of course I would say yes.
“When Gary decides to call it a day, I’m sure the BBC will take a look and decide who is the best candidate for the job.”
Lineker had previously announced Jenas as his “natural successor.”