Former England footballer Jermaine Jenas has launched a scathing attack on the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of destroying his livelihood after dismissing him over inappropriate workplace messages.
The 42-year-old, who lost his £190,000 annual salary following complaints from female colleagues about his conduct, expressed his anger during a recent podcast appearance.
"Because of their ability to take away my life, in terms of every deal I had, the jobs that I had at that particular time, I said that is never happening to me again," Jenas told host Reece Mennie on the Mennie Talks podcast.
**ARE YOU READING THIS ON OUR APP? DOWNLOAD NOW FOR THE BEST GB NEWS EXPERIENCE**
The former Tottenham midfielder's dismissal cost him prestigious positions on The One Show and Match of the Day.
Jermaine Jenas appeared on the Mennie Talks podcasts marking one year on from his sacking
|Youtube
The scandal erupted when female staff members reported receiving explicit text messages from the presenter, leading to his immediate termination from the corporation.
During an agonising video conference whilst holidaying with his family in Marbella, BBC executives confronted him with the inappropriate messages he had sent.
"I made a mistake. It was a mistake that is something that me and my wife and my family have to deal with," he acknowledged.
JUST IN: Manchester United 'close in' on striker signing as transfer saga set to end
The former Newcastle midfielder had contracts with the BBC, TNT Sports and talkSPORT
|Getty
The broadcaster swiftly erased all traces of his decade-long association, removing his content from their websites and even taking down his mural at their Manchester Media City headquarters.
Following his departure, Jenas has established his own production company, marking a significant shift in his career trajectory.
He revealed that whilst employed by the BBC, numerous commercial opportunities were blocked due to the corporation's policies.
"Betting companies want to work with me because I'm in football; BBC hate that because of the issues to do with gambling in general, so they block all of that," he explained.
READ MORE: F1 star rushed to medical centre after major crash during tyre test
The former midfielder described working within the BBC's "media bubble" as restrictive, with "so many walls in terms of what they want you to do and what you're not allowed to do."
His former agency showed little enthusiasm for his new business venture.
The personal consequences extended beyond his professional life, culminating in the dissolution of his 14-year marriage to Ellie Jenas.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Ellie Jenas recently announced her decision to split from Jermaine Jenas after 14 years of marriage
|The couple announced their separation in March, with Jenas admitting the decision wasn't his choice.
"It was her decision and one that I had to accept," he revealed on the Filthy Fellas podcast, adding that he would have been "prepared to be unhappy for the rest of my life" if it meant keeping his family together.
Despite taking "full responsibility" for his actions, Jenas maintains the marriage had existing problems before the scandal emerged.
The pair share three children and have committed to co-parenting as friends.
Jenas has begun reconstructing his media career, returning to talkSPORT in February after a six-month absence.
"Once you accept those things, then you can work on yourself and you can work on the other things and you can work on your family and work towards a brighter future," he stated ahead of his comeback.
The former international footballer emphasised that taking accountability remained paramount in his recovery process.
"You go through a lot of different emotions of anger and blame, but eventually you realise: 'Take responsibility, Jermaine, and you'll be able to move forward'," he reflected.
Despite losing everything he had built over a decade in broadcasting, Jenas maintains he's emerging as a "better person" from the experience.