“I’m pretty much as low as I’ve ever been.”
Sacked BBC presenter, Jermaine Jenas has revealed he cannot sleep and is ‘like a zombie’ after he admitted to sending ‘inappropriate texts’ to two co-workers.
The 41-year-old ex-England international was sacked from his presenting jobs on The One Show and Match Of The Day after junior members of staff raised concerns over his behaviour.
His wife of 13 years, Ellie Penfold has said she will ‘stand by him for now’ but is said to be angry over the situation.
The former footballer who enjoyed spells with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur told The Sun: “I haven’t slept properly since they told me, to be honest.
“I mean, the anxiety that builds up in your body over these types of things. I haven’t had any sleeping pills. I’ve just not been sleeping.”
The father-of-four continued: “You just kind of lay there, mind’s ticking over until you just pass out. Part of me would just rather go out and run until I collapse.”
He told the newspaper that he feels like he has ‘let everybody down – friends, family, colleagues’.
He said: “When I see Ellie most days, she just kind of gets up. She goes to make sure the children are OK. I feel ashamed. I feel I’ve let everybody down – friends, family, colleagues.”
He added: “I’m pretty much as low as I’ve ever been.”
Jenas told his former colleagues that he was ‘genuinely sorry’ as he issued a direct apology after he was allegedly told not to contact them due to ‘legal processes’.
The midfielder admitted to sending ‘inappropriate messages’ but claimed they were between ‘two consenting adults’ and insisted his behaviour was not illegal.
He has three children with Penfold and a daughter from a previous relationship. The presenter admits he has a ‘self-destructive streak’ with his relationships and said he is receiving therapy.
He’s criticised how the BBC handled his dismissal and said he is consulting his lawyers about the situation, something which he repeated several times when his sacking became public knowledge whilst he was live on air on talkSPORT.
According to figures published by the broadcaster last year, Jenas earned £190,000 – £194,999 for his work on the FA Cup, Match Of The Day and the World Cup.
His salary for working on The One Show was not public knowledge.
TalkSPORT confirmed there were no plans for Jenas to present a show in the immediate future while TNT are yet to make a decision on Jenas’ future with them.
He hosted Formula E race coverage for the broadcaster but after the season finished in July, a spokesperson for the company said the presenting line-up for the next series will be ‘carefully considered’.
His management company, M&C Saatchi Merlin who also represent the likes of Freddie Flintoff, Denise Lewis and Helen Skelton, have dropped him from their talent roster.
