Inside Jermaine Jenas’ luxury life with wife Ellie Penfold as pair enjoy glamorous holidays to Dubai and Ibiza
JERMAINE Jenas leads a luxury life with Ellie Penfold enjoying glamorous holidays to Dubai and Ibiza.
The presenter and ex-footballer, 41, has been fired by the BBC and taken off air from both Match of the Day and The One Show following complaints about “inappropriate behaviour”.
However, he has anchored TalkSPORT’s Drive show this evening – though failed to mention his axing.
But he did release a statement to The Sun via a spokesperson while live on air saying: “Right now I can’t talk about it.
“I can tell you I’m not happy – there are two sides to every story – and I’m going to be speaking with my lawyers on the issue.”
Jenas previously told the Belfast Telegraph that “it was love at first” for him when he met Penfold “but not for her” as she was initially put off by the idea of dating a footballer.
He admitted she wasn’t impressed by his attitude or flashy Ferrari.
He said: “She actually made me get rid of the car because it was too noisy.
“She’s told me she thought when we first met that I was a bit of an over-confident idiot, but I won her over, finally.”
The couple married in 2011 and currently live in a plush £1million mansion with their children.
Jenas said of his wife: “She’s been a rock keeping the family going through tough times.”
The couple share three daughters, and Jenas has a fourth daughter from a previous relationship who lives with the family part time.
The former England and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder home schooled his daughters during the Covid pandemic, updating fans on Instagram – and inadvertently giving a sneak peek into his home.
The property has a chic, muted grey colour scheme throughout, with a minimalist feel in the kitchen and living room.
The lounge at the time had a velvet sofa with matching cushion and a large black and silver glass-topped coffee table.
It looks out over a large grassed back garden.
Going by Jenas’ social channels, he enjoys plenty of quality family time.
He often posts snaps with the brood together. On Father’s Day in 2022 he shared a photo of them all in Windsor, adding: “So blessed to have a special Father’s Day today, I hope you dads enjoyed yours.”
He has also previously posted a video showing off his workout routine in his own private gym.
The space has a view of a vast garden with a football goal on the grass.
Jenas also enjoys a jet-setting lifestyle, including trips to Ibiza, Dubai and the US, which he’s posted about Instagram.
He retired from playing football in 2016 following a knee injury and has since built a stellar career as a media personality.
However, the Beeb has launched an immediate internal investigation after concerns were raised and he was quietly removed from the broadcaster’s official channels.
A giant mural, featuring the 41-year-old alongside BBC Sport colleagues Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott, has now been removed from Manchester’s Media City HQ.
Jenas – widely regarded as Lineker’s natural successor for MOTD – covered this summer‘s Euros and commentated on Spain‘s semi-final victory over France on July 9.
Jermaine Jenas' full statement on BBC sacking
Jermaine Jenas released a statement to The Sun via a spokesperson saying: “Right now I can’t talk about it.
“I can tell you I’m not happy – there are two sides to every story – and I’m going to be speaking with my lawyers on the issue.”
The father of four last presented The One Show alongside Alex Jones on July 22, and appeared on the MOTD panel on May 4.
He was notably absent from Saturday’s first episode of the new season.
Last night a source said: “This is a categorical nightmare for the BBC.
“Complaints were raised concerning Jermaine’s behaviour.
“After some immediate routine enquiries the decision was taken to take him off air, and terminate his contract.
“The BBC’s new Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski has been heavily involved in this whole process, and is adamant that his new house is firmly in order, and there are no skeletons.
“At present, the feeling is he won’t be back on the BBC.”
Jenas, who has only posted three Instagram pictures since May, in stark contrast to the 73 he posted over the course of last year – has also parted ways with his long-term agents, MC Saatchi, in the wake of the crisis.
The ex-Spurs midfielder is understood to have instructed lawyers as he battles to clear his name.
Sources close to Jermaine insist he is “not happy” with the BBC’s decision.
The star still has The One Show and BBC Sport listed on his official Instagram and Twitter handles.
He was last seen on air on Saturday commentating for TNT Sports – formerly BT Sport – on Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich.
And on August 2nd he took to Instagram following the climax of the Formula E season for which he was a lead presenter alongside Nicki Shields.
It is not known whether his paymasters at TNT are aware of the current situation with the BBC.
News of Jermaine’s BBC absence – which pays him between £190,000 and £194,999 according to official figures published last year – will prove a huge blow to BBC execs.
This is the latest crisis to hit the national broadcaster, and comes amid another probe into another national institution – Strictly Come Dancing.
The findings, reportedly two weeks overdue, are yet to be published.
And earlier this month the governing board of the BBC released a statement announcing an independent review into the broadcaster’s workplace culture.
It stated: “We remain concerned about the potential for inappropriate workplace behaviour, particularly in creative and editorial environments.
“Whilst challenges related to power imbalances in the workplace are a challenge for multiple employers, the BBC must hold itself to the highest standards.
“The BBC has clearly articulated Values and a strong Code of Conduct and there has been much progress in recent years.
“That said, the Board will commission an independent review that will make recommendations on practical steps that could strengthen a workplace culture in line with BBC Values.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “We can confirm Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of the presenting line-up.”