Jermaine Jenas hires top lawyers to investigate BBC’s handling of sacking – & accuses bosses of making him a ‘fall guy’
JERMAINE Jenas has hired a team of lawyers to assess the BBC’s handling of his sacking, and whether confidential information was leaked.
Jenas is looking to sue the broadcaster and last night confirmed a legal letter has already been sent to execs by his newly-hired representatives.
The ex-footballer, who says his anxiety has rocketed, is concerned senior staff in different departments within the BBC — including sport and entertainment — appeared to be openly discussing his dismissal when it should have been kept confidential.
Jenas is also concerned private information was leaked relating to him and the two women.
He said: “That is something that my lawyers are going to be looking at, and that they themselves — the BBC — need to look into as well for everybody’s protection going forwards.
“But my head is frazzled. I am focused purely on my family and keeping my kids protected, and so it’s in the hands of my lawyers.”
Dad-of-four Jenas hit out that he was being made “the fall guy” following recent BBC scandals.
He defiantly said: “I think everyone has seen what’s been going on at the BBC recently with Huw Edwards and Strictly.
“I just don’t think I should be the one to be the fall guy. I think it sums up where they are at right now.
“I think they clearly don’t know what to do, by the looks of it, because, like I said, how the situation was handled didn’t feel great.”
In a sit-down chat with The Sun, the sacked Match of the Day and One Show host revealed BBC bosses blocked his attempts to apologise to the two female colleagues.
Tearful Jenas, 41, said: “The handling of the situation wasn’t great. It was quick — and hell.
“I don’t think there was a game plan for when they were going to announce they’d fired me.
“I think different departments were being told different things. I think it’s shocking.”
On his hopes to speak to the two women colleagues, he added: “When it was all unfolding and I knew I was losing my job, I asked HR if I could contact the two women directly and apologise to both of them.
“But because of the legal process, I wasn’t allowed.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to say sorry to them at that particular point when I really wanted to apologise.
“I really want to apologise from the bottom of my heart in terms of what I’ve put them through.”
Addressing the women directly, he said: “I’m genuinely sorry for what I’ve done to you.
“I always thought it was consensual and a two-way thing.”
The Sun broke the news on Thursday that the presenter had been fired from BBC’s Match of the Day and The One Show after complaints he had sent inappropriate messages to two women.
He told us less than 24 hours after the revelations: “I did nothing illegal.
“These were inappropriate messages between two consenting adults. I am ashamed and I am deeply sorry.”
Jenas was sacked in an online meeting with HR and senior executives on Monday — five days after the initial consultation process and two days after he worked on the Saturday.
He has slammed the dismissal process, which happened over a Zoom call while he was on holiday in Spain with wife Ellie and their three kids.