Jermaine Jenas has been replaced as Formula E presenter after a single season in the role. The sacked BBC star, 41, had been appointed to host coverage of the electric motorsport series in the UK on TNT Sports just last year.
However, he won’t be returning under their new broadcast deal with ITV following claims he sent “inappropriate messages” to colleagues on BBC’s The One Show. Stepping into his shoes will be Nicki Shields, formerly a pit lane reporter, who will be joined by the likes of Karun Chandhok, David Coulthard and Billy Monger to present the show. Fans can catch all 16 E-Prix and qualifying rounds live on ITV4 and ITVX, plus a new highlights show.
Jenas, the ex-Tottenham and England midfielder-turned-broadcaster, had carved out a successful second career in TV, hosting a variety of programmes and even being tipped to succeed Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day.
His time co-hosting The One Show began back in 2020. But in August of this year, the BBC axed him over allegations of improper conduct with female staff members on the show, and he’s not reappeared on TNT’s Premier League coverage since.
Jenas insisted his actions weren’t illegal but he apologised to his former colleagues. In an interview with The Sun, he said: “I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry. I have let myself down, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology – especially the women with whom I was messaging.
“I am so, so sorry. I am sorry for what I have put them through. I think it would be fair to say I have a problem. I know I self-sabotage and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationship especially, and I know I need help. And I am getting help.
“I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself a lot of questions at the moment. I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be hard. I did nothing illegal – these were inappropriate messages between two consenting adults.
“I’m not proud of what I wrote and what I said. And I do consider it cheating, yes, although nothing physical ever happened. This is all on me and I fully accept there is a level of responsibility that needs to be upheld when you’re a member of the BBC. And I fell below those standards. I must take the responsibility.”
More allegations followed in the weeks after, including a claim he sent unsolicited explicit images to a woman while working at the World Cup in Qatar, and that he allegedly pestered a junior makeup artist for sex. Jenas’ spokesperson said he denied that the messages were unsolicited, contrary to the allegations.
