Former BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold have split after almost two decades together.
Ellie, who shares four children with the former Tottenham Hotspur footballer, announced the news on social media on Tuesday night. Jermaine, 42, is yet to comment on his estranged wife’s statement. Their split comes less than a year after Jermaine parted ways with the BBC in August after being accused of sending inappropriate texts to female colleagues.
Jermaine issued an apology via a newspaper at the time of being removed from the BBC presenting team, saying: “I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry.” He added: “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.”
Ellie broke her silence on the matter in November. Speaking at the launch of her new personal care brand called Preppy, she said: “My only focus has been on our children and building my brand Preppy. Now I just want to move forward. Naturally this has been hard for me but my only concern has been our children and that will not change.”
In a statement shared on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night, Ellie announced the end of her marriage. She wrote to her 13,700 followers: “I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it’s necessary. After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. We will remain friends and continue to co-parent. We kindly ask that you respect our children’s privacy during this challenging time. Thank you, Ellie.”
Jermaine was sacked by the BBC, where he worked as a pundit for BBC Sport and hosted The One Show, in August 2024, after allegations of inappropriate behaviour, with the former England midfielder returning to punditry duties last month for the first time since the scandal.
The controversy led to an internal investigation and, following routine enquiries and his contract was terminated, with Alex Kay-Jelski, the new Director of Sport, playing a significant role in the decision. Prior to his BBC exit, Jermaine had been tipped to replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day.
Jermaine Jenas and his estranged wife share four children together ( Instagram)
Ellie shared the statement regarding their relationship on her Instagram Stories
In light of his past difficulties, Jermaine expressed on talkSPORT: “The biggest thing in this whole situation is about taking responsibility and that has been at the forefront of my mind… There’s a reason why you’re in this position and there’s a reason why this has happened.
“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. Essentially this is about me looking inwards, making some improvements and coming back a better person.”
Jermaine’s last appearance on talkSPORT was when news of his BBC dismissal broke while he was anchoring the drivetime show. Following a period of absence, the station’s chief, Liam Fisher, is now welcoming him back. TalkSPORT’s Head, stated last month: “Jermaine Jenas addresses his past behaviour in this frank interview. With a proven track record as a footballer turned pundit, we look forward to his expert commentary this Sunday as part of our extensive coverage of the FA Cup on our network.”
