Jermaine Jenas apologises to female colleagues following BBC sacking

Sacked BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas has told his former female colleagues he is “genuinely sorry” for sending inappropriate messages.

The ex-Premier League player, who has been removed from the presenting line-ups of The Match Of The Day and The One Show, issued the direct apology after being allegedly told not to contact the two women due to “legal process”.

Jenas previously said he sent “inappropriate messages” but insisted they were “between two consenting adults” and that his behaviour was not illegal.

The BBC has not offered details on why Jenas’s contract was terminated.

In an interview with The Sun On Sunday newspaper, he said: “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 added: “I’m genuinely sorry for what I’ve done to you. I always thought it was consensual and a two-way thing.”

The former footballer previously told The Sun he was “ashamed” of his behaviour and that he was “not a sex pest”.

Jenas, who is married and has four children, also revealed he has a “self-destructive streak” with his relationships and he is receiving therapy.

He added: “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