Jermaine Jenas has separated from his wife Ellie Penfold, six months after the BBC dismissed him after a sexting scandal.
The former player was withdrawn by the channel in August in the midst of accusations of misconduct in the workplace after sending explicit text messages to two employees.
While at that time Jermaine said that he and Ellie, who married in 2011, hoped to work on her marriage problems, she went to Instagram on Tuesday to reveal that her marriage was over.
In a shared statement on social networks, she wrote: 'I never imagined that I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I think it is necessary.
'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to separate. We will continue to be friends and continue to be co -star. We kindly ask you to respect our children's privacy during this challenging moment. Thanks, Ellie.
From the BBC looting of Jermaine, Ellie had not shared a click with him on Instagram, and he was remarkably absent from the images he published of his children celebrating Christmas in December.
Jermaine Jenas has separated from his wife Ellie Penfold, months after the BBC dismissed him after a sexting scandal (in the photo in July 2024)
Ellie shared a statement on Tuesday confirming that her marriage to Jermaine was over, after the Sexting scandal left her “furious” in August
In November, Jermaine shared a tribute to his wife when he marked the launch of his Personal Personal Care brand, despite his marriage problems.
He wrote on Instagram: 'I could not be more proud of this woman, 3 years ago you had a great idea and this week you have to make that idea come true.
“Starting a brand is quite difficult, but working hard and being committed to doing it even with everything that I have recently dragged it should be enough evidence that you make it a success.”
Ellie was “furious” and kicked the former star of Tottenham Hotspur of her room in her family home of £ 1 million when it was revealed that she had sent explicit messages to two members of the BBC staff.
Jermaine confessed to lying to Ellie, who describes herself as a 'wife' and mother 'in her Instagram biography, during a family vacation in Spain when she slipped to talk to her bosses about the messages.
Although Jermaine admitted to sending text messages, he insisted that they were exchanged between two adult consent and has done nothing illegal.
He said The sun: 'We have not really spoken correctly since then. She is absolutely furious.
Jenas, who shares two daughters and a son with Ellie, said the couple no longer shared a room in their family home in Hertfordshire.
The former player was withdrawn by the channel in August in the midst of accusations of misconduct in the workplace after sending explicit text messages to two employees
Jermaine married Ellie in 2011, and they have three children together, while he also has a daughter of a previous relationship
Ellie had not shared any snapshots with Jermaine on Instagram since she was fired by the BBC six months ago (in the photo last week)
Last week, Jermaine shared a photo gallery from her trip to the Middle East for Riad boxing season
Ellie was “furious” and left his room in his family home of £ 1 million when it was revealed that he had sent explicit messages to two members of the BBC staff.
He added: 'These are children at this time. They are school holidays and are trapped at home because photographers are out of my house.
Jenas praised his wife as an “incredible mother”, saying that she is “friendly” and “needs some time.”
The former star of England admitted to having sent text messages, but insists that she has not done anything illegal.
He denied having sent indecent images or videos and said that the messages were among adults that consent, one of which “made it clear that he was interested.”
However, Jenas said he is “ashamed” and “sorry deeply” when he apologized for the scandal.
He revealed that he was fired in an unbearable video call, while he was on family vacation in Marbella, Spain, with his wife and three children.
Jenas criticized this as 'gloomy', having to 'sit there and listen to what you have said' like four people in Zoom's call they read their inappropriate text messages.
He said he went to lie to his wife after being informed of the accusations of “finding an exit to this disaster.”
Ellie broke her silence in the scandal at the launch of her new Personal Care brand Prepy in November.
She said: 'My only approach has been our children and build my preppy brand. Now I just want to move on.
“Naturally, this has been difficult for me, but my only concern has been our children and that will not change.”
The news of Jenas's dismissal came moments before he started in the air in Talksport Radio. He returned to the work of experts last month, saying that in Talksport his behavior was “tremendously inappropriate.”
He continued: 'I made an error. It was a mistake that is something that my wife and family have to deal with.
'I think the most important thing here is that your career is one thing. I worked 10 years after retirement for being a footballer and I can withdraw it since I want to start being a footballer until he reached a very fortunate position to work on television.
'It's a lot of hard work that you put at work, but at the same time, they can take you like this. That is something that I have recognized.
'When they take it like this, the only people there for you are your family and friends and they are the people who are very close to you. That is what has been my biggest support system during this period of time.
'My wife and I have had some honest conversations. My family and I have had some honest conversations and that is who it really is.
'So in the future, that is where my approach is, making sure that my children are fine, my wife is supported and that I am working continuously to improve myself.
Last month, Jermaine returned to the work of experts in Talksport, and said in an interview that her behavior was “tremendously inappropriate”
“Essentially, this is about looking in the inside, making some improvements and returning to a better person.”
Only three months before his dismissal, Jenas posted a message about his wife on Instagram as he wanted his happy birthday.
He wrote: “Happy birthday, Mrs. Ji loves you … we love you more than you could imagine … you deserve the world X”.
However, Jenas spoke with Mailonline about the tense relationship he once had with his wife Ellie, saying that they argued about the amount of time spent socializing after filming for the only program.
He also admitted that the couple had to work through their differences and that the couple enjoyed separate vacations.
Jenas said: 'I would say that until about five years ago it was quite stressful for both of them.
'There was a lot of competition in our relationship and much' you can do this' or 'You don't do this.'
“It had a lot to do with the children and the fact that I had this new career starting and I was out and meeting new people and went to shows … everything was dazzling, but for my wife it was like diapers, milk … I am a very practical father and I am always trying to help, but I was not yet obtaining that fulfillment in his own life.
'I had to address it and in the last five years I always say once or twice or year simply go for three days or something.
“In the summer and in appearance now, she will go to Ibiza with her teammates and she has a good burst and that is so that she does not have to wake up or think of the children, and I just returned from Scotland playing three days of golf and she will tell me the same, go and play golf, relax, enjoy.”
They got involved in 2009 and married two years later in 2011. They live in a house of £ 7 million in Hertfordshire and together they have two daughters, Geneva and Olivia, in addition to their son Jacob.
Jenas also has a 16 -year -old Sancha daughter, of an earlier relationship that lives in the United States with her mother.