Jermaine Jenas broke down in tears as he told how he was on holiday with his wife and children when he was sacked from the BBC over a sexting scandal, and he is still fighting to save his marriage.

The broadcaster sacked the 41-year-old Match Of The Day and One Show presenter Jenas over a terrifying video call while he was on a family trip to Marbella, Spain, with his model wife Ellie Penfold and their three children.

Speaking to The Sun, the former footballer said it was “creepy” having to sit there and listen to what you said while four people on the Zoom meeting read out his inappropriate text messages.

The video call took place five days after he was first informed of the allegations against him by the BBC.

But a guilt-ridden Jenas said he felt “deeply ashamed” after admitting sending inappropriate text messages to women at the BBC, saying he had “let myself, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology – especially the women I messaged. I am so, so sorry.”

Jermaine Jenas denied being a sex abuser and insisted he had done nothing illegal as his text message scandal rocked the BBC. But he apologised if he had made the women he had messaged feel uncomfortable

Jemaine Jenas last appearance on The One show

“I think it’s fair to say I have a problem. I know I’m a self-saboteur and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationships, especially, and I know I need help. And I’m getting help.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I’m asking myself a lot of questions right now. I know there’s a lot of work to be done and it’s going to be difficult,” he added.

He also admitted that he initially hid the information from his wife when he first learned of the complaints against him.

The Sun also reported that Jenas is fighting to save his 13-year marriage, saying his wife has “not spoken properly” to him since learning of the scandal and she is “furious” and has thrown him out of their bedroom at their £1million Hertfordshire home.

For now, however, the couple is focusing on their three children.

This comes after an insider claimed it was ‘completely over the line’ and he had ‘no leg to stand on’ over the ‘flirty texts’ which led to his dismissal from the BBC.

Married ex-footballer Jenas, 41, was fired by the company after women complained about his workplace behaviour and a junior employee – who was reportedly previously impressed with the BBC star – raised concerns about alleged flirtatious text messages.

According to a source, the broadcaster acted “quickly and decisively” because “the BBC cannot react slowly”.

Jermaine Jenas and wife

However, some criticised the broadcaster for firing Jenas, suggesting that the broadcaster was concerned about the station’s reputation in light of recent scandals.

Jenas, who has been married to Ellie for 13 years and has four children, said he is considering suing the BBC over its handling of the situation.

He told her he had been fired because she was convinced he would return to The One Show.

Jenas insisted he had done nothing illegal and that the messages were between consenting adults, one of whom had made it clear she was interested. He denied ever sending indecent images or videos.