The BBC has faced one of its toughest years yet after a string of scandals over the last year.
Several high-profile BBC personalities have found themselves embroiled in a web of startling controversies this year, with Jermaine Jenas’ unexpected ousting being the most recent debacle.
The ex-Premier League star was summarily dismissed from the broadcaster amidst allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”, believed to be linked to text messages.
The BBC has affirmed that the Match of the Day and The One Show celebrity is “no longer part of our presenting line up” and has instituted an inquiry following the allegations.
Yet, Jenas’ exit is but one incident in a sequence of calamitous scandals plaguing the network, including bullying claims levelled at Strictly contenders and Huw Edwards’ legal troubles.
Jermaine Jenas has been sacked from The One Show and MOTD (Image: Getty)
Jermaine Jenas
In the wake of the news about Jenas’ dismissal, an insider confided to The Sun: “This is a categorical nightmare for the BBC. A complaint was raised concerning Jermaine’s behaviour. After some immediate routine enquiries, the decision was taken to take him off air and terminate his contract.
The BBC‘s new Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski has been heavily involved in this whole process and is adamant that his new house is firmly in order, and there are no skeletons. At the present, the feeling is he won’t be back on the BBC
Reports suggest that a large mural featuring the former The One Show presenter alongside Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott has been taken down from Media City HQ in Manchester. Before this development, there were rumours that Jermaine was being considered as Lineker’s successor on Match Of The Day.
Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to charges of making indecent child sex abuse images (Image: Getty)
Huw Edwards
In July, the BBC faced another scandal involving BBC News presenter Huw Edwards. Until April 2023, he was the broadcaster’s highest-paid and arguably most respected newsreader, until a complaint was lodged against him.
On July 31 2024, Huw Edwards admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children.
The court was told that Edwards had engaged in an online chat with an adult man on WhatsApp between December 2020 and August 2021, during which he was sent 377 sexual images. 41 of these were indecent images of children.
Before this, Huw was at the peak of his career at the BBC, with perhaps his most memorable moment being the announcement of Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022. Delivering the nation’s biggest news in decades, Edwards appeared on the verge of tears as he spoke to the camera.
After confessing to the criminal charges, Edwards is set to be sentenced in September.
Strictly bullying scandal
The BBC has been shaken by a recent scandal involving Strictly Come Dancing, with several allegations levelled against the show’s professional dancers. Graziano Di Prima was dismissed from the popular dance competition, where celebrities team up with professional dancers to vie for the Glitterball Trophy.
Accusations surfaced that he had assaulted his ex-dance partner Zara McDermott during practice sessions, with claims stating he kicked, hit, and spat on the former Love Island star. Following the accusations, he issued a statement: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.”
“Respecting the BBC HR process, I understand it’s best for the show that I step away.”
Fellow dancer Giovanni Pernice also exited the series, and in June, the BBC announced that he would not be returning to the 2024 season after facing bullying claims from his previous partner Amanda Abbington. Pernice has refuted all the allegations against him.
