Jermaine's no longer a part of our line-up

BBC announces TV host Jenas has been axed

- TOM BRYANT

JERMAINE Jenas had been tipped to land the biggest job in TV sport, but that dream is now in tatters after he was booted out of the BBC.

The TV presenter was a prime candidate to succeed Gary Lineker as the host of the Beeb's flagship football show Match of the Day.

But Jenas, 41, has been axed over allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving a female member of staff. His work with the corporation included being a Match of the Day pundit and co-hosting The One Show.

The BBC said: "He is no longer part of our presenting line-up." Bosses were determined to act swiftly. A source said: "It's a very sensitive landscape at the BBC at the moment with the various scandals that have beset it of late.

"Any hint of workplace misconduct and they had to come down on it like a ton of bricks." The BBC received a complaint about text messages sent by Jenas last month.

It is understood the claims relate to the ex-England footballer's time on The One Show. Jenas said last night: "Right now I can't talk about it. I can tell you I'm not happy there are two sides to every story - and I'm going to be speaking with my lawyers on the issue." The latest annual figures show he earnt between £190,000 and £194,999 at the BBC for his work on Match of the Day, the FA Cup and the World Cup.