A CLEAR ABUSE OF POWER

It's not just a flirty text.. he was completely over the line and we have absolute evidence

- NICOLA METHVEN

JERMAINE Jenas has no grounds to challenge his shock sacking, BBC chiefs claim.

They insist he abused his power when he sent "suggestive" messages to junior female staff which led to him being axed from The One Show and Match of the Day.

It came as Jenas admitted sending the texts to "two consenting adults" and "cheating" on his wife but insisted nothing physical happened.

He said last night: "I am ashamed and deeply sorry.

One BBC insider close to the internal probe said: "He really doesn't have a leg to stand on.

"He has done things incompatible with our values and what we think is appropriate in the workplace. It's a clear abuse of power and there's no room here for anything of that nature.

"This is not just a flirty text which might get you a b*****king; he was completely over the line and we have absolute evidence of that." Sources said Jenas, 41, is not expected to claim he has been unfairly dismissed, despite his insistence there are "two sides to every story".

He allegedly sent "suggestive" texts to staff on The One Show.

Those who have seen the messages, believed to have been sent by the ex-Spurs and Newcastle star to at least one runner on WhatsApp, said they were "horrified" by the content.