‘I hosted World Cup draw – people asked ‘what’s he doing there’ but I love that’

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Jermaine Jenas loves popping up on TV when you would least expect him to.

The former England and Tottenham footballer is now more commonly seen on non-football television after embarking on a wide-ranging career in front of camera.

As well as his appearances on shows such as Match of the Day, he has become one of the regular presenters of BBC's The One Show. In early 2024, he starts a new role as Formula E's lead presenter for their new coverage on TNT Sports.

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But surprising people is something he likes to do. It was on April 1, 2022 when he turned heads by walking out to present the draw for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

"That Jermaine Jenas is apparently hosting THE ACTUAL World Cup draw is the biggest April's fools of the day," one viewer on Twitter said. Another added: "Jermaine Jenas must have one hell of an agent." And there were many more.

But Jenas enjoys that.

"It's probably the most pressurised thing I have ever done," he says, as he sits down with Daily Star Sport. "It is definitely one of those moments where everyone is like 'what the hell is Jermaine Jenas doing there?', but I love that.

"Anybody who is sat at home and commenting and having negative opinions, I can only encourage them to go out and challenge themselves, because there are only rewards on the other side of it.

"That went very well and other things might not go so well, but at least I know the answers to those questions and that is what I have always done, so broadcasting wise, doing that, hosting The One Show, another space where people did not expect to see me in, that's what I keep doing and Formula E is another one to add to the catalogue.

"I am not here to preach to anybody. There are different elements of how to host television. Luckily from my point of view, my experience is quite vast now in terms of doing it in sport, doing it in the entertainment world.

"Two days ago I was talking to George Clooney and Tom Hanks and people might go 'what is Jermaine doing speaking to them?' but I do it and I enjoy it, I love it."

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For Jenas, the TV career fully represents the next stage of his life. If you are to Google his name, he now appears as a 'television presenter' rather than a 'football player'.

"It's what my kids think about me now," Jenas jokes. "My kids barely know that I played football. One of my goals will pop up on telly and they are like 'is that you?!'

"It's a weird thing. My whole dream as a kid was to be a professional footballer so it's nice to have that part of my life and that library of what I achieved then.

"It is also nice to bookmark it and say 'this is the next stage of my life'. For everyone going into retirement, it is important to do. Enjoy the past, but don't dwell on it and focus on the new thing that is ahead of you.

"For me, I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I knew how hard I would have to work to get there. I knew I'd have to put the same amount of skill and effort into what I did to become a professional footballer into this world."

While his broadcasting career ultimately started in football, with appearances on Match of the Day amongst others, he was soon offered opportunities outside of sport.

He took part in a Channel 4 show called Time Crashers, in which celebrities replicated living life in different eras, and would later present a BBC Three documentary on knife crime.

He has other shows in the works, as well as his new gig with Formula E, which will see him travel the globe for all 17 races in the 2024 season.

"I never wanted to be pigeon-holed into one thing," Jenas says. "I didn't want to label myself as just a football presenter, or a football pundit. I knew that I had intrigue, I liked asking questions, I got on with people and I knew that it had the ability to take me elsewhere.

"But then it was always going to come down to having the character, the will and the want to go and do it, which is what I have done.

"When I was given the opportunity to present Formula E, it ticked a lot of boxes. From a sporting element, where it's at and leading the way, there are so many things that made me say yes, even coming from a footballing background, knowing people will say 'what is he doing presenting Formula E'.

"But that is part of the challenge for me and I look forward to it."

Formula E starts its 10th season in Mexico on January 13th live on TNT Sports.

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