Jermaine Jenas has admitted “wildly inappropriate” behaviour but says that he will return to football punditry “a better person” following his sacking by the BBC.

The former England and Tottenham midfielder lost his job at Match of the Day and The One Show last year after claims that he sent explicit texts to female colleagues.

But the 41-year-old is being given another chance by Talksport and will return as a co-commentator for Sunday’s FA Cup tie between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

It has been reported that Jenas’s return has caused unrest at Talksport but, in an interview with Talksport colleague Shebahn Aherne, he said that he had taken responsibility for his mistakes. The interview, however, was soon criticised for lacking discussion of the impact on the people he worked with.

“The last six, nearly seven months, have been extremely tough for myself and my family, but it’s also been a really good opportunity to take stock, have a good look at why you find yourself in these kinds of situations, and start to have some honest conversations with yourself,” Jenas said.

“The biggest thing in this whole situation is about taking responsibility and that has been at the forefront of my mind. You need to take responsibility for your actions. There’s a reason why you’re in this position, and there’s a reason why this has happened.

“This is about me looking inwards, making some improvements and coming back a better person.”

Jenas has three children with wife Ellie Penfold, whom he married in 2011, and one other child from a previous relationship.

Asked if his actions were “wildly inappropriate”, Jenas said: “Yeah, of course. That’s what taking responsibility is about. It was inappropriate. I made a mistake. It was a mistake that essentially is something me and my wife and my family have to deal with.

“Me and my wife have had some honest conversations. Me and my family have had some honest conversations and that’s who this is really between.

“When you have been living in a way that’s not fit really for the position that you have, and you put other people’s lives in a position that they didn’t ask for, kids are going to school with press following them, wife’s getting followed to the gym and to work... it’s about me realising that they didn’t deserve to be in that position.

“I have in the past led by example in showing people that I can be a role model and I intend to get back on that path again. It’s my job to get back to doing what I love most, which is talking about football.”

Carrie Brown, an experienced football presenter for beIN Sports, who has also worked for Eurosport and ITN, responded on X: “The Jermaine Jenas apology once again missing the whole point. How can anyone agree to do the interview without insisting they discuss if he appreciates the impact on those he worked with. Or was it edited out? A key reason there has been such upset for those asked to work with him this week. It’s so sad. It’s not just about Jermaine and his family. A missed opportunity.”