Following a period of self-reflection, Jenas says he now wants a fresh start personally and career-wise. He revealed his plans during an appearance on The Dressing Room Podcast with fellow ex-players Joe Cole, Carlton Cole and Wayne Bridge.
“You eventually land in a place, where I am now, where I still feel like I’m evolving and growing. But I am happy, yeah,” he said. “When I first went [to myself], ‘Right what do you want to do,’ control was my big thing. No one’s ever gonna control my life again.
“Whether I go back into broadcasting, whether it’s with TNT, or I go somewhere else and get back involved in television, it will all be on my terms as to how much I want to do, when I want to do it.
“And that’s allowed me to start developing my own stuff as well, which is my bag anyway. I’ve filmed five documentaries, I’ve done all these social issues documentaries, I’ve done TV for God knows how long. I’ve gained enough experience to be able to run my own stuff now.”
One of those ventures is a fresh podcast launched alongside heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora, ‘Let Me Tell You Something with Derek and JJ’. Bridge questioned Jenas about his new weekly programme, which debuted at the end of June.
“Honestly, it’s been great,” said the 21-cap former England international. “So I set up my own production company, which I’d been wanting to do for years. Me and Derek have been good mates for about 10 years.
“I know the image I had in the media, which was what was eating me alive a little bit. This pristine, corporate, perfect [person]. You know, family life, wife [and] kids, and it’s not sustainable. So they put you in that box, but I’m like, ‘That’s not me.’ Then you’re on The One Show, and it gets even more.
“So in my mind, I knew I wanted to do a podcast, and I was thinking about it with Derek for ages, because I know two sides to Derek. Derek’s rogue No.1, he is. But he’s also got this other side, where [the] guy likes being at home, loves his kids more than anything, like we all do, loves his missus, and he just knows how to sell fights.”
He elaborated on his new podcast co-host’s readiness to “throw a table at someone’s head” if it means selling a fight – a nod to the infamous 2016 incident when Chisora hurled a table in Dillian Whyte’s direction during a press conference ahead of their fight, which ended in a split decision defeat for Chisora.
Jenas outlined the podcast’s theme, focusing on guests’ “wins, losses and the legacy you leave behind.” To date, only two episodes have been aired, with the first featuring comedian Katherine Ryan as the guest.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk