Former football star Jermaine Jenas has told OK! that he plans to 'wind up' pal Michael Owen about the fact his daughter Gemma is currently appearing on dating series Love Island.
The ex-midfielder, 39, who has co-hosted BBC's The One show alongside Alex Jones and Ronan Keating since 2020, admitted that although he'd be hesitant to allow his own daughter to appear on the smash-hit ITV2 dating show, he understands that she show can be used as a career-booster.
"I’m not stupid enough to say, 'I’d be fuming'," he laughs during our interview. "As one thing I’ve learnt growing up in dressing rooms is that if you say, 'I don’t want my daughter to do this,' all that does is push them away.
"I want all my kids to be honest with me. If my daughter came to me and said, 'I want to go on Love Island,' I would probably voice my concerns because of the scrutiny involved.
"But if she thinks she can handle it, I would say, 'Go and enjoy yourself, as long as you know what’s coming'."
Former Tottenham Hotspur player Jermaine – who shares daughters Geneva, nine and Olivia, five, as well as son Jacob, eight, with wife Ellie, and has daughter Sancha, 14, from a previous relationship – praised 19-year-old dressage rider Gemma for her progress in the Love Island villa so far.
Despite this, he admitted he won't be able to resist teasing footie pal Michael Owen, 42, about Gemma's choice to appear on the show.
"From what I’ve seen, Gemma has done well and I think some people on social media have been too harsh.
"She might go on to do great things and this might be her first step towards doing that – and it might not be the ideal step but it might be a step.
"But obviously, when I see Michael there will be a bit of winding up!"
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- Amy Hart reveals what happens when Love Island contestants need to use the toilet
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