The will not broadcast a second series of Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone after historic social media posts attributed to Ashley Cain were reported to include sexist and misogynistic language. The decision means the newly filmed series, commissioned and shot earlier in 2025, will not reach viewers.
The move matters now because the programme had already been made, but had not yet been given a slot. A spokesperson said the corporation has no plans to broadcast the new series and no future projects with Cain, turning a commissioned documentary into a cancelled one in a matter of days.
Cain’s posts were first reported as comments from his X account that referred to women with abusive and sexualised language. They were said to include terms such as “slags,” “bitches,” “sluts” and “psychos,” along with jokes about hitting women. That sits uneasily beside the public image Cain has promoted elsewhere, including his statement that he believes in respect and that he respects ladies.
The said the posts from many years ago were completely unacceptable. It also said its vetting and social media checks are carried out by the production company, and that the process clearly failed in this case. The broadcaster said it is investigating why and is continuing to strengthen its processes so everyone working for, and on behalf of, the meets its values and standards.
What makes the failure harder to explain is that the warning signs were not hidden in obscure corners of the internet. One report said that in 2014 Cain tweeted that one female user should go and choke on a [expletive] after a since-deleted post he believed was homophobic. Other offensive comments appeared to have been posted while he was watching Love Island. His X account has now been removed, closing off the same public platform where the remarks resurfaced.
Cain has built a television career that moved from Coventry City FC into reality TV, podcasting and documentary work. In Into the Danger Zone, he travels to some of the world’s most dangerous places and interviews young men living on the fringes of society. The first series is still available on iPlayer, but the second now sits in limbo, and the only broadcast decision that matters is already made: the has pulled it.
