Key facts
- The BBC has canceled a documentary series with presenter Ashley Cain due to his history of abusive and misogynistic comments.
- The broadcaster acknowledged its vetting process failed in hiring Cain.
- Cain's past comments on X included derogatory terms for women and jokes about non-consensual sexual acts.
- The BBC stated it has no future projects planned with Ashley Cain.
- The decision follows revelations of alleged misconduct during the filming of another BBC production.
The BBC has canceled a documentary series featuring presenter Ashley Cain after his history of abusive and misogynistic comments about women became public. The broadcaster admitted that its vetting process had "clearly failed" in this instance and stated it has "no plans" for future projects with Cain.
Revelations about Cain's past remarks on X, formerly Twitter, included derogatory terms for women and jokes that blurred the lines of consent. The comments were publicly available until this week. The BBC stated that while the posts were from many years ago, they were "completely unacceptable" and that an investigation is underway to understand why the vetting process failed.
Cain, a former footballer turned reality TV star, was being developed by BBC executives as on-screen talent to engage younger male audiences. His series, 'Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone,' featured him traveling to dangerous places and interviewing young men. The decision to cancel the new series comes after the Guardian reported that the BBC commissioned a second season despite being previously informed of an alleged misconduct incident on a separate BBC production, 'Sin City: The Real Las Vegas,' where Cain reportedly appeared drunk during filming.
This situation places renewed focus on the BBC's vetting policies, particularly in light of previous scandals involving BBC talent. The broadcaster is also undergoing significant cost-saving measures, with the director general recently announcing substantial job cuts.