A BBC presenter lauded for connecting with young men has been accused of calling women “slags”, “sluts” and “bitches” in historic social media posts. Ashley Cain, who presents the BBC Three series *Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone*, is at the centre of a controversy that raises questions about how the corporation vets on-screen talent.
Ashley Cain, 35, is a former Coventry City FC footballer who moved into reality TV, appearing on *Ex on the Beach* and MTV’s *The Challenge*. He now hosts a BBC Three documentary series in which he travels to dangerous places to interview young men on the fringes of society. The BBC commissioned a second series, filmed earlier this year, though it has not yet been scheduled.
“Explains the Ashley Cain misogyny allegations and what they mean for BBC vetting.”
The Guardian reported that Cain’s X (formerly Twitter) account, which has now been removed, contained numerous posts where he referred to women using abusive terms. In 2014, in response to a tweet he perceived as homophobic, he told a female user to “go and choke on a cock you slut”. In a 2015 post to another woman, he wrote: “The only thing that’s desperate around here is your pictures with your shit tits. Now suck a dick, and fuck off.” He also used the words “psychos”, “bitches” and made jokes about hitting women. Cain did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The BBC said: “We are very clear we expect the highest standards of behaviour from everyone who works with or for the BBC. When allegations are brought to our attention we take them seriously. We will consider this information carefully and do not intend to comment further at this stage.” A source told the BBC that the corporation as a whole was unaware of the posts. The BBC has now asked the independent production companies it worked with that engaged Cain to fully review the social media checks undertaken at the time.
BBC executives had previously praised Cain’s “exceptional” ability to connect with young men, describing him as “what BBC Three is about”. The revelations come as the new director general, Matt Brittin, faces his first big test after a string of scandals related to misconduct by BBC presenters.
For UK readers, this case matters because it highlights the gap between the public image of a presenter and their past behaviour online. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of social media vetting for those who work with the BBC, which is funded by the licence fee and expected to uphold high standards.
Q: What did Ashley Cain say in his tweets? According to the Guardian, Cain called women “slags”, “sluts”, “bitches” and “psychos”, and made jokes about hitting women. He also sent explicit, misogynistic messages to female users, including telling one to “go and choke on a cock you slut”.
Q: Why didn’t the BBC know about the tweets before hiring him? The BBC has said it was unaware of the posts. It has now asked the independent production companies it worked with to review the social media checks that were conducted at the time of Cain’s appointment.
Q: What could happen to Ashley Cain’s BBC show? The second series of *Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone* has been filmed but not yet scheduled. The BBC is considering the allegations and said it will not comment further at this stage. It is unclear if the series will be broadcast.
What happens next depends on the BBC’s internal review. The corporation has not set a deadline for its decision. Cain’s X account has been removed, and the BBC has asked production companies to re-examine their social media checks. The outcome could set a precedent for how the BBC handles historic social media misconduct by its presenters.