SAS Who Dares Wins star ‘lined up for Strictly Come Dancing after impressing BBC bosses with new show'

Scottish Sun

28-04-2025

A CELEBRITY SAS: Who Dares Wins star could be set to swap his boots for a pair of Strictly Come Dancing ballroom shoes, according to reports.
Ashley Cain, 34, is apparently being eyed up by bosses at the Beeb after the success of his own BBC Three show.
7
Ashley Cain is said to be on the radar of Strictly Come Dancing bosses
Credit: BBC
7
Reports claim Ashley impressed BBC bosses with his show Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone
Credit: BBC
7
The star has previously admitted he would love to take part in Strictly
Credit: PA
Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone saw him venture to various places across the world that are particularly "brutal and intense" for young men to live.
The star, who appeared on SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2022, has now reportedly landed on the radar of Strictly bosses as a result of his appearances on BBC Three.
An insider told The Mirror: "He's a proper character with a very interesting background that looks the part.
"He would be a great addition to the Strictly line up. He's presented a couple of shows and has really impressed."
The insider said Strictly bosses have a list of 30 celebrity names that they would like to see on the show, which they will whittle down to 15.
The Sun has contacted Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
Ashley, a former footballer, found fame in the 2014 series of MTV's Ex On The Beach.
In October 2020, he and his then-partner Safiyya Vorajee captured the hearts of the nation with the plight of their sick baby Azaylia.
Brave Azaylia was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia just months into her life and the couple did everything they could to secure the best treatment possible for her.
The courageous tot was often seen with a smile on her face beside her doting parents before sadly passing away aged just eight months.
My shocking journey inside Europe's most dangerous city where crazed hitman bragged of blowing off HEADS & brazen gang lords run shops with drug menus
Last year, Ashley - who has since had two sons with his new partner - reflected on his time with Azaylia and how he would dance with her in the hospital.
Ashley told The Sun that he would love to pay tribute to his little girl by competing on Strictly Come Dancing.
He told us: "When I had my daughter in hospital, when she was poorly, any time that she used to be feeling poorly or she was going through a chemotherapy, I used to hold her in my arms and I used to dance with her.
"And I'd dance with her for hours and hours and hours and hours. So something like Strictly would relate to me in a sense where I would love to do a Lion King-themed dance.
"I would love to be able to tell my story on such an amazing platform that could reach out to so many incredible people."
Since Azaylia's passing four years ago, Ashley has thrown himself into raising money and awareness for The Azaylia Foundation - which he co-founded with Safiyya and helps support families of children battling cancer.
Strictly Come Dancing 2025: Rumoured celebrities so far
There is still months to go until the launch of Strictly Come Dancing 2025, but these celebrities' names have already been thrown into the mix:
Stacey Solomon has admitted she is "obsessed" with Strictly and would love to take part this year.
A Place In The Sun's Craig Rowe would like to take part in Strictly after getting in shape following a health battle.
Comedian Jon Richardson is believed to be in talks for Strictly after landing a role in BBC show Waterloo Road.
He's taken on record-breaking feats of endurance including kayaking 1,000 miles in the Yukon, Canada, in just 10 days.
He also completed a gruelling 3,000mile, 87-day effort that saw him become the first man to run, cycle and kayak from Land's End to John O'Groats back to back.
Ashley told us that Strictly would give him the chance to again work hard at something but also remember the happy times with a "smile" on his face.
"I would like to represent myself on a show which maybe I could smile and remember the good times and not have to be so serious for once, because that side of me has had to disappear a little bit," he added.
"And I think that side of me is the most beautiful side of me when I'm not having to be hard, I'm not having to be tough, but actually I'm feeling love.
"I've been smiling and I've been dancing because that's all I used to do with my daughter and that's what I do with my family. And that's what means the most to me."
7
Ashley appeared in the 2022 series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
Credit: PA
7
He says he would love to pay tribute to his late daughter Azaylia on Strictly
Credit: BBC
7
Ashley would dance in hospital with his poorly daughter during her treatment
Credit: Instagram