Ashley Cain 'being eyed up for Strictly Come Dancing' after 'impressing' BBC bosses with presenting work

Daily Mail​

27-04-2025

Ashley Cain is reportedly being eyed up for Strictly Come Dancing after 'impressing' BBC bosses with his TV work.
The former Ex On The Beach star, 34, is said to have made it to the initial list of names that producers have in mind for the next series of the show.
A source 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.'
According to the publication, an insider revealed that bosses work from a list of roughly 30 names before whittling it down to the final 15 to take part.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
Ashley, who rose to fame on the dating show in 2014, has recently branched out into presenting with his show Ashley Cain: Into The Danger Zone having aired this month.
In the show, he visits some of the world's most dangerous places to deep-dive into issues that affect young men born into a life where criminality has become a form of survival.
After an insider secures him an intro, he'll use his curiosity, physicality and sheer force of personality to earn peoples' trust and infiltrate an infamous underworld.
In each episode Ashley explores the reasons why young men in each location have chosen a life of extreme criminality.
He is pushed to his physical and emotional limits, form personal bonds with complex men, and explore extreme male cultures he never knew existed.
The star has previously said he would love to take part in Strictly as a tribute to his late daughter Azaylia.
The reality star and his now ex-partner Safiyya Vorajee were left devastated after their little girl lost her battle against leukaemia in April 2021 at just eight months old.
Former footballer Ashley and Safiyya raised more than £1.5million to fund Azaylia's specialist treatment before her death.
After she passed, they put the unspent money into The Azaylia Foundation which aims to support families and provide memorable experiences for children fighting cancer.
In an interview with The Sun in July 2024, Ashley said: '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.'
Ashley and Safiyya separated after the death of their daughter, with Ashley going on to become the father of two sons with two other women.
He welcomed son Aliyas, one, with a new partner and mystery woman in January last year who he later split from and has a five-month old son Atlas too.
Though Ashley hasn't disclosed the identity of Atlas's mother, he has confirmed that they are no longer in a relationship, and have been friends since they were 18 years old.
It comes just after Ashley shared a heartfelt tribute to Azaylia as her 'crown' headstone was placed on her grave, four years after her tragic death.
On Wednesday, the grieving parents unveiled the special headstone that had made for Azaylia, which they have named as her 'crown'.
Sharing a photo of Azaylia in the hospital and her heart-shaped headstone at her gravesite, he penned a touching message praising her 'strength and courage'
And commemorating the moment, Ashley took to his Instagram to pay tribute to his little girl, as he admitted that he felt 'an overwhelming sense of pride', alongside 'the numbing guilt and the devastating pain'.
Sharing a photo of Azaylia in the hospital and her heart-shaped headstone at her gravesite, he penned a touching message praising her 'strength and courage'.
He wrote: 'For 4 years, I've lived in fear of this very moment. As a parent, you never, ever want to reach the day where this becomes the final thing you can do for your child.
'But today, on Azaylia's 4th anniversary, through the numbing guilt and the devastating pain… I feel an overwhelming sense of pride.
'Pride that one of Earth's most beautiful little princesses, and one of Heaven's most beloved angels, now has a special crown worthy enough to hold her story.'
Addressing Azaylia directly, Ashley admitted he had struggled to find the words to express how much he loved her ever since her passing.
He gushed: 'These words have taken 4 years to write - and even now, they will never be enough to say who you are, or what you've done for me as your father.
'They'll never come close to expressing the enormity of your strength, your courage, your beauty, and your purity. Or the profound impact you've had on this world and its people.
'But I hope, as your daddy, they show just how much I love you. And I know your mummy and all of our family will feel the exactly same.'
Concluding the heartbreaking post, he added: 'I miss you with a pain that never fades, and I love you with a strength that will never end. Forever, with every piece of me - Daddy.'
The beautiful 'crown' headstone was emblazoned with a photo of Azaylia and read: 'Earth 10.08.2020 Heaven 24.04.2021. Our precious daughter Azaylia Diamond Cain.
'Azaylia, our brave and beautiful little warrior. You were more than we ever dreamed. Our miracle, our heart, our hero.
'Your love so pure, your spirit unbreakable, and your light endless. You faced every challenge with courage, lighting up the world with your smile.
'We are so proud of you, Azaylia, and always will be. You taught us to live, to fight, and to love without limits.
'We long for you more than words can express, But your legacy lives on, inspiring and saving lives. Keep shining, our guiding light. LET'S GO CHAMP'.
'Forever and Always, with all our love, Mummy, Daddy & Your Loving Family'.
Safiyya also shared a tribute, explaining: 'I call it her crown instead of a headstone, just like I call it her garden ✨using softer words brings a little peace to something so heavy. It helps me honour her in a way that feels gentle, beautiful, and true to who she is'
She shared a heartbreaking video of her singing When You Believe by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to Azaylia the day before she died.
While she also posted a photo of her family gathered at Azaylia's garden, admitting it had been 'a day with a sad heart and many tears but also a memory filled with happy moments'.
She added: 'You are my magical guardian angel. I love you forever and always mummy'.
If you are struggling with the loss of a child please contact Sands on 0808 164 3332 or [e-mail]