Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone is coming to BBC Three

BBC Factual has announced a new six-part series titled Ashley Cain: Into the Danger Zone (working title), produced by True North in collaboration with House of Panthera for BBC Three and iPlayer. The series follows former footballer Ashley Cain as he ventures into some of the world’s most perilous cities to delve into the challenges faced by young men living on society’s fringes.

Ashley Cain shared his motivation for the series: “I have a genuine passion for people and a deep compassion for everyone’s situation. I’m incredibly curious about the human mind and how people behave outside their comfort zones. This series is a deep dive into the minds and lives of young men enduring hardship in adverse environments. My goal is not to judge, but to understand. I will immerse myself as much as possible to truly grasp how they think, feel, and the choices they make to provide, protect, or simply survive. Ultimately, I’ll ask myself… would I do the same in their world?”

Ricky Cooper, BBC Commissioning Editor, praised Ashley’s unique approach: “Ashley connects with young men exceptionally, without agenda or judgment, driven by a genuine desire to understand, no matter how shocking their lives or actions may be, or where they are in the world. These qualities make this series thrilling, and I’m thrilled that Ashley will take the BBC Three audience on this unfiltered journey into some of the world’s most dangerous places for young men.”

In the series, Ashley will meet mercenaries in Marseilles, gang members in Philippine prisons, and poachers in South Africa, seeking to understand what it takes to survive in these environments. Each episode will see Ashley earning the trust of the men he encounters, immersing himself as an impartial observer in their worlds. Inside these circles, he’ll uncover what life is like for men whose moral lines blur in their fight for survival.

Listen to episode one of the Dance Bangers podcast, here.