Ashley Cain admits feelings of guilt at becoming a father again after losing Azaylia

Watch Ashley Cain admits feelings of guilt at becoming a father again after losing Azaylia

What did you miss?

Ashley Cain has confessed he experienced feelings of guilt after learning he is to become a father again.

The former footballer and star of Ex On The Beach lost his daughter Azaylia in 2021 when she was just eight-months-old, after she spent most of her short life battling a rare form of cancer.

Cain is now expecting a baby boy, due in January 2024.

What, how, and why?

The 33-year-old reality star appeared on Good Morning Britain and opened up on his mixed emotions at learning he is to be a father again.

He told Susanna Reid and Ed Balls: “I felt slightly guilty, I felt slightly hurt for Azalyia and I didn't really expect this to be the case.

"But very quickly like I do, I took the responsibility of being a father and I do believe that every child is a blessing."

Cain added: "I think I was meant to be a daddy and I love children.

"I love my family's children but it's hard every time to see them because I always think that's what Azaylia would be doing now."

Cain has revealed his new partner is a friend he has known since he was 18 and they had been seeing one another when she told him in July that she is pregnant.

Their baby is due in January 2024 and they learned at their 20 week scan that he will be a boy.

What happened to Ashley Cain's daughter Azaylia?

Azaylia Diamond Cain was born in August 2020 and in October that year was diagnosed with cancer aged just two months.

She spent much of her life at Birmingham Children's Hospital undergoing chemotherapy and stem cell treatment to extend her life after she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, which is an "aggressive and rare" form of cancer.

She died in April 2021 aged just eight-months-old.

Cain and Azaylia's mother Safiyya Vorajee founded The Azaylia Foundation together to help other families and children in the fight against cancer.

They announced their split in March 2022, saying they had been separated for several months.

Vorajee said: "Nothing could be as bad as losing our daughter was, so although we are no longer a couple, we will always have an unbreakable bond.

"We have a passion and a purpose with the foundation to continue keeping our word and do our daughter proud."

Good Morning Britain airs on ITV from 6am to 9am from Monday to Friday.

Read more: Ashley Cain

• Ashley Cain reveals he is to be a father again (People, 6 min read)

• Who is Ashley Cain? Former footballer dedicating his life to late baby daughter (Evening Standard, 4 min read)

• Ashley Cain shares heartbreaking speech from daughter’s funeral (Evening Standard, 2 min read)