Former Cambridge 'plagiarism' professor cancels book tour events promoting his memoir - after publisher described it as a story of 'improbable triumphs'

Published: 19:35, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 19:50, 9 August 2026 Jason Arday has cancelled a series of events to promote his memoir following accusations of plagiarism and allegations of making false claims about his life. Two appearances by the former Cambridge professor have been cancelled, after he quit his role and the university launched an investigation last week. The events were to celebrate his book Great and Unfortunate Things, which will be published in the US on Tuesday. One, a 'fireside chat' with the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) on September 2, offered attendees the chance to ask Mr Arday questions about his experiences of and research on racial inequality. The event page now reads: 'This session has been cancelled at the request of the speaker.' An event was also cancelled at Topping and Co, a bookshop in Edinburgh, where Mr Arday was expected to speak about the memoir. An email informing customers of the cancellation on Saturday wrote: 'I am writing to let you know that our event with Jason Arday on the 18th of September will no longer be going ahead. I apologise for any disappointment this may cause.' Cambridge launched an investigation after fellow academics accused Mr Arday of copying others' work and inventing some previous academic posts. Jason Arday (pictured) has cancelled a series of events to promote his memoir following accusations of plagiarism and making false claims about his life  In another development today, an online letter signed by more than 17,000 people in support of Mr Arday was called into question after it accepted fake names. The letter, carried by the Good Law Project, claims there is a 'smear campaign' against the former Cambridge academic and allegations against him of plagiarism are 'entirely false'. Famous names on the letter include Green Party leader Zack Polanski, Labour's former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union. But also included are the names 'FAKER' and 'guilty', as well as those of well-known fantasist fictional characters – 'WalterMitty', 'BillyLiar', 'Baron Munchausen' and 'Pinocchio'. Other names are 'MattHanCOCK', referring to the former Tory health secretary, and 'Jussie Smollett', the US TV star who was convicted of faking a hate crime – although a court later overturned this. One signatory used three clown emojis rather than a name. And another signed as 'WaitMaybeHeISafraud'. It came as the founder of the Good Law Project, barrister Jolyon Maugham, appeared to distance himself from the letter – stating he was 'on holiday' during the furore.  He said that while his organisation had agreed to carry the letter, it hadn't represented him 'in any broader sense than this'. Meanwhile an online letter signed by more than 17,000 people in support of Jason Arday has been called into question after it accepted fake names (pictured) Fake signatories include names of well-known fantasist fictional characters – 'WalterMitty', 'BillyLiar', 'Baron Munchausen' and 'Pinocchio' (pictured) He added that he did not think the 'plagiarism claims are well founded' but said: 'I am sure that many journalists – and friends of mine – are acting in good faith when describing him as a 'fantasist' or words to that effect'. He added: 'For myself, as someone who has spoken at length to Dr Arday, I remain uncomfortable with that description but I do not have the expertise to speculate on what effects his neurodivergence may have had on how he spoke.' The letter has also been criticised for changing its content, with a reference to universities conducting 'thorough investigations' deleted after several hundred people had already signed it. Several high-profile Cambridge figures have also had their names removed from it. Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty said on X: 'The content and names supporting the Jason Arday open letter keep being edited to change the story it's telling. 'Are we sure Jason Arday hasn't written the letter himself?' Mr Arday resigned from his post last week, saying the 'personal cost' of the furore had become 'too great'. Other surprising claims by him in the past have included being unable to write until the age of 18, running 30 marathons in 35 days, and raising £5million for charities. This morning it was revealed Simon & Schuster, which is publishing his memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, removed biographical references about Mr Arday's alleged athletic feats and his fundraising accomplishments from his author's page on its website, long before the story broke. It also emerged two academics who helped appoint Professor Arday have published work attacking 'whiteness' in education. Michalinos Zembylas, professor of educational theory at the Open University of Cyprus, and Professor Anoop Nayak, of Newcastle University, were among four external academics chosen to sit on the nine-member panel that unanimously selected him. The Good Law Project did not respond to requests for comment.