Jason Arday, who resigned as a Cambridge professor amid allegations of plagiarism and questions over his achievements, has cancelled a scheduled talk in London and appears to have withdrawn from at least two other public appearances. The move follows mounting scrutiny of his academic record and personal claims, and comes as the University of Cambridge launches a formal investigation into his qualifications and honorary appointments.

Arday's "fireside chat" at the Royal Geographical Society's conference on 2 September was cancelled at his own request, while listings for events at an Edinburgh bookshop on 18 September and an Arizona luncheon on 24 October have also disappeared, though he remains listed for a Stroud Book Festival appearance in November. He has admitted errors in his early academic work but denies being a "liar", and questions have separately been raised about parts of his life story, including a claimed 600-mile charity run and a reported £5.5m fundraising total. His memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, is still due for release in the US on Tuesday and in the UK on 27 August, despite the controversy.