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The University of Cambridge is launching a formal investigation into Professor Arday over claims he copied a colleague's work and lied about his past.

Critics have accused the 41-year-old of copying significant chunks of his PhD thesis from earlier research published by another student, leading him last week to admit to a series of errors in his work.

But he has insisted he is not a 'liar and fantasist' after doubts were raised about his seemingly sensational list of personal achievements, which included running 600 miles in six days and raising millions of pounds for charity.

Prof Jason Arday became a poster boy for diversity as the university's youngest ever black professor, but is now facing questions about both his academic record and a series of dazzling anecdotes from his past.

In a statement, the university said it had 'begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments'.

'In order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded,' it added.

'Separately, there remains a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct, which are being handled in line with our Misconduct in Research policy. This is consistent with our previous statement on the matter.'

Claims about the provenance of his PhD paper were followed by doubts about his claim to have run 600 miles in six days, and personally raised millions of pounds for charity.

The University of Cambridge is launching a formal investigation into Professor Arday over claims he copied a colleague's work and lied about his past

Jason Arday became a poster boy for diversity as the university's youngest black professor, but is now facing questions about his academic record and bizarre claims

His boast that he appeared in the TV series Seven Up was also questioned, given it was first broadcast two decades before his birth in 1985.

And it was today reported that the professor falsely claimed to have written a book entitled Being Young, Black and Male: Challenging the Dominant Discourse.

It was confirmed the supposed book never hit the shelves and was abandoned by Palgrave Macmillan several years ago.

The publishers accepted his proposal for the book, but it was never made public. Palgrave Macmillan failed to say why.

Cambridge University has been standing stoically behind its flagship professor, previously arguing he is the victim of a 'vile campaign to undermine his credibility', but today appeared to change tack.

The university added: 'While we are fully aware of the public commentary and concerns around this matter, it remains vital that any process is thorough and adheres to both University policies and employment law.

'We also fully recognise that there is a person at the centre of this situation, and we continue to provide support to him.

'We are aware that Jesus College, Cambridge, will be taking their own steps in relation to some of these matters.'

Support among university staff seemed to be waning after the name of Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, the president of Wolfson College, Cambridge, disappeared from an open letter supporting him.

The letter, started by Left-wing campaign group Good Law Project, accused 'Right-wing newspapers' of trying to 'smear' Prof Arday with 'fake accusations of plagiarism'.

Dame Ijeoma had previously been the second-named signatory on the letter, but her name is no longer visible on the open letter's web page.

She was one of three Cambridge college principals whose name appeared on the letter, which begins: 'We, the undersigned, are appalled by the sustained and malicious attacks on the academic integrity of Professor Jason Arday.'

Another of the signatories was Lord Woolley, who had listed his job title as principal of Homerton College. But although his name remains on the open letter, his academic role has been removed.

Multiple other universities have distanced themselves from Prof Arday after he claimed to have held academic positions there, including Ohio State University, Durham University and the University of Glasgow.

The Department for Education said that the new Secretary of State, Lucy Powell, would not be intervening in the row.

But Ms Powell was left red-faced after it emerged that her own adviser handed Mr Arday a role at her charity last year.

Special adviser Sarah Waite, appointed this week, said she was 'thrilled' to welcome him as a Patron of Get Further, a charity that gives extra tuition to disadvantaged pupils.

In a statement on their website, Ms Waite added: 'We are delighted to have such an inspiring advocate join us in this important work.'

She founded the charity in 2018, after a period working in the Department for Education's social mobility team, before returning as a special adviser two days ago.

The Labour Party became further entangled in the row today after it was revealed that Mr Arday stood as a candidate for the party in Croydon. He won 953 votes in the Purley and Woodcote ward of the council in 2018, losing to the Conservatives.