Paul Whitehouse, the 68-year-old star of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, was the victim of an attempted mugging while using a cashpoint on Essex Road in Islington. The comedian fought back when criminals tried to rob him, retrieving his card as the perpetrator ran off empty-handed.
Whitehouse had been out collecting medication for his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, who had suffered a bad reaction to some treatment. His wife shared the ordeal on social media, saying she had endured a "horrid start" to the weekend and had kept quiet out of respect for her husband before disclosing the incident with his permission.
Wife's social media account of the incident
Dr Mine, 46, wrote: "Well, a horrid start to the weekend would be an understatement. Yesterday, I had a bad reaction to some treatment, which has left me feeling rather rotten." She explained that Paul dashed out to get her medication, and was mugged at the cashpoint beside the Sainsbury's Local on Essex Road. "He did fight back and retrieved his card, with the perp scuttling away empty-handed. But that's not the point, is it."
She added: "I kept shtum, out of respect, but he just came over, having taken our daughter to football, still frustrated. I asked whether he'd like me to post - he said yes - in the hope that it might help folk to be more aware when out and about. So, please, everyone - I don't mean to patronise, but please be super vigilant out there."
Support from celebrity friends
Since sharing her post, which has been liked over 19,300 times, Paul has been inundated with support. Lorraine Kelly said: "I'm so sorry." Jim Howick commented: "Oh no!! What a horrible thing! Big love." Angela Barnes wrote: "What a horrible thing to happen, sending love to you both." Kimberley Nixon added: "Hope Paul is ok and you're on the mend."
Actor Colin McFarlane, who lives near the scene, said: "Woh. Thanks for posting, as Paul knows I live around the corner and know that cashpoint well. I will spread the word. I've been mugged once, and it's a very scary experience as you're so vulnerable and in that moment you don't know which way it's going to go. Do they have a knife? Am I in danger? So he has my total sympathy and empathy, and I'm just glad he came out of it unscathed…although I'm sure the shock and mental impact will take a little while to subside."
Aftermath and background
Dr Mine replied to one social media user with an update on Paul, saying: "He's just p****d off. Nobody helped. Still, he's okay. We just wanted to make folk aware." She went on to explain that Paul is "considering" reporting the incident to the police.
Whitehouse, who was diagnosed with coronary heart disease and had three heart stents fitted in 2015, rose to fame on sketch show The Fast Show. He now stars in Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing alongside fellow comic and friend Bob Mortimer. Paul and his wife have been together for more than 20 years and married in 2019, but live apart in separate homes close to each other.
