BBC star Paul Whitehouse has revealed he was mugged while trying to buy medicine for his sick wife during a late-night trip to a London cashpoint.
The 68-year-old Gone Fishing favourite was targeted on Essex Road in Islington after rushing out to help wife Dr Mine Conkbayir, who had been left feeling "rather rotten" following a reaction to treatment, the Daily Star reports.
Wife shares ordeal on Instagram
Sharing the ordeal on Instagram, Dr Conkbayir said: "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. So last night, Paul dashed out to get me some meds. He was mugged on Essex Road (Islington) at the cashpoint beside the Sainsbury's Local.
"He did fight back and retrieved his card, with the perp scuttling away empty-handed. But that's not the point, is it? 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."
She concluded: "So please, everyone - I don't mean to patronise, but please be super vigilant out there".
Supportive messages and update
Paul received an outpouring of supportive messages, with one person writing: "Oh my, well done for fighting back - such a shock to the system. Take care." Another commented: "Sorry to hear this, that's horrible. Wishing you both all the best". A third wrote: "Hope Paul's okay? Send him my regards and thoughts with you both, hope you're feeling better."
Dr Mine, who tied the knot with Paul in 2019, responded to one commenter with an update on Paul's condition, writing: "He's just p****d off. Nobody helped. Still, he's okay. We just wanted to make folk aware."
She revealed that Paul is "considering" reporting the incident to the police, adding: "It happened to me a couple of years ago. Not one person helped, even when I asked. It wasn't even 10am!"
