Fast Show and Gone Fishing star Paul Whitehouse, 68, was the victim of an attempted mugging this weekend. According to Whitehouse’s wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, the comedian was out buying her medicine when the incident occurred.
‘Well, a horrid start to the weekend would be an understatement,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘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.’
Whitehouse fought off attacker
According to Dr Conkbayir, Whitehouse managed to fight off his attacker and retrieve his card, leaving the person to ‘scuttle away empty-handed ‘. ‘I kept shtum, out of respect, but he just came over, having taken our daughter to football, still frustrated,’ she continued.
‘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.’
Outpouring of support online
Following Dr Conkbayir’s post there’s been an outpouring of support online from friends and wellwishers. Actor Georgina Hagen commented: ‘This is awful. I’m so sorry to read this. Sending love to you both and thank goodness he’s ok!’
Deborah Frances-White, the host of the Guilty Feminist podcast, added: ‘Oh my god I’m so sorry. Sending you both so much love. Xx’ While ffatsatina said: ‘Oh my well done for fighting back – such a shock to the system. Take care.’
Dr Conkbayir replied to ffatsatina’s comment saying ‘he did indeed take them on’. She also replied to one commenter saying that nobody helped Whitehouse during the attack.
Police report under consideration
She and Whitehouse are considering reporting the incident to the police, however Dr Conkbayir did say to one person in the comments: ‘the police have never helped when it’s happened to me.’
