Paul Whitehouse fought off card thief in Islington, says his wife

By Javier Morales.

A Rough Errand on Essex Road

Comedian Paul Whitehouse was forced to fight off a mugger who tried to steal his bank card at an Islington cashpoint, according to his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir. The incident occurred behind the Sainsbury’s Local on Essex Road in north London, as Dr Conkbayir shared on Instagram. Whitehouse had stepped out to pick up medication after his wife suffered a bad reaction to a medical treatment. Despite being targeted during the nighttime errand, the 68-year-old actor managed to retrieve his card and send the perpetrator fleeing empty-handed.

Dr Conkbayir shared the unsettling news with her social media followers to warn others about street safety. Well, a horrid start to the weekend, would be an understatement, she wrote on Instagram, detailing how her husband dashed out to pharmacies while she felt unwell.

He was mugged on Essex Road (Islington) – at the cashpoint behind 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.

Dr Mine Conkbayir via Instagram

The sudden confrontation left the comedy star still frustrated. Dr Conkbayir noted that after running the errand, Whitehouse took their daughter to football practice and returned still fuming over the ordeal. I kept shtum, out of respect, but he just came over, having taken our daughter to our football, still frustrated, she explained, adding that she posted the warning online at his request so other residents would remain on guard.

Entertainers Offer Support After Mugging

Fellow entertainers quickly rallied around the couple in the comments of the social media post. Actor Colin McFarlane chimed in to say he lives around the corner from the exact cashpoint and revealed he too had survived a mugging years prior, noting that victims often face terrifying uncertainty over whether an assailant carries a weapon. Inside No 9 star Reece Shearsmith and Ghosts actor Jim Howick also offered messages of support, while the Irish Mirror reported that Dr Conkbayir told commenters her husband was pd off and that nobody stepped in to help.

The street crime incident arrives amid wider debates concerning London street safety. London Mayor Sadiq Khan addressed public anxiety earlier this year by highlighting recent police investments aimed at driving down personal robberies and phone snatches, claiming these efforts have helped reduce personal theft statistics. Yet for households running everyday errands in Islington, the sudden reality of cashpoint confrontations remains a hazard.

Whitehouse Joins Harry Potter Cast

Known nationwide for his iconic sketch work on The Fast Show and his gentle angling travels alongside Bob Mortimer on Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, the veteran comedian was recently announced to play the caretaker Argus Filch in the upcoming Harry Potter television series.

Off-screen, Whitehouse shares a long-standing partnership with Dr Conkbayir, whom he married in 2019 after dating since 2004. The couple frequently collaborate, including co-hosting the podcast I’m ADHD! No You’re Not following Dr Conkbayir’s adult diagnosis of the condition. While the weekend started with an unwelcome clash on a busy north London street, Whitehouse walked away physically unharmed.