British comedian, Paul Whitehouse has reportedly fought off a mugger who attempted to steal his bank card while he was buying medication for his wife in north London.
The 68-year-old star of the BBC series Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing was targeted at a cashpoint on Essex Road in Islington on Friday, October 16, according to his wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir.
Whitehouse had reportedly gone out to buy medicine for Conkbayir after she experienced an adverse reaction to a medical treatment. During the errand, a suspected mugger allegedly snatched his bank card.
However, the comedian fought back and managed to retrieve the card, forcing the alleged attacker to flee without taking anything.
Conkbayir later shared details of the incident on Instagram, describing it as a frightening experience and urging the public to remain alert when using cashpoints and walking in public areas.
“Well, a horrid start to the weekend, would be an understatement,” she wrote.
Explaining what happened, she said her husband had gone out to get her medication when he was targeted at the cashpoint beside a 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,” she added.
Conkbayir said she decided to make the incident public after discussing it with Whitehouse, hoping that sharing the experience would encourage people to be more vigilant.
“So, please, everyone, I don’t mean to patronise, but please be super vigilant out there,” she warned.
Whitehouse, known for The Fast Show and his fishing series with fellow comedian Bob Mortimer, received messages of support from fans and fellow entertainers following the disclosure.
