Fiona Allen, the actor and comedian best known for co-writing and starring in the Emmy-winning sketch show Smack the Pony, has revealed a harrowing encounter with convicted rapist John Worboys. In a candid interview, the 61-year-old, who is set to perform her new show White Lies at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, described her lucky escape from a black cab ride with Worboys, who was later jailed for sexual offences.
Near-Death Experience with John Worboys
Allen recounted the incident, which occurred when she was living in Chiswick and returning from Soho. She said: “I think I had a close shave with the taxi driver John Worboys. I was in Soho and going back to Chiswick where I lived, and I got a black cab. This guy wouldn’t stop talking and he offered me champagne, and I said: ‘I don’t like champagne.’ It went a bit quiet and I thought I’d offended him. Then I remember going: ‘Hang on a minute, you shouldn’t be drinking champagne if you’re driving.’ And he said: ‘I’ve just won the lottery and I’m finished after this.’ I had a lucky escape.”
Worboys, a former black cab driver, was convicted in 2009 of drugging and sexually assaulting women, with police estimating he may have attacked over 100 victims. Allen’s account adds a personal dimension to the case, highlighting the dangers faced by passengers.
Career Highlights and New Show
Allen’s career spans decades, from her early days at drama school in Salford to her breakout role in Smack the Pony, which ran from 1999 and earned an Emmy and a Bafta nomination. She has appeared in TV shows such as Shameless, Skins, Waterloo Road, and EastEnders, and films including 24 Hour Party People, Fat Slags, Gladiatress, and Finding Emily. In 2023, she took her one-woman show On the Run to the Edinburgh Fringe and later toured the UK. This year, she returns with White Lies, running from 5 to 29 August at the Gilded Balloon Teviot.
Reflecting on her career, Allen shared a story about her second agent, who made a cutting remark: “The thing is, you look like something but then you open your mouth.” Allen’s response was decisive: “So I got myself a sketch show and left, and she lost out.”
Personal Insights and Quirks
In the interview, Allen revealed her greatest fear is “my kids navigating the world as it is today – and daddy longlegs.” Her earliest memory dates back to nursery, where she was around three years old, playing with trikes and a boy who went down a slide headfirst, which she thought made him a hero. She also described her most treasured possessions: “A little dibber from my dad that was from his grandad, a jewellery box from my mum, and my olive trees.”
Allen described herself as “passionate, gobby, flabby,” and admitted her most unappealing habit is being an “excitable puppy” who butts in during conversations. She also expressed dislike for her resting face, saying people often tell her not to worry, but she is actually happy. Her dream last night was vivid: “I was Boudicca driving a chariot into Waitrose car park.”
Family and Future Plans
Married with three children, Allen lives in Berkshire. When asked who she would most like to be, she chose her cockapoo, Herbert, who has “a great, carefree life and tremendous eyelashes.” Her greatest love, she said, is “my dog – sorry, my family.” She also shared her most expensive purchase, a sports car bought in her 20s to cheer herself up after a breakup, which worked when she saw her ex do a double take.
Allen’s greatest achievement, she said, is “growing three brains,” and she hopes to be remembered as “surprisingly good at the harpsichord.” Her new show, White Lies, is expected to draw on her sharp wit and personal experiences, offering audiences a mix of comedy and insight.
