![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296272434-47d3-e1778253500593.jpg\")
\n\t\tDanny Mays plays black cap rapist John Worboys in ITV\u2019s Believe Me (Picture: ITV\/Ridgway\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDanny Mays plays black cap rapist John Worboys in ITV\u2019s Believe Me (Picture: ITV\/Ridgway\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
On April 21, 2009, John Worboys<\/a> \u2013 also known as the \u2018black cab rapist\u2019 \u2013 was jailed indefinitely with a minimum term of eight years after being found guilty of 19 sex offences against 12 women in London.<\/p>\n Despite police estimating that he preyed on more than 100 victims, in January 2018, a parole board then ruled that the 68-year-old, who changed his name to John Radford, was safe to be freed after serving 10 years.<\/p>\n This Sunday, an ITV<\/a> drama starring Danny Mays<\/a> as Worboys delves into the story of his survivors and how four of his victims came forward to challenge this decision, which was then overturned by the High Court<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking to Metro ahead of the show\u2019s release, Danny explained the immense challenge of portraying one of Britain\u2019s worst ever sexual offenders and how he \u2018underestimated\u2019 the impact it had.<\/p>\n \u2018When I first read the scripts, they absolutely terrified me because I\u2019m a father myself,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018My mind went to my daughter, who\u2019s 13. She\u2019s a teenager now, and she\u2019s venturing out on public transport with her mates, so it was a terrifying read.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018But you have to sort of absorb that and let the writing conjure those emotions up inside of you, and you use that to fuel the fire and to shape the performance.\u2019<\/p>\n The four-part true story centres on the ordeal of Sarah (Slow Horses<\/a>\u2019 Aim\u00e9e-Ffion Edwards) and Laila (Aasiya Shah), who reported sexual assaults by Worboys but were left feeling like they were not believed by police.<\/p>\n A synopsis for the series reads: \u2018Believe Me tells the story of how the victims of one of the most prolific sex attackers in British history were failed by the system.\u2019<\/p>\n Discussing what it was like to play Worboys, who is due for a parole review this year over additional assaults not covered by the drama, Danny described him as being \u2018the worst character he has ever played\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018I did underestimate how much it affected me,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a very difficult headspace to get in. It\u2019s a very uncertain character to play because you\u2019re talking about a hugely manipulative, deranged and dangerous individual who\u2019s one of Britain\u2019s worst ever sexual predators.<\/p>\n \u2018I always throw the kitchen sink at every character I play, but to have this percolating in my head in preparation to then playing him, and the actual filming process, it was a really isolating character to play.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Asked whether this is the most challenging role he has ever played, he adds: \u2018It probably was, yeah\u2026 the task at hand was to somehow humanise him.<\/p>\n \u2018With bad characters I\u2019ve played in the past, you have to find if there is any redeemable quality where I can humanise them? But with him, there are no redeeming qualities and I really struggled.<\/p>\n \u2018What he did to the number of girls that he did it to is just evil\u2026 everything about it was so premeditated.\u2019<\/p>\n As well as exploring the impact and trauma that Worboy\u2019s victims suffered, the series showcases how two of his victims won compensation from the Metropolitan Police under the Human Rights Act in 2018 after their failure to thoroughly investigate the women\u2019s claims.<\/p>\n Astonishingly, some of Worboy\u2019s victims said that the police\u2019s treatment of them had a worse impact than being raped.<\/p>\n \u2018This is predominantly and rightly so told from the victim\u2019s point of view,\u2019 Danny says.<\/p>\n \u2018So, it was all about allowing these women to tell their stories to own their moment and speak their truth.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018But I think this drama could actually save someone\u2019s life. Someone\u2019s going to be watching this who has experienced an attack like this or some form of abuse.<\/p>\n \u2018And I hope that this drama shows that if anyone\u2019s experiencing anything like that, if you speak your truth, if you get to a point where you can find that inner strength and determination to meet that challenge head on, then once you\u2019ve done that, the process of healing can take place.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s only when you confront that demon that the light can be seen, and I think that\u2019s what the drama brilliantly depicts, how they found that inner strength and courage.\u2019<\/p>\n Another crucial figure in the last two episodes of this series is Carrie Symonds<\/a>, who was one of Worboy\u2019s victims and is played by Industry actress Miriam Petche.<\/p>\n The 38-year-old, who is married to Boris Johnson<\/a> and was formerly the Head of Communications for the Conservative Party, commented on the new series by telling the Guardian<\/a>: \u2018I hope Believe Me serves as a wake-up call to the police, the CPS and the Parole Board.<\/p>\n \u2018Far too often, women and girls are failed by the very institutions meant to protect them.<\/p>\n \u2018The treatment of the victims in this case was truly shameful. Reform matters, but what we urgently need above all is a profound shift in culture.\u2019<\/p>\n Believe Me airs on ITV1 on Sunday at 9pm.<\/p>\n Got a story?<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk<\/a> entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff<\/a> page \u2013 we\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296272427-c210.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe 48-year-old actor discussed how much of a challenge it was to portray Worboys (Picture: ITV\/Simon Ridgway\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296272518-951a.jpg\")
\n\t\tDanny told Metro how even reading the scripts \u2018terrified\u2019 him (Picture: ITV\/Simon Ridgway\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296272432-0e39.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe ITV series tells the story of Worboy\u2019s survivors (Picture: ITV\/Simon Ridgway\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
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