Warning: Discussion of sexual assault.
ITV’s gut-punchingly powerful true crime drama Believe Me is set to hit screens and it’s based on the true stories of several incredible women.
The four-part TV series tells the story of how a group of women spoke out against the injustice they faced from the system after reporting being attacked by “one of Britain’s most prolific sex attackers” black cab driver John Worboys.
Sarah and Laila – pseudonyms used to protect the identities of the real-life women – reported their sexual assault by Worboys to the Metropolitan Police but their allegations failed to be properly investigated.
Believe Me forefronts the aftermath of this and the impact it had on the women, alongside how Worboys was eventually linked to further sexual offences “against over a hundred women” and finally convicted – thanks to a group of incredible women’s determination.
And raising awareness of the horrific, but vital, story are a group of talented actors, many of whom you may well recognise.
The full cast of Believe Me:
The full cast of new ITV drama Believe Me is reported as follows:
- Aimée-Ffion Edwards as Sarah
- Aasiya Shah as Laila
- Miriam Petche as Carrie Symonds
- Daniel Mays as John Worboys
- Philippa Dunne as Harriet Wistrich
- Rachel Stirling as Philippa Kaufmann
- Alexa Davies as PC Ellis
- Kae Alexander as Sadie
- Laurie Kynaston as Frankie Peaccock
- Muhannad Ben Amor as Billy Houghton
- Maddie Evans as Lizzie
- Gillian Saker as Karen
- Steven Webb as Mike
- David Ganly as PC Wright
- Hussina Raja as Jade
- Ryan Davies as DC Lewis
- Hannah Dando as Debbie Shaw
- Tom Victor as PC Marriott
- Neelam Bakshi as Huda
- Nick Hyde as Nigel
- Ed Eales-White as DC Coldham
Meet the cast of Believe Me
Aimée-Ffion Edwards as Sarah
ITV
Who is Sarah? Sarah came forward alongside several others to help put John Worboys behind bars, reporting she’d been sexually assaulted by him. The ‘real’ Sarah, whose identity has been protected, said, as per ITV’s release, that what happened to her changed her life but “in many ways the hardest part was not being believed for so many years”. “Without the people who stood by me, Worboys would have been freed and continued to pose a huge risk to women,” she added.
What else has Aimée-Ffion Edwards been in? You’ll best recognise Aimée-Ffion Edwards from Apple TV+ hit series Slow Horses, alongside Peaky Blinders and Keeping Faith.
Aasiya Shah as Laila
ITV
Who is Laila? A woman who also reported being sexually assaulted by John Worboys and fought to have multiple women’s cases heard.
What else has Aaasiya Shah been in? Most recently you’ll have spotted Aasiya Shah in Riz Ahmed’s Bait and you may also recognise her from We Might Regret This alongside Raised by Wolves.
Miriam Petche as Carrie Symonds
ITV
Who is Carrie Symonds? Carrie Symonds is a media consultant and now-wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson who had a narrow escape with Worboys in her youth. At the time Worboys was being considered for parole, Carrie Johnson, nee Symonds, was working in the Conservative Party press team. She said of ITV’s series: “I hope Believe Me serves as a wake-up call to the police, the CPS and the parole board. Far too often, women and girls are failed by the very institutions meant to protect them.”
What else has Miriam Petche been in? Miriam Petche is best known for playing Sweetpea in hit BBC series Industry. She’s also been in The Worst Witch and Vexed.
Daniel Mays as John Worboys
ITV
Who is John Worboys? A British convicted serial sex offender who was a cab driver. He became known as the Black Cab Rapist.
What else has Daniel Mays been in? From playing DCI Chris Hudson in The Thursday Murder Club to Ronald Biggs in Mrs Biggs and William Lewis in A Thousand Blows, you’ll certainly have spotted Daniel Mays on your screen before.
Philippa Dunne as Harriet Wistrich
ITV
Who is Harriet Wistrich? A solicitor who represented Sarah, Laila and another woman when they decided to sue the Metropolitan Police under the Human Rights Act for their failure to properly investigate the sexual assault allegations made against Worboys.
What else has Philippa Dunne been in? Best known for her roles in Bodies and The Nevers, Philippa Dunne is also currently in hit comedy Amandaland.
Rachel Stirling as Philippa Kaufmann
ITV
Who is Philippa Kaufmann? Barrister Philippa Kaufmann was a QC at the time of working to support the women who took a stand against John Worboys. Now a KC, she noted what struck her most about working with the “real Sarah” and “real Laila” was how “damaged they both remained but equally how determined they were to secure accountability from the police” resolving the pair are “remarkable” and she’s “in awe” of them. Reflecting on Believe Me, Kaufmann noted she thought it a “great idea” to dramatise the story in order to “reach people in a way that news reporting never quite manages” and capturing the “emotional truth”.
What else has Rachel Stirling been in? Rachel Stirling as starred in Detectorists, Wild Bill and The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco. You may also recognise her from films such as The Young Victoria and Snow White and the Huntsman.
Believe Me will premiere on ITV1 on 10th May at 9pm. It will also be available to stream on ITVX.
If you’ve been affected by the contents of this article, The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is available 24 hours a day by calling 0808 500 2222 or via live chat www.247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cosmopolitan.com ’
