Daniel Mays Sought Therapy to Portray ‘Black Cab Rapist’ John Worboys

Daniel Mays has taken on a challenging role in the new four-part ITV drama Believe Me. He plays John Worboys, the man convicted for sexual assaults in London minicabs.

Case background and series focus

Worboys was convicted in 2009 for attacks on 12 women. He reportedly lured victims by claiming a casino or lottery win. He then spiked their drinks, leaving them unconscious in his cab.

The Jeff Pope-written drama examines how police failures allowed Worboys to continue operating. The series will air on ITV1 and ITVX later this year.

Daniel Mays sought counselling during filming

During production, Daniel Mays sought counselling to help portray John Worboys, often referred to as the “Black Cab Rapist.” He described the work as unsettling, isolating and emotionally taxing.

Production provided an on-set counsellor. Mays said a half-hour debrief in the final week was invaluable to his recovery.

Intimacy coordination and cast safety

The production employed intimacy co-ordinator Sita Thomas to choreograph sensitive scenes. It was Mays’s first experience working with an intimacy professional.

Actresses Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Aasiya Shah and Miriam Petch play victims Sarah, Laila and Carrie. The character Carrie is portrayed as the woman who later becomes the wife of former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Filming the cab scenes

Crew members said the taxi sequences were deliberately claustrophobic. The confined setting aimed to convey how ordinary journeys turned violent.

Those moments were filmed late in the schedule. The team balanced realism with strict safety boundaries for actors.

Creative collaboration and actor background

Mays accepted the role based on his trust in writer-producer Jeff Pope. The pair previously worked together on Mrs Biggs and the Disney+ project Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Mays also appeared as Sergeant Danny Waldron in the third season of Line of Duty. He has more than 26 years of professional acting experience.

If this story raises personal concerns, Victim Support offers free, confidential advice. Contact them on 0808 168 9111 or visit victimsupport.org.uk.

For further coverage, follow Filmogaz.com for updates and analysis on the drama and its production.