It seems that Peaky Blinders actor Paul Anderson is an absolute menace in real life too after being caught with crack cocaine and other drugs in a pub in Hampstead, north west London.

The actor, who played lovable psycho Arthur Selby, was arrested after the pub landlord smelled fumes coming from a toilet Anderson had used, and called police. Officers found class A drugs – including crack cocaine – and a crack pipe on him. He was blatantly “intoxicated” and tested positive for cocaine and opiates.

The 48-year-old has now pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug and Class B amphetamines, and the whole thing has really screwed up plans for the Peaky Blinders movie which was set to start filming this year. I mean, you can’t make a Peaky Blinders movie without Arthur Shelby, can you? 

An insider said: “It will be so hard to have a Peaky Blinders film without such a pivotal character, while it will be tough having him reprise the role as if nothing has happened. The third option would be to cancel the entire thing.”

Seems a bit extreme. After all, you can easily explain that Paul Anderson is a method actor. Just casually getting back in the spirit of playing Arthur Shelby by getting cracked out at the pub and getting himself arrested. Pretty on-brand if you ask me. In fact I bet he hasn’t even broken character once since the final season ended in 2021. How do you think he plays a drug addict so well?

Jokes aside, let’s hope Paul Anderson can get his act together because he’s way too talented an actor to throw it all away for a crack cocaine pub sesh.

For the new series by Peaky Blinders creator starring Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire, click HERE.