Peaky Blinders Actor Paul Anderson AKA Arthur Shelby Has Been Charged With Possession Of Crack Cocaine

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.