Peaky Blinders star Paul Anderson can be seen signing merchandise in an Instagram giveaway launched this afternoon, months after friends voiced fears he was on a ‘downwards spiral’.
Donning a signed flat cap and a grey plaid blazer, the Arthur Shelby actor looked the part as he partnered with memorabilia store The Fan Cave to offer fans signed goodies.
It comes after Paul, 46, recently sparked concern from friends after they expressed worries that the troubled star appeared to be on a ‘downward spiral’.
Fans were left worried when the actor took to social media in June and admitted he was ‘struggling’ following concerns his dishevelled appearance.
However, in today’s Instagram video, the actor seemed more upbeat as he looked and sounded more like his well-known character from the wildly popular TV series.
Paul Anderson can be seen signing merchandise in an Instagram giveaway launched this afternoon
The actor introduced himself as Arthur Shelby, before signing off the video with ‘By order of the Peaky Blinders’
Posting the video in collaboration with The Fan Cave, he wrote: ‘Oi, listen up!
‘I’m givin’ one of you a chance to win a signed hat display from me recent private signin’ with @thefancavememorabilia.
‘A lucky one will be chosen at random on the @thefancavememorabilia socials.
‘By order of the Peaky Blinders, good luck!’
Sat with a ‘The Fan Cave’ sign, the actor began the video by introducing himself as ‘Arthur Shelby’ before shouting ‘If you want it, sign up. It’s easy. Sign up now.’
The video threw fans into a frenzy, with users rushing to the comments to rave about the announcement.
One wrote: ‘Arthur never left us, we’ll always love you.’
Another said: ‘By the order of the Peaky Blinders. Nice one.’
One fan said: ‘Absolute legend. There’s only one Arthur Shelby.’
The Peaky Blinders’ hero hellraiser is a much-loved character in the six-part series which follows a notorious gang in 1919 Birmingham, led by his brother Tommy Shelby – played by Cillian Murphy.
But, earlier this year, the 46-year-old actor appeared to be facing a new fight – for his health – which left fans concerned.
The star donned a flatcap, grey blazer and white shirt with multi-coloured buttons
The Peaky Blinders star is best known for his role as hard-living gangster Arthur Shelby Jr in the BBC drama
In a video posted to Instagram in June, he opened up about his struggles.
He said in the thoughtful Instagram clip: ‘Just like you, search inside. Find it for yourself, overcome the struggles, the tribulations, the pain that you are feeling.
‘Because there is no story without struggle. Take it from me. I have struggled and I struggle today, the same way you do.’
Calling on his fans to help each other he continued: ‘And we deal with it. If I can help you deal with your struggles then let’s do this together. Let’s make this the first of many conversations as you can’t do it on your own. You need help.
‘I will say this one more thing to you. You can help others and in turn it will help you. It is called service.
‘So turn around my friend, look for somebody else who is also suffering, and as hard as you may find it, help them. As you will find it helps you more, believe it or not.’
He concluded: ‘Remember this. We are amazing. You are unbelievable.’
Earlier that same week, Paul also shared a candid message as he discussed being ‘insecure’ and not ‘believing’ in himself throughout his successful career.
The popular actor said in the clip: ‘Dissatisfaction with ones talent is the fundamental quality of a true artist. That is a statement from a writer called Chekhov.
‘So if you are having self doubt, well welcome to the club, because I can’t act. And every time I do, I wait for a tap on the shoulder saying, “sorry son, you are in the wrong game, go home.”‘
He continued: ‘Every true artist feels the same, so what that tells me is you know what you are doing. Look it up, Anton Chekhov. I used to remember it word for word because it rang out when I read it, because I too felt like I didn’t know what I was doing.
In a clip posted in June, he said: ‘If I can help you deal with your struggles then let’s do this together. Let’s make this the first of many conversations as you can’t do it on your own. You need help’
‘I struggled with self confidence, and insecurity and self-doubt. Those are the fundamental qualities of every true talent.’
In January it emerged that Paul was arrested after a drinker at his local in Hampstead told the pub’s manager he there was a smell of drug fumes coming from the disabled toilet after the actor walked out on Boxing Day.
He was fined in January for possessing class A crack cocaine, as well as class B amphetamines and two class C prescription substances.
He was fined £1,345 after pleading guilty to all four charges.
Real fears for his health led to speculation that a much-anticipated return to playing Arthur Shelby was under threat.
He looked thin and frail when he was spotted in February, just days after his co-star Cillian Murphy finally confirmed he would be willing to play Tommy Shelby in a Peaky Blinders movie.
Filming began this month – but there is no confirmation that Paul will be there.
The actor’s own rags to riches tale is so extraordinary it could be from the pages of a Hollywood script.
Troubled Paul Anderson also candidly discussed being ‘insecure’ and not ‘believing’ in himself in another video posted in June
The South Londoner, who is nicknamed Boycie like the wheeler dealer friend of Del Boy from Only Fools and Horses, had been making ends meet on the very edge of the law when he got his break around 15 years ago.
After leaving school at 14 Paul wanted to be a lead singer in a band and made money working as a tout, which is illegal in the UK.
But a chance meeting with a film director outside Stamford Bridge where he was selling tickets for Chelsea versus Barcelona led to a big part in cult movie The Firm after the director said he found his touting ‘exotic’ and loved his rasping accent.
Fame and fortune followed, including a decade on Peaky Blinders and parts in Hollywood blockbusters including The Revenant with Leodardo DiCaprio and his close friend Tom Hardy, he he calls his ‘brother’.
Paul lives in a £1.2million property in north London and is believed to be single. He has previously been linked to a jewellery designer Stephy Clark but their relationship status was never made public.
Earlier this year, Paul made a surprise appearance in an epic promo for Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk fight.