Peaky Blinders star makes wild claim about Johnny Dogs “being a ghost the entire time”

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Packy Lee, known for playing Johnny Dogs in Peaky Blinders, has an unusual idea: he believes his character is actually a ghost, similar to the premise of the film The Sixth Sense.

Packy Lee was a regular on the show Peaky Blinders, playing the character Johnny Dogs throughout all six seasons. He’s also in the new movie, The Immortal Man, which you can now watch on Netflix.

Johnny is a Romani relative of the Shelbys and a loyal friend to Tommy, assisting him with illegal activities, including disposing of bodies.

In Season 4, Johnny creates a dangerous rivalry with Aberama Gold, almost costing him his life. However, he lives through the series, setting him up for a part in the new movie. That’s why his recent statement feels a bit odd.

Peaky Blinders star says “there is no Johnny Dogs”

Ever wonder if the character Johnny Dogs in Peaky Blinders was actually a ghost? That’s the intriguing question explored in the Netflix podcast, ‘The Immortal Man’.

— Peaky Blinders (@ThePeakyBlinder) March 23, 2026

While on the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man podcast, Packy Lee jokingly wondered if his character had been dead the entire time, similar to Bruce Willis’s reveal in The Sixth Sense.

Lee wonders if anyone would believe that Johnny Dogs was never real – that he’s been a made-up person all along. “He’s never actually been here,” Lee emphasizes. “There is no Johnny Dogs. Just think about it – how would that change everything? How would that even feel?”

He revises his statement, explaining that they began looking into various possibilities, but then recognized the recurring presence of someone named Johnny Dogs throughout the series.

Throughout the film, we made a conscious effort to honor both the actors who have passed away and those who are no longer part of the series.

Fans aren’t onboard with Packy Lee’s ghostly claim

Actually, it seems less like Lee was making a serious claim and more like he was just exploring a strange idea. Still, Peaky Blinders viewers have been intensely discussing this unlikely statement.

Many people enjoy the idea, even if they doubt it could actually work. As one viewer put it, “That would be awesome, but I don’t think it’s realistic,” while another agreed, saying, “It’s a neat concept, but I’m not sure it’s possible, haha.”

One person suggested it’s a bit of a far-fetched idea, but it could completely change how we see Tommy. They think it’s more about what it represents than being taken at face value.

Some people believe this detail doesn’t apply to the TV series, but could be true for the film adaptation of the story. One person pointed out that Johnny Dogs collected Arthur from prison in Season 2, Episode 6, proving Arthur wasn’t a ghost within the series, though his status in the movie is uncertain.

One viewer jokingly compared the situation to the show Twin Peaks, suggesting it felt like everyone was a part of Lee’s imagination, based on a fan theory.

Want more Peaky Blinders news? Read about the time Cillian Murphy accidentally brought a prop bullet through airport security, why one of the show’s actors faced drug charges and linked it to his role, and the show’s response to a political campaign using footage without permission. Plus, find out what new shows are coming to streaming services this month.

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2026-03-26 20:19