Paul Hogan has been spotted puffing on a cigarette on the set of The Very Excellent Mr Dundee in Melbourne, after revealing he regrets starring in advertisements for Winfield cigarettes.
The actor, 78, who introduced Australians to the Winfield brand in a wildly successful television advertising campaign in the 1970s, was spotted seemingly picking up the habit once again.
The comedy legend openly puffed away as he took a short break from filming the new Crocodile Dundee movie in the Victoria capital last week.
Back on the ciggies? Paul Hogan (pictured) is caught smoking on set of the new Crocodile Dundee movie in Melbourne after revealing he regrets starring in the iconic Winfield adverts in the ’70s
Clad in a plaid shirt, black puffer jacket and pair of blue-wash jeans, Paul displayed a downcast expression as he smoked the cigarette.
Moments earlier, Paul, who earned his first big television cheque more than a decade before he made Crocodile Dundee by promoting Winfield, was seen emerging from his movie trailer with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
As soon as the Australian star reached the bottom of the staircase, he was spotted lighting up the smoke.
Back in the day: In the 1970s Paul was the face of Winfield cigarettes
Caught out: Moments earlier, Paul (pictured) was seen emerging from his movie trailer with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth
Lighting up: The Crocodile Dundee star (pictured) was seen shielding the cigarette from the elements with his cupped hand as he lit the smoke with a blue handheld lighter
The Crocodile Dundee star was seen shielding the cigarette from the elements with his cupped hand as he lit the smoke with a blue handheld lighter.
Seconds later, smoke was seen billowing out of the cigarette which sat between Paul’s index and middle fingers.
Elsewhere, Paul was seen clenching the filter tip with his lips as he readjusted his brown leather belt.
Smoko break: Elsewhere, Paul (pictured) was seen clenching the filter tip with his lips as he readjusted his brown leather belt
Changed your mind? Paul swapped his trademark ‘Anyhow, have a Winfield’ slogan for ‘Let’s Cure Cancer, Australia’ in later years
The sighting comes after Paul asked his fellow countrymen to donate money for cancer research earlier this year.
Paul’s old trademark, ‘Anyhow, have a Winfield’ slogan used to flog cancer-causing tobacco products has been replaced with ‘Let’s Cure Cancer, Australia’.
In January it was reported Paul was helping push cancer research for Cure Cancer Australia in advertisements that reference his famous ‘shrimp on the barbie’ tourism campaign.
Cigarette break: Clad in a plaid shirt, black puffer jacket and pair of blue-wash jeans, Paul (pictured) displayed a downcast expression during his cigarette break
New film: Paul Hogan on set of The Very Excellent Mr Dundee in Melbourne last Friday
On set: Paul donned a black puffer jacket and a pair of blue wash jeans on set of his new Crocodile Dundee flick
Noble move: In January it was reported Paul (pictured) was helping push cancer research for Cure Cancer Australia in advertisements that nod to his famous ‘shrimp on the barbie’ tourism campaign
‘I was a drug dealer’: In a 2013 interview with news.com.au, Paul expressed his regrets about taking part in the campaign
Winfield became Australia’s top-selling cigarette brand when it moved from packs of 20s to 25s and continued to be heavily promoted on television and in print by Paul.
Cigarette advertising in Australia was banned on radio and television in 1976 and in print media in 1989.
After promoting cigarettes, Paul starred in 1980s television commercials for the Australian Tourism Commission, inviting Americans to visit his homeland with the line ‘Come on. Come and say g’day. I’ll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for ya’.
Paul Hogan’s 1970s television commercials for Winfield cigarettes were hugely successful
Paul previously expressed his regret over advertising cigarettes, which helped him quit his job working as a rigger on the Habour Bridge, in an interview with news.com.au in 2013.
‘Yeah, we were encouraging people to smoke,’ Hogan said then.
‘At the time, 1971 or something, they used to say: ‘Doctors recommend…’ or ‘Nine out of 10 smokers prefer…’
‘We were all being conned. When they put the medical warning in there I said, ‘I’m going to get out of this.’
‘Young ones were taking up smoking and all going for Winfield. It was a staggering success but I was a drug dealer. But who knew then?’
Before he was Crocodile Dundee, Paul Hogan helped launch Winfield cigarettes in Australia