Minder is a British
comedy-dramaComedy-drama, also called dramedy or seriocomedy, is a style of television, theatre and film in which there is an equal or nearly equal balance of humor and serious content.-Theatre:...
about the
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
criminal underworldOrganized crime or criminal organizations can be defined as a transnational grouping of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for the purpose of generating a monetary profit...
. Initially produced by
Verity LambertVerity Ann Lambert, OBE was an English television and film producer. She is best known as the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who, a programme which has become a part of British popular culture, and her association with Thames Television...
, it was made by
Euston FilmsEuston Films was a British film and television production company. It was a subsidiary company of Thames Television, and operated from the 1970s to the 1990s, producing various series for Thames, which were screened nationally on the ITV network...
, a subsidiary of
Thames TelevisionThames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992. It was both a broadcaster and a producer of television programmes, making shows both for the local region it covered...
and shown on
ITVITV is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK...
. The show ran for ten series from 29 October 1979 to 10 March 1994, and starred
Dennis WatermanDennis Waterman is an English actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series such as The Sweeney and Minder...
as Terry McCann, an honest and likable bodyguard (
minder in
London slangLondon slang is a mixture of words and phrases from around the globe. It reflects the diverse ethnic and cultural makeup of the city's population. Because London occupies such a dominant economic position in the United Kingdom, slang originally unique to the city has spread across the UK....
), and George Cole as Arthur Daley, a well-dressed but unscrupulous importer-exporter, wholesaler, used-car salesman, and anything else from which there was money to be made whether inside the law or not. The show was largely responsible for putting the word minder, meaning personal bodyguard, into the UK and Australian popular lexicon. The characters often drank at the local members-only Winchester Club, where owner and barman Dave (
Glynn EdwardsGlynn Edwards is a British actor.Edwards was born in Malaya and trained as an actor at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He is probably best known for his role as Dave the barman and owner of the Winchester Club in the TV show Minder...
) acted often unwillingly as a message machine for Arthur, and turned a blind eye to his shady deals. The series was notable for using a range of leading British actors, as well as many up-and-coming performers before they hit the big time.
In 2008 it was announced that
Minder would go back into production for broadcast in 2009, although none of the original cast will appear in the new episodes. However, the new series shows some continuity with the old by recreating some of the more iconic images, such as when the main characters shake hands across the front of a car. The new show focuses on Arthur's nephew, Archie, played by
Shane RichieShane Richie is an English actor, comedian, singer and media personality, known for his portrayal of the character Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
. The series returned on 4 February 2009.
Paul BrookePaul Brooke is an English actor of film, television, and radio. He is the father of actor Tom Brooke.He and Ernie Fosselius played Malakili the Rancor Keeper in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He played British Conservative politician Ian Gow in the 2004 BBC series The Alan Clark Diaries...
who will play Archie's solicitor in the new series previously appeared as "Hamster" in the classic series episode
High Drains Pilferer.
Background
Minder was devised for Dennis Waterman after his success in
The SweeneyThe Sweeney is a British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, an elite branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London...
, though the emphasis focused more on George Cole as the wheeler-dealer. The show had a lukewarm start, not helped by being delayed by a nine-week technicians' strike which blacked out the ITV network. In the light of poor figures the show faced the axe but a plea by Thames' managing director
Bryan CowgillBryan Cowgill was a senior British television executive. He was Head of Sport for BBC Television from 1963-1973, Controller of BBC One from 1973-1977, and Managing Director of Thames TV from 1977-1985.-Early life:...
to other board members saved the show. By series three the show had become a hit and the jewel in ITV's comedy/drama crown.
Terry is a former professional
boxerBoxing is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. There are three ways to win...
who has served time in
prisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Other terms are penitentiary, correctional facility, and jail , although in the United States "jail" and "prison" refer to different subtypes of correctional facility...
(
Wormwood ScrubsHM Prison Wormwood Scrubs is a Category B men's prison, located in the Wormwood Scrubs area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, in inner-West London, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service....
) ("two years for
GBHGrievous bodily harm is a term of art used in English criminal law which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861...
and three for attempted armed robbery" according to a police sergeant in the first episode, "Gunfight at the OK Laundrette"), having served a substantial term because he would not
grassAn informant is someone who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency, usually law enforcement, without the consent of that person or organization....
up his co-accused. With few options, Terry is employed as Arthur's minder on vague and ungenerous terms. He drives a white
Ford CapriFord Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three separate automobile models:* The Ford Consul Capri coupé, produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964* The Ford Capri coupé, produced by Ford Europe from 1969 to 1986...
that, the opening title shots suggest, he purchased from Arthur on leaving prison, which is how the two met (he drives a copper coloured Capri in some mid-run episodes). Terry enjoys a drink but usually responsibly, and has an eye for the ladies. Despite his incarceration, he is honest, trustworthy and loyal, particularly to Arthur – although the scrapes that Arthur lands him in make him wonder why.
Arthur is a mid-level professional criminal of mature years, a minor
con manA confidence trick or confidence game is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence...
eternally in dodgy dealings, usually seen puffing expensive cigars. He typically drives a
JaguarJaguar Cars Ltd., better known simply as Jaguar is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Coventry, England. It has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors Ltd...
(first a silver Jaguar XJ6 Series 2, then a pale primrose
DaimlerThe Daimler Motor Company was a British motor vehicle manufacturing company, founded in 1896, and based in Coventry. The company became a subsidiary of BSA in 1910, and was acquired by Jaguar Cars in 1960....
Sovereign Series 3) and survives by his wiles and self-belief. He exploits everyone, especially Terry. He is always trying to make a quick quid and often bites off more than he can chew, leaving Terry to sort out the mess. Arthur thinks of himself as a
ThatcheriteThatcherism describes the ideology, political style and policies of the British Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher, who was leader of her party from 1975 to 1990...
"
entrepreneurAn entrepreneur is a person who has possession of an enterprise, or venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. It is an ambitious leader who combines land, labor, and capital to often create and market new goods or services. ... The term is a loanword...
", but his tailored three-piece suits, cashmere coat and Jaguar do not disguise his
working classWorking class is a term used in academic sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe, depending on context and speaker, those employed in lower tier jobs as measured by skill, education, and compensation....
accentIn linguistics, an accent is a manner of pronunciation of a language. Accents can be confused with dialects which are varieties of language differing in vocabulary, syntax, and morphology, as well as pronunciation...
and origins. Arthur tests Terry's patience with dishonest and doomed schemes to make money ("nice little earners"), then uses his cunning to persuade Terry to stay with him. In the same way, Arthur manipulates friends such as
DaveGlynn Edwards is a British actor.Edwards was born in Malaya and trained as an actor at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He is probably best known for his role as Dave the barman and owner of the Winchester Club in the TV show Minder...
of Arthur's haunt, the private if
downmarketDownmarket products are consumer goods that are mainly sold to low-income people.Some downmarket newspapers, such as The Sun, are tabloids....
, "Winchester
ClubA club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
"). Arthur refers to his wife, who
never appearedUnseen characters are never directly observed by the audience but are only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in frequent interaction with the...
, as "'er indoors"; the implication that she is a fierce and formidable woman is reinforced by the appearance of actress
Claire DavenportClaire Davenport was an English actress.She was born Claire Bernice Davenport on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire and entered the industry in 1964....
(famous for such roles) as her sister. Arthur is not above bending the law and sometimes attracts the keen attention of the local police. Despite being the one who has served time, it is Terry who serves as the show’s moral conscience, keeping Arthur from straying too far outside the law and persuading him to do the right thing whether Arthur likes it or not. The name Arthur Daley has become synonymous with a dishonest salesman or small time crook.
With Arthur's dodgy schemes, the duo encounter undesirable underworld figures, many of whom Arthur deals with and many of whom turn nasty, leaving Terry to fight and outwit their way out of trouble. But for all Arthur's obsession with get-rich-quick schemes, he is never malicious, and the pair often end up putting some other wrong right. Most of Arthur's schemes fail in the end, owing to his greediness, but he does occasionally have the odd minor victory and puts one over on the law.
The series was conceived for Dennis Waterman, to follow
The SweeneyThe Sweeney is a British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, an elite branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London...
, in which he co-starred as Detective Sergeant George Carter, which had finished its run the previous year. Indeed, as the title
Minder suggests, Terry was to be the lead and Arthur, a secondary character, would find different tasks for Terry each episode. However, the rapport between Dennis Waterman and George Cole was evident and quickly became popular. The focus shifted to feature Terry and Arthur more evenly, with more screen time to Arthur and his dealings. Barman Dave (whose last name was given on a couple of occasions as Harris) at first made only occasional appearances, but the rapport between Arthur (and Terry) and Dave also become popular and by the mid-second series he too was given more screen time.
Despite its eventual success,
Minder was a slow burner. The first series, although critically acclaimed, did not attract large audiences because it began soon after the 1979
ITVITV is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK...
strikeStrike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to perform work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became important in factories and mines...
, when the channel was struggling to recover its previous audience. Management at Thames were intent on scrapping the show but managing director Bryan Cowgill persuaded them to commission one further series and repeat the first. Both attracted huge audiences.
The tone of the programme in series one and two, and much of series three, mixed poignant drama and
action sequencesAction movies are a film genre wherein the story is largely told through physical action as opposed to dialogue. The action typically involves individual efforts on the part of the hero. While action has long been an element of films, the "Action film" as a genre of its own began to develop in the...
with offbeat comic moments. As the series progressed over 15 years, more emphasis was placed on the comedic aspects of the minder-principal relationship, and the show became more a comedy driven by a dramatic plot.
Social satireSatire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods,...
played a strong part throughout the series, grounded in the cinematic and social ethos of the 1970s. In the earlier series Terry would succeed in seducing a 'dolly bird', resulting in at least one scene of female semi-nudity per episode, though as the series became more popular these instances were reduced. And although always an element of the series, the fights – common and brutal in early episodes – were also toned down and became less frequent.
The series has a number of parallels with long-running
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
comedy
Only Fools and HorsesOnly Fools and Horses is a British television sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan, and made and broadcast by the BBC. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003.Set in Peckham in south London,...
, with both being set in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
, both involving lovable dodgy dealers with endless get-rich-quick schemes (and both of whom tried to make out to be of a higher status than they really were), and both having a blend of comedy and drama. Indeed,
Only Fools... creator / writer
John SullivanJohn Sullivan who blogs at the world famous [POTPOLITICS]http://potpolitics.com is do follow ]].John Sullivan John Sullivan who blogs at the world famous [POTPOLITICS]http://potpolitics.com is do follow (disambiguation)]].John Sullivan John Sullivan who blogs at the world famous...
has claimed that one of the ways he persuaded the BBC to commission the series was by pointing to the success of ITV's
Minder, which had begun the previous year. After both having lukewarm starts, both series went on to became huge hits, and share much of the same fan base. One Christmas, specials of
Only Fools... and
Minder were scheduled against each other, angering many viewers (in the days before
video recordersThe videocassette recorder , is a type of video tape recorder that uses removable videotape cassettes containing magnetic tape to record audio and video from a television broadcast so it can be played back later...
were quite as commonplace in UK homes).
Theme tune
The theme tune, "I Could Be So Good For You", was written in 1979 by
Patricia WatermanPatricia Maynard is a British actress. She was the second wife of actor Dennis Waterman, and they have two daughters, one of whom is the actress Hannah Waterman...
and
Gerard KennyGerard Kenny is a popular music singer-songwriter.-Career:Kenny is best known for his composition "I Could Be So Good For You" which, when recorded by Dennis Waterman and used as the theme tune to the hit ITV series Minder, became a Top 10 hit single in the United Kingdom...
and sung by
Dennis WatermanDennis Waterman is an English actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series such as The Sweeney and Minder...
. The record reached No.3 in the UK charts in November 1980 and led Waterman to tour as a singer. This was also the source of a parody in
Little BritainLittle Britain is an award winning character-based comedy sketch show first appearing on BBC radio and then television. It was written by stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams...
where Dennis Waterman is offered acting work; he always assumes he will also 'write the theme tune, sing the theme tune...' In Nov 2008, it was announced that Glasgow band
Attic LightsAttic Lights are an indie rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, formed in 2005 by Kevin Sherry , Colin McArdle and Jamie Houston , later joined by Tim Davidson and Noel O'Donnell...
would re-work the original theme for the resurrected series.
Police adversaries
Continually out to put a stop to Arthur's schemes and put him behind bars was the hapless Detective Sergeant Albert "Cheerful Charlie" Chisholm (
Patrick MalahidePatrick Malahide is a British actor, who has played many major film and television roles.-Personal life:Malahide, real name Patrick Gerald Duggan, was born in Reading, Berkshire, the son of Irish immigrants, a cook mother and a school secretary father...
), always close to detecting Arthur's crimes but not clever enough to catch him. After the first couple of series, he was accompanied by D.C. "Taff" Jones (Michael Povey), a
WelshWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
policeman who, on first sight not seeming overly bright, often proved sharper (albeit mildly) than his superior, and often quietly amused by Arthur's continual humiliating of Chisholm. Another recurring nemesis determined to catch Arthur was Detective Sergeant Ronald "Kenny" Rycott (
Peter ChildsPeter Childs was a British character actor who shot to fame playing Cockney Detective Sergeant Ronnie Rycott, nemesis of Arthur Daley in the top rated ITV series, Minder....
), who had a low opinion of Chisholm's bungled efforts to nab Arthur but was no smarter himself. Rycott's sidekick was D.C. Mellish (
Michael TroughtonMichael Troughton is an English actor and teacher. He is the son of actor Patrick Troughton and the younger brother of David Troughton....
). Most episodes featured either Chisholm and Jones or Rycott and Mellish; however, they sometimes appeared all together, emphasizing the professional rivalry between them, much to the annoyance of their superior officer, Detective Inspector Norton (
Tony CaunterTony Caunter is a British actor best known for his portrayal of Roy Evans in EastEnders from 1994-2003.He attended Worthing and Westcliff High Schools, before service in the RAF and training as an actor at LAMDA....
). This rivalry famously reached fever pitch in the episode "Around the Corner" (which closed series 5) when all four officers, in two cars, crashed head-on whilst all attempting to arrest Arthur and Terry. DI Norton's subsequent comments were scathing. Although Inspector Norton's appearances were always brief, they always demonstrated the personal nature of Chisholm's and Rycott's campaigns. In "From Fulham with Love" (series 6) Norton appears for less than a minute, but spends that entire appearance denouncing Chisholm for his "personal vendetta against Arthur Daley". In the feature-length "An Officer and a Car Salesman" that preceded series 7, Chisholm was written out (he was seen to have taken a job as a security guard), and Jones was promoted to D.S. Although he took over the probing of Arthur's plots, he was less hell-bent on nabbing him, finding most of Arthur's schemes humorous.
Other characters
Other recurring characters included Des (
George LaytonGeorge Layton is an English actor, director, screenwriter and author. He was educated at Belle Vue Grammar School in Bradford and later studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where he won the Emile Littler award...
) (series 1-3), a back-street mechanic friend of Terry's who was friendly and likable, but not beyond auto theft when called for; stripper Debbie Mitchell (Diana Malin) and air stewardess Penny (Gennie Nevinson), both recurring girlfriends of Terry's;
Ray WinstoneRaymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone, Jr. is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum, and is also known as a voice over actor. More recently he has branched out into film production...
as dim mechanic Arnie (series 4-7, conceived as a replacement for George Layton's Des); and
wide boyWide boy is a British term for a man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary it is synonymous with spiv. Newspapers of the late 1940s and 1950s often use both terms in the same article about the same person when dealing with ticket touts, fraudsters...
Justin James (
Mark FarmerMark Farmer is a British actor, born in 1962, and probably best remembered for his childhood role of Gary Hargreaves in the first three series of the popular children's television programme Grange Hill, in which he starred from 1979 to 1981....
) (series 5-7) who idolised Arthur and aspired to be like him, although strangely Arthur always called him Justine.
Royce MillsRoyce Mills is an English television, stage and film actor.He attended Eastbourne College, then studied fine art for 5 years and qualified as a theatre designer before attending the Guildhall School where he was a prize winning student.He then joined in Bristol Old Vic and appeared in many...
also starred as Arthur's financial advisor, Andrew, whose character appeared in a number of episodes across several series.
Popularity
At its peak, the show was one of ITV's most popular programmes, even repeats pulling in over 11 million viewers. The highest rated episode was 1984's "Second Hand Pose", clocking up 17.4 million viewers. In 2005, Arthur Daley came second in
ITVITV is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK...
's 50th anniversary poll to find its favourite TV characters.
As well as heavy use of leading British actors , other features were Arthur's constant rhyming slang and other misquoted sayings (one being "the world is your
lobsterClawed lobsters compose a family of large marine crustaceans. Lobsters are economically important as seafood, forming the basis of a global industry that nets US$31.8 billion in trade annually....
"), the derelict sites used as locations, and the episode titles, which contained references to phrases and names (e.g. "Gunfight at the O.K. Launderette", "Monday Night Fever", "National Pelmet", "The Beer Hunter", "Days of Fines and Closures", "The Wrong Goodbye" and "Guess Who's Coming to
PinnerPinner is a suburb in the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. The area was in the county of Middlesex until 1965, when it was absorbed by the London Government Act 1963 into Greater London....
").
The show was a number of times said to have come to its end, only to reappear. For example, in 1984,
TV TimesTVTimes is a television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom by IPC Media, a subsidiary of Time Warner. It is known for its access to television actors and their programmes. In 2006 it was refreshed for a more modern look, increasing its emphasis on big star interviews and soaps...
reported that series 5 would be the last. In 1985, it again seemed as if that the current series was the last one, and it was off-air (bar repeats) for three years, to reappear in 1988. This series appeared to be the last as Dennis Waterman announced his departure at the end of its run. However, after another three year break the show was back again for a further three year run which ended with the tenth series in 1994. For many years it appeared that
Minder was finally off-air for good, until the 2008 announcement that the show was to return again.
The series inspired a hit single "Arthur Daley (E's Alright)" by
The FirmThe Firm is a British music act, formed by guitarist, session musician and music producer John O'Connor, which had hits in the 1980s with novelty songs.-Arthur Daley E's Alright:...
which made the UK Top 20 in 1982. George Cole and Dennis Waterman released a Christmas record in 1983 called "What are we Gonna Get 'Er Indoors?" which reached No.21 in the charts. The duo performed it on
Top of the PopsTop of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. It was traditionally shown every Thursday evening on BBC1, before being moved to Fridays in 1996, and then moved to Sundays on BBC...
on 22 December 1983.
Minder was also featured in the lyrics of a song titled "Plastic Gangsters" by
The 4-SkinsThe 4-Skins are a working class Oi! punk rock band from the East End of London, England. They formed in 1979 and disbanded in 1984, although a new line-up formed in 2007.-Biography:...
("I stay at home on Thursdays, Minder's on TV. I'm learning Cockney rhyming slang off to a tee. So when I go out on Fridays I know what to say. I wish I was like Arthur and get my own way".)
Series 8-10
In 1989, after filming the seventh series, Waterman announced he would no longer appear, saying that the series and character had run their course, and that it was becoming harder for the writers to come up with plots as sharp as the series had been accustomed to. This seemed to signify the end, but the series made another return in 1991, with another character replacing Terry. In the opening episode of series 8, "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Entrepreneur", Arthur finds Terry has married and emigrated to
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
to escape his influence. At the same time he is stuck with looking after his nephew Ray Daley (
Gary WebsterGary Webster is an English actor.He was first noticed as an actor in EastEnders as Graham Clark from 1987-1988. Before becoming best known for playing Ray Daley in the television series Minder, replacing Dennis Waterman as George Cole's on-screen sparring partner in the series...
), at the request of Arthur's brother to give him employment and keep him out of trouble. With Terry out of the scene, local undesirables start to muscle in on Arthur, but it emerges that Ray is able to handle himself in a fight and Arthur appoints him his new "minder".
Although Terry was never stupid, Ray was portrayed as smarter, having good intelligence and education (
"O" LevelThe O-Level is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education . It was introduced as part of British educational reform in the 1950s alongside the more in-depth and academically rigorous A-Level . England, Wales and Northern Ireland replaced O-Levels with...
French and Woodwork) as well as being able to fight. He was also a snappy dresser, and not a heavy drinker. Ray did not have a regular car and was usually lumbered with the old blue Ford Transit from Arthur's lock-up. The theme tune was replaced by a rock-style instrumental, credited to "Kenny" (Gerard Kenny). By this stage, the rough and ready elements of the early series had been toned down, concentrating on the comedic aspects of Arthur's dodgy dealings. Waterman praised Gary Webster for fitting into the series, but said the series was no longer about a minder and that the re-vamped version should go under a different title, reflecting its orientation around Arthur.
Other new characters in this revamped version were Sidney Livingstone as Bert Daley, Arthur's gullible, over-trusting brother, and Ray's father, who views Arthur as a successful businessman and not a con-man and entrusts Ray into his care; Bert's wife and Ray's mum Doreen (
Lill RoughleyLill Roughley is an English actress who has appeared on British television since the 1970s. Her notable roles include Alice in Mulberry and Ella Dawkins in My Hero...
); and Ray's recurring girlfriend Gloria (Emma Cunningham), frustrated with Ray's being torn between her and being Arthur's lackey. The new police nemesis was Detective Sergeant Michael Morley (Nick Day), paired with D.C. Park (
Stephen TompkinsonStephen Tompkinson is an English actor, born 15 October 1965 in Stockton-on-Tees but grew up in St. Anne's, Lancashire, attending St. Bedes Catholic High School, Lytham Lancashire. He is best known for his roles in Wild at Heart and Ballykissangel...
) in series 8, who in turn was replaced by D.C. Field (Jonty Stephens) in series 9.
In the late years of the programme, critics felt it had overstayed its welcome and that Thames were using it as a cash cow to great effect and although it was still attracting large audiences they were nothing like those at the show's prime
(though there was more competition for viewers' time than when the programme had started; and even at this stage, the series still regularly pulled in reasonable ratings but by the nineth series viewing figures were in decline leading to the tenth and final series to end the series).
The end of the final episode, "The Long Good Thursday", saw Arthur (and Ray) finally being caught and driven away in a police convoy. In a final monologue over closing credits, Arthur was bemused, citing himself as a hard working, upstanding citizen. The following week, a repeat showing of the first episode, "Gunfight at the O.K. Laundrette" (slightly edited for its pre-watershed start) was broadcast. Cole made an opening introduction, saying he had been asked to choose his favourite episode but all were of such quality that he couldn't. He closed with "Goodbye... for now", hinting that he or the show may return.
Series 11 - 2009 Minder Revival
In July 2008 it was announced Minder was to resume on Five after a 15-year break. The first episode of the six-part series was broadcast on 4 February 2009. The makers emphasised that it was a revival rather than a remake.
The show focused on Arthur's nephew Archie, played by
Shane RichieShane Richie is an English actor, comedian, singer and media personality, known for his portrayal of the character Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
, and a new 'minder' character, Jamie Cartwright, played by
Lex ShrapnelAlexander Carey "Lex" Shrapnel is an English actor.Shrapnel was born in London, the son of Francesca Ann and John Shrapnel. He is the brother of actor/producer Tom Shrapnel and writer Joe Shrapnel and the grandson of Academy Award-nominated Scottish actress Deborah Kerr...
. Five stated in July 2008 that there were no plans for Cole, Waterman or Webster to reprise their roles in the relaunched series. The series was produced by Talkback Thames.
In the weeks leading up to the new series, Five launched a national advertising campaign to promote the show's return. These featured a series of contemporary adverts on television, as well as billboards. Other promotions included advertisements on taxi receipts, a social networking campaign and branded beer mats, all designed to attract the young male audience Five was targetting.
The Sun reported that Richie banned Waterman from appearing in the series remake, but Richie told fans to ignore this story, saying it would be an honour to be in the company of Waterman and Cole, let alone work with them on television.
The final viewing figures for Minder on Five in the UK, as supplied by BARB, were:
- Episode 1: 2.90 million - 4 February, 2009
- Episode 2: 2.08 million - 11 February, 2009
- Episode 3: 1.59 million - 18 February, 2009
- Episode 4: 1.81 million - 25 February, 2009
- Episode 5: 1.36 million - 4 March, 2009
- Episode 6: 1.34 million - 11 March, 2009
On May 31, 2009, UK newspaper The Mirror reported that due to poor ratings, Five would not be commissioning a new series of Minder.
Series 1 (October 1979–January 1980)
- "Gunfight at the O.K. Laundrette
"Gunfight at the O.K. Laundrette" is the pilot episode of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Peter Sasdy, it first aired on 29 October 1979.-Plot:...
"
- "Bury my Half at Waltham Green
"Bury my Half at Waltham Green" is the second episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Paul Wheeler and directed by Christopher King it first aired on 5th November 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "The Smaller They Are
"The Smaller They Are" is the third episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Roy Ward Baker, it first aired on 12th November 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "A Tethered Goat
"A Tethered Goat" is the fourth episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Murray Smith and directed by James Gatward, it first aired on 19th November 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "The Bounty Hunter (Minder)
"The Bounty Hunter" is the fifth episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Bernie Cooper and Francis Megaby and directed by Peter Sasdy, it first aired on 26th November 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "Aces High – and Sometimes Very Low
"Aces High – and Sometimes Very Low" is the sixth episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Roy Ward Baker, it first aired on 3rd December 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "The Bengal Tiger
"The Bengal Tiger" is the seventh episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Peter Sasdy, it first aired on 10th December 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "Come in T-64, Your Time Is Ticking Away
"Come in T-64, Your Time Is Ticking Away" is the eighth episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Tony Hoare and directed by Francis Megahy, it first aired on 17th December 1979.- Plot :...
"
- "Monday Night Fever
"Monday Night Fever" is the ninth episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Mike Vardy, it first aired on 7th January 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "The Dessert Song
"The Dessert Song" is the tenth episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Andrew Payne and directed by Roy Ward Baker, it first aired on 14th January 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "You Gotta Have Friends
"You Gotta Have Friends" is the eleventh and final episode of Series 1 of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Ian Toynton, it first aired on 21st January 1980.- Plot :...
"
Series 2 (September–December 1980)
- "National Pelmet
"National Pelmet" is the first episode of Series 2 and the twelfth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Willis Hall and directed by Martin Campbell, it first aired on 11th September 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "Whose Wife is it Anyway?
"Whose Wife is it Anyway?" is the second episode of Series 2 and the thirteenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Tony Hoare and directed by Roy Ward Baker, it first aired on 18 September 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "You Lose Some, You Win Some
"You Lose Some, You Win Some" is the third episode of Series 2 and the fourteenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Jeremy Burnham and directed by James Gatward, it first aired on 25th September 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "Don't Tell Them Willie Boy Was Here
"Don't Tell Them Willie Boy Was Here" is the fourth episode of Series 2 and the fifteenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Paul Wheeler and directed by Dennis Abey, it first aired on 9th October 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "Not A Bad Lad, Dad
"Not A Bad Lad, Dad" is the fifth episode of Series 2 and the sixteenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder...
"
- "The Beer Hunter
"The Beer Hunter" is the sixth episode of Series 2 and the seventeenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Willis Hall and directed by Tom Clegg, it first aired on 23rd October 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "A Nice Little Wine
"A Nice Little Wine" is the seventh episode of Series 2 and the eighteenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder...
"
- "All Mod Cons (Minder)
"All Mod Cons" is the eighth episode of Series 2 and the nineteenth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Andrew Payne and directed by Ian Sharp, it first aired on 6th November 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "Diamonds are a Girl's Worst Enemy
"Diamonds are a Girl's Worst Enemy" is the ninth episode of Series 2 and the twentieth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Paul Wheeler and directed by Chris King, it first aired on 20th November 1980....
"
- "The Old School Tie
"The Old School Tie" is the tenth episode of Series 2 and the twenty-first episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Jeremy Burnham and directed by James Gatward, it first aired on 27th November 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "All About Scoring, Innit?
"All About Scoring, Innit?" is the eleventh episode of Series 2 and the twenty-second episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Willis Hall and directed by Martin Campbell, it first aired on 4 December 1980.-Plot:...
"
- "Caught in the Act, Fact
"Caught in the Act, Fact" is the twelfth episode of Series 2 and the twenty-third episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Tony Hoare and directed by Terry Green, it first aired on 11th December 1980.- Plot :...
"
- "A Lot of Bull and a Pat on the Back
"A Lot of Bull and a Pat on the Back" is the thirteenth episode of Series 2 and the twenty-fourth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Tony Hoare and directed by Terry Green, it first aired on 18th December 1980....
"
Series 3 (January–April 1982)
- "Dead Men Do Tell Tales
Dead Men Do Tell Tales is the first episode of Series 3 and the twenty-fifth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder...
"
- "You Need Hands
"You Need Hands" is the second episode of Series 3 and the twenty-sixth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder...
"
- "Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore
"Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore" is the third episode of Series 3 and the twenty-seventh episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder...
"
- "Looking for Micky
"Looking for Micky" is the fourth episode of Series 3 and the twenty-eighth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Tony Hoare and directed by Tom Clegg, it first aired on 3 February 1982.-Plot:...
"
- "Dreamhouse (Minder)
Dreamhouse is the fifth episode of Series 3 and the twenty-ninth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Andrew Payne and directed by Tom Clegg, it first aired on 10 February 1982.-Plot:...
"
- "Another Bride, Another Groom
"Another Bride, Another Groom" is the sixth episode of Series 3 and the thirtieth episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by Willis Hall and directed by Mike Vardy, it first aired on 17 February 1982.-Plot:...
"
- "The Birdman of Wormwood Scrubs
"The Birdman of Wormwood Scrubs" is the seventh episode of Series 3 and the thirty-first episode in total of the critically acclaimed ITV drama series Minder. Written by series creator Leon Griffiths and directed by Ian Toynton, it first aired on 24 February 1982.-References:*Hawkins, B , "The...
"
- "The Son Also Rises"
- "Why Pay Tax"
- "Broken Arrow"
- "Poetic Justice, Innit?"
- "Back in Good Old England"
- "In"
Series 4 (January–March 1984)
- "Minder's Christmas Bonus"
- "Rocky Eight and a Half"
- "Senior Citizen Caine"
- "High Drains Pilferer"
- "Sorry Pal, Wrong Number"
- "Car Lot Beggars"
- "If Money be the Food of Love, Play on"
- "A Star is Gorn"
- "Willesden Suite"
- "Windows"
- "Get Daley"
- "A Well Fashioned Fit Up"
Series 5 (September-December 1984)
- "Goodbye Sailor"
- "What Makes Shamy Run?"
- "A Number Of Old Wives Tales"
- "The Second Time Around"
- "Second Hand Pose"
- "The Long Ride Back To Scratchwood"
- "Hypnotising Rita"
- "The Balance Of Power"
- "Around The Corner"
Series 6 (September–October 1985)
- "Give Us This Day Arthur Daley's Bread"
- "Life in the Fast Food Lane"
- "Return of the Invincible Man"
- "Arthur is dead, Long Live Arthur"
- "From Fulham With Love"
- "Waiting for Goddard"
- "Minder on the Orient Express
Minder on the Orient Express is a comedy/thriller television film made in 1985 as a spin-off from the successful television series Minder...
" (1985 feature length special)
Series 7 (January–February 1989)
- "An Officer and a Car Salesman"
- "It's a Sorry Lorry, Morrie"
- "Day of Fines and Closures"
- "Fatal Impression"
- "The Last Video Show"
- "Fiddler on the Hoof"
- "The Wrong Goodbye"
Series 8 (September–November 1991)
- "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Entrepreneur"
- "A Bouquet of Barbed Wine"
- "Whatever Happened to Her Indoors?"
- "Three Cons Make a Mountain"
- "Guess Who's Coming to Pinner"
- "The Last Temptation of Daley"
- "A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in Shepherd's Bush"
- "Him Indoors"
- "The Greatest Show in Willesden"
- "Too Many Crooks"
- "The Odds Couple"
- "The Coach That Came in from the Cold"
- "The Cruel Canal"
Series 9 (January–April 1993)
- "I'll Never Forget What'sername"
- "No Way to Treat a Daley"
- "Uneasy Rider"
- "Looking for Mr. Goodtime"
- "Opportunity Knocks and Bruises"
- "Gone with the Winchester"
- "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Retiring"
- "The Roof of All Evil"
- "Last Orders at the Winchester"
- "Cars and Pints and Pains"
- "The Great Trilby"
- "A Taste of Money"
- "For a Few Dollars More"
Series 10 (January–March 1994)
- "A Fridge Too Far"
- "Another Case of Van Blank"
- "All Things Brighton Beautiful"
- "One Flew over the Parents' Nest"
- "The Immaculate Contraption"
- "All Quiet on the West End Front"
- "The Great Depression of 1994"
- "On the Autofront"
- "Bring Me the Head of Arthur Daley"
- "The Long Good Thursday"
Series 11 (February-March 2009)
- "Better The Devil You Know"
- "In Vino Veritas"
- "The Art Of The Matter"
- "Matter Of Life And Debt"
- "Count Your Lucky Stars"
- "'Till Debt Do Us Part"
Annuals
In 1980, an
annualAn annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
based on the series was released by Grandreams. It was clearly based upon the very early concept of the series being based around Terry, and made absolutely no reference to Arthur, with the illustrations of Arthur looking nothing like George Cole.
Two further annuals were released by World International Publishing for 1985 and 1986. These annuals featured both Terry and Arthur with illustrations of both Dennis Waterman and George Cole.
Computer game
In 1985, an officially licensed
Minder computer game was published for the
ZX SpectrumThe ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd. Referred to during development as the ZX81 Colour and ZX82, the machine was launched as the ZX Spectrum by Sinclair to highlight the machine's colour display, compared with the...
and
Amstrad CPCThe Amstrad CPC is a series of 8 bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-'80s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself, especially in the UK and the rest of...
. The player's aim was to make money by buying and selling goods. The game was written by
Don PriestleyDon Priestley is a video game programmer who wrote for the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum between 1982 and 1989.-Background:Until 1979, Don Priestley was a teacher. In 1981 both he and his son enrolled in a Pascal course at night school. Although his son dropped out, Don carried on...
and published by
dK'Tronicsdk'tronics were a software and hardware company during the 1980s. They primarily made peripherals for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC but also released video games for the Spectrum, Commodore 64, Memotech, MSX and Amstrad platforms.-History:...
. A
Java appletA Java applet is an applet delivered to the users in the form of Java bytecode. Java applets can run in a Web browser using a Java Virtual Machine , or in Sun's AppletViewer, a stand-alone tool for testing applets. Java applets were introduced in the first version of the Java language in 1995...
version of the game, along with the a picture of the
Sinclair UserSinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
editor of the time alongside George Cole (Arthur Daley), can be played at the
Unofficial Fans of Minder website.
General
- I Could Be So Good For You/Nothing At All (single), Dennis Waterman & The Dennis Waterman Band (1979), EMI5009.
External links