Re: Minder

The death of Dennis Waterman all but closes the book on one of Britain's finest comedy-dramas.

They were quite the pair, Terry and Arthur. The one an ex-boxer and ex-con with a heart of gold, the other a keen Thatcherite and bona fide coward whose wafer-thin veneer of respectability hid a mind for wheeler-dealin' that Del Trotter would kill for; over seven series and 70-odd episodes of Minder, this unlikely duo got into any number of scrapes. And while the departure of the put-upon Terry didn't completely kill-off the show, something very special died the day Messrs Daly and McCann threw in the towel.

The brainchild of Leon Griffiths, Minder seemed styled to give Dennis Waterman something new to do now The Sweeney had come to the end. Watch the earlier episodes and it's clear that, at least to begin with, Minder was meant to be harder and meatier. Over the course of those first two series, certain things became apparent, however. The first of these was that, in Arthur Daley (at least as he was portrayed by the incomparable George Cole), Griffiths had crafted one of the great TV characters. What's more, if ever Minder had truly been a Waterman tough-guy vehicle, it was now something very different; a programme less interested in breaking bones than in tickling one in particular.

From Arthur's malapropisms ("The world is your lobster!") to the taciturn observations of Glynn Edwards' Dave, proprietor of our heroes' favourite watering hole The Winchester Club ("A large VAT, Arthur?"), Minder was more gag-rich than many a contemporary sitcom. Still it was from character that most of the comedy came, with the dashing of Daley's dreams and Terry's tendency to find himself back to square one providing the richest possible seam of pathos.

Of course, every great dramas need top supporting characters, and Minder's palate was as rich as it was colourful. From Ray Winstone's artful Arnie to Mark Farmer's Arthur wannabe Justin(e), it’s hard to know what’s more impressive - the depth of such creations or the refusal to overuse them.

The resistance of overkill also extended to the cast of villains who, with this being a programme about a bent businessmen, comprised Her Majesty's Police. Patrick Malahide's uptight Charlie Chisholm ("My name is Albert"), Michael Povey’s affable Taff, Peter Childs’ promotion-hungry Rycott - it was never them and us with Minder; it was them and them.

Really hitting it straps come series three, four and five, Minder became so hot a property it attracted A-list guest stars. In 'What Makes Shamy Run' (oh yes, the episode titles were also a thing of joy and wonder), A Passage To India's Art Malik plays a chancer determined to leave the East behind him. Meanwhile, 'A Star Is Gorn' featured a fine, out-of-character performance from Mel Smith as a music producer with a thing for dead pop stars.

Best of all, however, was Max Wall's turn as an ageing con in 'The Birdman Of Wormwood Scrubs'. Fresh out of jail and determined to enjoy what little time he has left, Wall's last hurrah in London begins with a trip up to Hampstead to free a bullfinch, the bird that’s helped him through bird. As the finch takes flight, Terry takes on the look of a man all too aware that, unless he changes his ways, a similar fate to Wall's might awaits him.

And that something else about Minder. For when the end came for the McCann-Daley axis, it was somewhat of a relief to learn that decent cove Terry had finally got out from under Arthur's feet. And while Tel began a new life in Oz, his old mucker found his next Minder somewhat closer to home, with Daley's nephew Ray (in the person of Gary Webster) doing a pretty decent job of filling his shoes.

While Minder ran until 1994, the programme's enjoyed quite the second life courtesy of ITV's digital channels. It's thanks to these entities that the death of Dennis Waterman doesn't spell the end of the show. However, it does mean the end of Terry McCann and that's something we all ought to morn.

As for how to say goodbye, let's leave that to Terry's best fiend Arthur, who actually wrote a farewell address while awaiting a minor operation in the Series Four episode 'Get Daley':

"Dear Terrence. No. Terry. Dear Terry, I am writing this in case something happens to me. You would laugh if you could see me now, but what with having this operation, I seem to have gone a bit morbid. This is just to say that you have been like a son to me, even though at times, I might have been a bit inconsiderate. But you know what the pressures on the entrepreneur are, in this day and age. I hope you have enjoyed our long association, as much as I have, despite the vicississitu... vicississi... ups and downs. Good luck. Your pal, Arthur."