Square Eyes

What a fantastic programme this was. Has there ever been a British comedy drama as good as this? I'm struggling to think of any, except perhaps the first two series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. But Minder probably edges it for me simply because it was so good for so long.

For example, the most recent episode I watched was one from series 7, in which Arthur owns a video shop (another great thing about this series was that Arthur would branch out into new entreprenurial ventures the way most people would change their socks - ie with extreme regularity!). The guest cast list for this one episode alone sums up how the country's top thesps must have been queueing up for a part in the show by this time: Ian McShane, Ray Winstone, Brian Blessed (who for once wasn't overacting for all his worth!), Ken Campbell, Emma Wray, Milton Johns and Rula Lenska, to name but several.

Actually, this was at least the third different role I've seen Rula play in Minder. I'm sure her regularly landing plum guest roles had absolutely nothing to do with her being married to Dennis Waterman at the time though! Perish the thought!

Wah!

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 365722.ece

Sutti's big hair wrote:Wah!

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/ ... 365722.ece

Is it April Fool's Day already?! Replacing George Cole with Shane Richie would have been like The Beatles asking Des O'Connor to take over from John Lennon. Preposterous!

Still, at least there's one positive about the remake - being on Channel Five, hardly anyone will see it.

I'm sure I've already posted in this thread. I remember writing I thought Gary webster was no replacement for Dennis Waterman. It must've been on one of those 'website does not exist' nights I had when I tried to post.

Shane Richie? They have to be joking. I can't stand him so I won't be tuning in if a remake is made.

Shane Richie!!!!???? How could anyone replace George Cole in that role let alone Shane (did I say I can't stand him) Richie!

I've never even watched Minder and I'm outraged that they'd even consider Shane Richie in the George Cole role!

It's not all bad news though. I mean, I managed to find a Minder series 1 video for 50p in a charity shop this arvo...

Umm... that'll learn you, Richie!

Shane Richie!! I just can't get over that. Shane Richie!!!!!

Well, when I posted before (which didn't submit) I also wrote......

I (but it didn't submit) wrote:I could never understand why Dennis Waterman was depicted as a ultra small individual. He's not below average size (in hight that is) so that has always been a puzzelment

Did I say I can't stand Shane Ritchie?

i cant see shane ritchie as arthur daley beats me why they have to make a new minder cant they just make a new show that is like minder.there is only one arthur daley and thats the great george cole

ramster wrote:i cant see shane ritchie as arthur daley beats me why they have to make a new minder cant they just make a new show that is like minder.there is only one arthur daley and thats the great george cole

Well said and welcome to the forum.

thankyou very much dmm its great to be here

ramster wrote:thankyou very much dmm its great to be here

Yes, welcome aboard ramster! Don't forget to tell all your friends

I'm watching the Minder 'Specials' DVDs at the moment. Some fantastic stuff in there - even the episode with Ray Daley has aged quite well!

This Shane Ritchie rumour reminds me of the time that he did an interview where he was apparently "linked" to the at the time, upcoming Doctor Who revival. The former redcoat expressed an interest in playing the role styled in a leather jacket with a "matrix" look. Thankfully that outcome didnt transpire and hopefully, neither will this one!

If channel five want to do a wheeler dealer drama with Shane Ritchie or somebody else they should go for it, but why link it to Minder!!? If it is good enough it will survive on it's own.

As for the original series, it was a very special bit of eighties British drama! Even the theme tune and the credits themselves are absolutely awesome.

A friend of a friend of mine used to work in the mental health profession and helped care for a gentleman who claimed to be good pals with Dave from the Winchester Club. He took this to be fantasy linked to the chap's mental state only to get a massive surprise when they saw the actor Glynn Edwards as a guest in the bloke's wedding photos!

savage sounds wrote: A friend of a friend of mine used to work in the mental health profession and helped care for a gentleman who claimed to be good pals with Dave from the Winchester Club. He took this to be fantasy linked to the chap's mental state only to get a massive surprise when they saw the actor Glynn Edwards as a guest in the bloke's wedding photos!

Arf! There's a lesson in there somewhere!

Talking of altered mental states, I loved the way Sergeant Chisholm was driven slowly round the bend by Arthur as the series went on. Chisholm ended up as a private security guard thanks to his inability to catch his trilbyed nemesis, if memory serves. (the 'memory' in question being of the DVD featuring that episode that I watched about a fortnight ago! )

I've got into a bit of a tradition of watching an episode of Minder once a week on a Sunday now actually. This is preferable to having a DVD binge for me as I enjoy the episodes more if I space them out. Also, it reminds me of how much I used to look forward to each week's episode when I was a kid. I remember being in a Pontin's talent contest on holiday in Brixham when I was about 10 - I can't remember a single thing about that night (including what the hell I was doing on stage!) apart from the bluecoat lady asking me on stage what my favourite TV show was and me replying "Minder". So I was very in to it from a young age!

Anyway, the moral of this story is: if anyone reading this doesn't own MInder on DVD yet, quick! Buy them! (or failing that, watch the repeats on ITV4.)

Minder was on BBC4 last night too Hughesy, followed by Mark Lawson trying to interview Arfur Daley himself. They have had some good subjects on there lately.

The best bit was where George Cole claimed that his "Laughing all the way to the Leeds" adverts (not starring arthur daley himself for copyright reasons) was an early foray in to hip hop.

I recollect an incredible 10 minute brawl between Terry and some other chap, which actually escalated onto a bus. It was pretty brutal for the time.