TV channel Five is planning to resurrrect Arthur Daley for a small-screen return of classic series Minder, the BBC reports.

Eastenders geezer Shane Richie is apparently "tipped" to star in the new outing, although his agent Phil Dale said: "I am currently in negotiations and unable to discuss this further."

Minder ran from 1979 to 1994, encompassing 10 series. Arthur was, of course, played by George Cole, alongside Dennis Waterman as his pugilistic bodyguard Terry McCann. Waterman was replaced in 1991 by Gary Webster as Daley's nephew Ray.

At its height, Minder was a huge ratings success for ITV, and Arfur's malapropisms ("The world is your lobster", etc), have gone down in TV lore. Whether Five can match the success of the original remains to be seen. ®

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