Perdita
30-01-2009, 17:51
George Cole and Dennis Waterman's long-running comedy drama Minder was one of the most popular shows of the 1970s. Running for 10 series, Arthur Daley and Terry McCann's adventures around London's underworld were a recipe for TV gold. Five has decided to reinvent the show for the 21st century, with Shane Richie taking on the role of Archie Daley, Arthur's nephew, and Lex Shrapnel starring as his "minder" Jamie. We caught up with Shane to find out what we can expect - and ask whether he'll be singing the theme tune.
Were you a big fan of the original Minder?
"I was never a Minder buff, but funnily enough a few years ago there was a show called Must See TV, which I was asked to work on. I chose to do the episode on Minder and interviewed George Cole and Dennis Waterman. It's really strange then that two years later, here I am doing it myself! I've always been aware of the show and loved its writing. Because it was around in the era of three channels it was must-see TV."
What were your first impressions when you were approached about doing the show?
"It was funny when I got the call from the producers, because initially I thought I was going to be the new Minder, like Dennis Waterman. But they told me, 'No, you *******ing ain't! We are going to get a young guy in and you are playing Archie Daley'. That made me realise how old I was!"
What are the differences between your show and the original?
"It's different to the original because of the dynamics between me and Lex. That's to do with the age difference. In the original it was very much father and son, but this time it's very much Butch and Sundance or the Blues Brothers. Each episode is like a road movie where we're getting chased down the Thames and around London."
Is it daunting remaking a programme that had so much success for ten series?
"It was never a remake. I always said that I would only be interested in it if it was a reinvention. As soon as word came out that I was doing Minder, people on the Digital Spy forums jumped on it and they were like, 'How dare they do this?' etc.. Everyone assumed I was playing Arthur Daley, but that was never the case. It's something I would never have done. However, to bring it up to the the 21st century and think about what Arthur's nephew would be like - that appealed to me."
What parts of the original are remaining for your series? The theme tune? The Winchester?
"The theme tune - no before you ask, I'm not doing it - the pub, the blags and the eternal optimism. I don't know what's happening with the theme tune, but it's not me or Dennis singing it, I can tell you that!"
Were you worried about tampering with elements of the original and upsetting fans?
"No, because I think the heart is still there. Everyone loved that relationship between Terry and Arthur and I think Archie and Jamie have that in this series. The real big change is the scale. The other big character in our version of Minder is London. The backdrops are the Thames, the London Eye, the Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower Of London. This is very much Archie Daley's London."
Do you think this show can go on to have the same long-running success of the original?
"I've no idea. This is a different age of television. There was only three channels back when the original aired and people used to throw money at TV then. TV was God! We haven't even thought about it, to be honest, and have just focused on these six episodes. Whatever happens with the show and recommissioning, we'll just wait and see. This is my first TV series since leaving EastEnders and I'm just treating it like a one-off for now."
Can you tell us anything about the plotlines?
"The first one is how our characters meet. I'm being chased by some gangsters and end up in the back of Jamie's cab. In that episode we get introduced again to the Winchester, which gets burned down and turned into a gastropub. The second episode has me organising a wedding and it stars Rik Mayall and Meera Syal, but in typical Archie style it all goes t*ts up. There's another one where I think I've found a Banksy work of art and I open up an art gallery, which again goes t*ts up.There's also a boxing match one, one where I'm pretending to be gay during a game of poker and one involving missing diamonds."
What else have you been working on apart from Minder?
"I've done a drama for ITV called Whatever It Takes, where I play a PR guru based on a Max Clifford type character, who is devoid of any information and is just short of being Satan. That's very, very different to what I usually do - he's a soulless character. I loved doing that because it's the eternal opposite to Archie Daley and the sort of lovable rogues I normally get."
Is there any chance you may go back to EastEnders for a short cameo or extended return?
"Three words: Never say never. I've still got mates on the show like Babs, who I occasionally text. I keep in touch with plenty of the cast and I'll probably meet a few at the christening of my daughter. I loved my time on EastEnders."
Minder begins Wednesday at 9pm on Five.
I remember the old Minder, pleasant, uncomplicated family show. I expect it has not changed too much.
Were you a big fan of the original Minder?
"I was never a Minder buff, but funnily enough a few years ago there was a show called Must See TV, which I was asked to work on. I chose to do the episode on Minder and interviewed George Cole and Dennis Waterman. It's really strange then that two years later, here I am doing it myself! I've always been aware of the show and loved its writing. Because it was around in the era of three channels it was must-see TV."
What were your first impressions when you were approached about doing the show?
"It was funny when I got the call from the producers, because initially I thought I was going to be the new Minder, like Dennis Waterman. But they told me, 'No, you *******ing ain't! We are going to get a young guy in and you are playing Archie Daley'. That made me realise how old I was!"
What are the differences between your show and the original?
"It's different to the original because of the dynamics between me and Lex. That's to do with the age difference. In the original it was very much father and son, but this time it's very much Butch and Sundance or the Blues Brothers. Each episode is like a road movie where we're getting chased down the Thames and around London."
Is it daunting remaking a programme that had so much success for ten series?
"It was never a remake. I always said that I would only be interested in it if it was a reinvention. As soon as word came out that I was doing Minder, people on the Digital Spy forums jumped on it and they were like, 'How dare they do this?' etc.. Everyone assumed I was playing Arthur Daley, but that was never the case. It's something I would never have done. However, to bring it up to the the 21st century and think about what Arthur's nephew would be like - that appealed to me."
What parts of the original are remaining for your series? The theme tune? The Winchester?
"The theme tune - no before you ask, I'm not doing it - the pub, the blags and the eternal optimism. I don't know what's happening with the theme tune, but it's not me or Dennis singing it, I can tell you that!"
Were you worried about tampering with elements of the original and upsetting fans?
"No, because I think the heart is still there. Everyone loved that relationship between Terry and Arthur and I think Archie and Jamie have that in this series. The real big change is the scale. The other big character in our version of Minder is London. The backdrops are the Thames, the London Eye, the Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower Of London. This is very much Archie Daley's London."
Do you think this show can go on to have the same long-running success of the original?
"I've no idea. This is a different age of television. There was only three channels back when the original aired and people used to throw money at TV then. TV was God! We haven't even thought about it, to be honest, and have just focused on these six episodes. Whatever happens with the show and recommissioning, we'll just wait and see. This is my first TV series since leaving EastEnders and I'm just treating it like a one-off for now."
Can you tell us anything about the plotlines?
"The first one is how our characters meet. I'm being chased by some gangsters and end up in the back of Jamie's cab. In that episode we get introduced again to the Winchester, which gets burned down and turned into a gastropub. The second episode has me organising a wedding and it stars Rik Mayall and Meera Syal, but in typical Archie style it all goes t*ts up. There's another one where I think I've found a Banksy work of art and I open up an art gallery, which again goes t*ts up.There's also a boxing match one, one where I'm pretending to be gay during a game of poker and one involving missing diamonds."
What else have you been working on apart from Minder?
"I've done a drama for ITV called Whatever It Takes, where I play a PR guru based on a Max Clifford type character, who is devoid of any information and is just short of being Satan. That's very, very different to what I usually do - he's a soulless character. I loved doing that because it's the eternal opposite to Archie Daley and the sort of lovable rogues I normally get."
Is there any chance you may go back to EastEnders for a short cameo or extended return?
"Three words: Never say never. I've still got mates on the show like Babs, who I occasionally text. I keep in touch with plenty of the cast and I'll probably meet a few at the christening of my daughter. I loved my time on EastEnders."
Minder begins Wednesday at 9pm on Five.
I remember the old Minder, pleasant, uncomplicated family show. I expect it has not changed too much.