A nice little Christmas earner

MARION MCMULLEN looks back at how Minder served up a festive treat 40 years ago

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George Cole (left) and Dennis Waterman starred together in seven series of Minder in the 70s and 80s

"WHAT do you want tickets to a Chinese takeaway for?" Arthur Daley asked of his minder Terry 40 years ago.

Terry replied: "The Orient Express is not a Chinese takeaway. It's a famous train."

So began ITV's 1985 Christmas Day special of Minder. Minder On The Orient Express ventured into Agatha Christie territory with a train full of suspect passengers all eager to get their hands on the money of a dead gangster.