"You Gotta Have Friends" (Series 1, Episode 11)

On the Slate @ the Minder Reunion 30th May!

https://cinemamuseum.org.uk/scheduled/minder-reunion-3/

"You Gotta Have Friends" (Series 1, Episode 11)

Pete, Mark and Andy take a look at You Gotta Have Friends, where Arthur’s loyalty to an old mate lands both him and Terry right in the middle of a very nasty mess involving fake bearer bonds, gangsters, and a dead man floating in the water. When “Pretty Billy” Gilpin turns up battered and desperate for help, Terry reluctantly chauffeurs him out of London — only for Billy to end up dead soon afterwards. Before long, Arthur and Terry are being leaned on by violent heavyweight Bobby Altman, who reckons they know exactly where Billy’s missing stash has gone. The lads discuss one of the darker episodes of early Minder, with Arthur genuinely out of his depth for once, Terry trying to keep everybody alive, and a cracking turn from George Baker as the menacing Altman. Plus there’s chat about dodgy aristocrats, Arthur’s gift for attracting trouble, and why this one feels more like a proper London gangster film than a cosy caper. Slate it, Dave!

"The Dessert Song" (Series 1, Episode 10)

Pete, Mark and Andy sit down with The Dessert Song, where Arthur gets involved in the restaurant business for all the wrong reasons — mainly because he fancies the owner and reckons there’s probably a free meal in it somewhere. After Terry and Arthur step in to help a bloke getting a hiding in the street, they find themselves caught up in a messy family feud at a Greek restaurant, complete with dodgy relatives, old grudges, and people losing their tempers every five minutes. Terry ends up playing peacekeeper while Arthur wanders about acting like he owns the place. The lads chat about Arthur’s terrible flirting, Terry getting dragged into yet another situation he wants no part of, and why this episode manages to be funny, tense, and slightly chaotic all at once. Slate it, Dave!

"Monday Night Fever" (Series 1, Episode 9)

This week on On The Slate, Pete, Andy and Mark head into Minder’s “Monday Night Fever”, where Arthur Daley fancies himself as a music impresario and, as ever, is completely out of his depth. When Arthur discovers Sharon Dobbs, an aspiring singer with big dreams and a questionable set of pipes, he’s convinced he’s found a goldmine. Before long, he’s promising gigs, talking up her talent, and putting money behind a showcase at a seedy nightclub run by exactly the sort of people Arthur should know better than to trust. Terry, naturally, isn’t buying any of it and finds himself dragged along for the ride as things start to unravel. The big night doesn’t quite go to plan, the cracks begin to show, and Arthur is left facing the reality that not every opportunity is the “little earner” he thinks it is. Pete, Andy and Mark break it all down with the usual mix of insight and humour, taking in the clubland setting, the guest performances, and an episode that shows what happens when Arthur’s confidence finally meets its match.

"Come In T-64, Your Time is Ticking Away" (Series 1, Episode 8)

When a minicab firm Arthur’s got a stake in starts taking a pasting — drivers getting roughed up, motors getting wrecked — it looks like someone’s trying to send a message. Keen to protect his investment (and more importantly, his profits), Arthur sends Terry in undercover as a driver to find out who’s behind it.What follows is less a simple protection job and more a slow-burning stitch-up, as Terry works the rank and realises the attacks aren’t random at all. With tensions rising, livelihoods on the line, and Arthur sniffing an angle as always, it becomes clear someone very close to the business has their own agenda — and they’re willing to play dirty to get what they want.Pete, Mark and Andy dig into an early, grittier episode of Minder that leans into the realities of late-70s London — part character piece, part low-level crime story — with Terry doing the legwork while Arthur circles for the best deal.And of course, there’s the small matter of the On the Slate Hall of Fame — who’s earned their place this week, and who’s been sent packing?So, keep your head down, watch who you’re working for… Slate it, Dave.