The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Recalling comic legend George Cole’s ‘top’ moments
The actor George Cole has left us, after 90 years on Earth, 70 of them as a great entertainer. The tributes flowed, as might be expected for TV’s Arthur Daley, an icon of the ’80s’ pursuit of wealth, whatever the cost. This splendid character actor gave us one of popular culture’s best rogues, with warmth and vulnerability alongside his dodginess.
But, despite a long career on screens big and small, George Cole meant one big thing to me. While everyone else was talking about St Trinian’s and Minder, I was thinking of the 1983 Christmas novelty pop hit What Are We Gonna Get ’Er Indoors?
Mostly spoken, this masterpiece of uncomfortable listening has Cole and co-star Dennis Waterman playing their characters from Minder and discussing what to get Arthur’s wife for Christmas. It’s catchy, when you’re not cringing at the weak humour and cockney nonsense. It’s gloriously funny for unintended reasons.
It is a peculiar idea that, when someone is famous, a record producer might decide they should release a pop song. It’s infrequent these days, probably because reality TV is fulfilling trashy celebrity needs, but there was a time when pretty much anyone with a public profile could get on Top of the Pops, as Cole and Waterman did, while their record soared to number 21 in the charts.
There are many examples of crossover fame but the biggest mistake is to take yourself too seriously, a la Samantha Fox. It’s better to be in on the joke.
This is the musical sub-genre that gave us Hylda Baker and Arthur Mullard singing You’re the One That I Want, in full costume, in an incredible cover version in 1978.
Granted, there have been abominations like the careers of Mr Blobby and Timmy Mallett but it’s worth the risk to get gems like Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) by Benny Hill. I even have a soft spot for Grandad by Clive Dunn. Sorry.
If all of this seems disrespectful to George Cole, it’s not. While we tip our trilbies to the entertainer, let’s remember his brief top-40 success with a smile.
Well, maybe a smirk.
I even have a soft spot for Grandad by Clive Dunn. Sorry