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| Funeral of Minder star George Cole held in Reading | Funeral of Minder star George Cole held in Reading |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The theme tune to the series that made actor George Cole a TV favourite has been played at his funeral. | The theme tune to the series that made actor George Cole a TV favourite has been played at his funeral. |
| Cole, who died on 5 August aged 90, was best known as Cockney wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley in Minder, a role he played for 15 years from 1979 to 1994. | Cole, who died on 5 August aged 90, was best known as Cockney wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley in Minder, a role he played for 15 years from 1979 to 1994. |
| Reading a eulogy during the ceremony at Reading Crematorium, Dennis Waterman, said of his time as Cole's co-star: "We laughed all day long, every day". | Reading a eulogy during the ceremony at Reading Crematorium, Dennis Waterman, said of his time as Cole's co-star: "We laughed all day long, every day". |
| The upbeat song "I Could Be So Good for You" was a hit for Waterman in 1980. | The upbeat song "I Could Be So Good for You" was a hit for Waterman in 1980. |
| Waterman, 67, played Arthur Daley's likeable bodyguard Terry McCann in the hit series. | Waterman, 67, played Arthur Daley's likeable bodyguard Terry McCann in the hit series. |
| Delivering the eulogy at the 30-minute service, he said: "People are always asking me for anecdotes. Working with George was an anecdote. It was non-stop. | Delivering the eulogy at the 30-minute service, he said: "People are always asking me for anecdotes. Working with George was an anecdote. It was non-stop. |
| "It's a wonderful day I suppose, but a horrible one. Personally I would rather be doing Hamlet with no rehearsals than this." | "It's a wonderful day I suppose, but a horrible one. Personally I would rather be doing Hamlet with no rehearsals than this." |
| Speaking after the service, Waterman added: "He was just the most popular person in showbiz and the nicest and the best. | Speaking after the service, Waterman added: "He was just the most popular person in showbiz and the nicest and the best. |
| "He was happiest when he was at home, when he was getting a few winners, and with his family and in his garden." | "He was happiest when he was at home, when he was getting a few winners, and with his family and in his garden." |
| Cole's widow Penny, whom he married in 1967, read David Harkins' poem He Is Gone during the service. | |
| She read the line: "You can open your eyes and see all that he has left", before jokingly adding, "all those television repeats". | |
| Cole's defining role, as the small-time crook who dreamt of bigger things, regularly drew audiences of 17 million for the ITV show. | |
| The actor, who lived in Stoke Row near Henley, Oxfordshire, also played Flash Harry in four St Trinian's films between 1954-66, starred opposite Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra, as well as gothic horror The Vampire Lovers. | |
| He began acting in the early 1940s, appearing with Lawrence Olivier in The Demi-Paradise, and taking a small role in Olivier's star-studded Henry V. | He began acting in the early 1940s, appearing with Lawrence Olivier in The Demi-Paradise, and taking a small role in Olivier's star-studded Henry V. |
| Cole was "surrounded by his family" when he died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, his agent has said. | Cole was "surrounded by his family" when he died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, his agent has said. |