Clearly, I'm way too young to remember the original Minder series (why are you laughing?) with Dennis "Write the Feem Choon, Sing the Feem Choon" Waterman and George Cole. But watching the repeats currently running on ITV4, it's now as dated as Ashes to Ashes.

So it was a wise decision by Five not to borrow any of the storylines used in the 1980s' incarnation for its brand new version.

They've got the basics right. Arthur Daley is replaced by his nephew Archie, a loveable London geezer played by Shane Richie who's really stretching his acting limits three years on from loveable London geezer Alfie Moon in EastEnders.

Terry McCann, the original minder, is now cabbie Jamie Cartwright, who we were asked to believe willingly accepted Archie's offer of employment despite the spiv getting him landed in jail, involved in a car chase that ended with his taxi all but written off, left bloodied in a knife fight, tangled up with mobsters and caught on CCTV stealing documents from a corrupt councillor, all in Wednesday's opening episode.

The Arthur Daley malapropisms are delivered in all their subtle glory by Archie: "Let me repay you for the inconvenience, I want to make amendments."

"Do I look like a criminal? I'm somewhat bereaved by that comment."

"Miss Bennett is a very tricky bickie, but I've used my inconsiderate charm."

And even though it's disappointing that they didn't get Richie to sing the feem choon purely for comedy value, the signs look good for the new Minder.

The world is their lobster.