A fitting tribute to a much loved rogue: George Cole's iconic 'Arfur' hat takes pride of place at his funeral as Dennis Waterman says emotional farewell to the most liked man in acting 

• The funeral service for George Cole is held today at Reading Crematorium
• Veteran actor died aged 90 at Royal Berkshire Hospital earlier this month  
• Dennis Waterman described him as one of the 'nicest blokes in the world'

By Hannah Parry For Mailonline

Published: 06:31 EST, 13 August 2015 | Updated: 11:52 EST, 13 August 2015

Dennis Waterman has paid a tearful tribute to his former Minder co-star as friends and family gathered to say a final farewell to actor George Cole.

Cole, who died earlier this month aged 90, is best remembered for his portrayal of small-time wheeler dealer and crook Arthur Daley in the TV series, alongside his likeable bodyguard Terry McCann, played by Waterman.

Today his coffin entered Reading Crematorium to the theme tune to the popular series, which ran from 1979 to 1994 and brought the criminal underworld of west London to millions of homes up and down the country. 

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Emotional: Minder actor Dennis Waterman is lead tributes to his former co-star at the funeral today

A moving tribute: George Cole's trilby is left on display at the service in Reading in honour of the Minder star

Cole is best known as loveable rogue Arthur Daley from the TV series Minder, with Waterman as his likeable bodyguard Terry McCann

Delivering the eulogy, Waterman, who saw Cole the day before he died, described his co-star as the 'most liked man in the entire profession'.

'I was lucky enough to spend the Tuesday with him before he died,' he said. 'His wit hadn't left him at all, most of his weight had but his wit was still there.

'At the end of the afternoon I said: 'Right, you, do exactly as you are told right.' And he raised one of those eyebrows, posed a crooked grin and said 'b*****ks'. And I thought 'that's my George. Go on my son'. 

'People are always asking me for anecdotes. 'Working with George was an anecdote. It was non-stop. We laughed all day long, every day.

'I can't understand or bear to think how the family feel because I know how we feel. 

Dennis Waterman among mourners at George Cole's funeral

The hearse carrying George Cole's body arrived at the crematorium in Reading earlier this morning

The funerary procession is held for Minder star George Cole at a crematorium in Reading, Berkshire

Cole's wicker casket is carried into the crematorium where family, friends and fellow actors are waiting for his service

The wreath strewn coffin was carried in for the funeral service to George Cole which began this morning at 11.30am

The order of service for the funeral of George Cole OBE whose family are passing donations onto the Injured Jockey's Fund

'It's a wonderful day I suppose but a horrible one. Personally I would rather be doing Hamlet with no rehearsals than this.'

Waterman added that he was 'pleasantly surprised' when reading the final paragraph of Cole's IMDB profile which described his former co-star as 'one of Britain's most enduring actors, one of only a handful of actors who can claim to have had a 75-year career' and who was 'an extremely likeable, charismatic man'.

'As you can understand, I loved this man and we are here to celebrate his passing so I'll leave the rest of it to you,' Waterman said.

Cole passed away in hospital on August 5 with his wife and son at his bedside, following a short illness. 

His widow Penny, whom he married in 1967, read David Harkins's poem He Is Gone during the service.

She said: 'You can open your eyes and see all that he has left', before jokingly adding in the line, 'all those television repeats.'

Mr Waterman and his wife Pam arrive at the star-studded funeral which is being held at Reading Crematorium

Waterman (left) who once described Cole as one of the 'nicest blokes in the world' and fellow Minder co-star co-star Patrick Malahide (right) at his funeral

Simon Williams, who also featured in Minder, and his actress wife Lucy Fleming - the niece of James Bond writer Ian Fleming arrive at the service

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.' 

Derek Webster, long-term friend of Cole and agent to Waterman, said ahead of today's service the actor was a 'sweetheart'.

Mr Webster said he expected the service to be a 'celebration of Cole's life' and compared Waterman to the former Minder star.

'Dennis is a bit like George,' he said. 'When they did strike up a friendship they became very close.'

He added: 'Everyone that worked with George absolutely fell in love with him. There was absolutely nothing about him that you could dislike.

'He didn't follow the press and if you saw him on set you would see him sitting doing the Times crossword very quietly.' 

His widow Penny Morrell (centre) with her son Toby (right) gather outside the crematorium

George Cole OBEs daughter parepares to say her final goodbye to her father who died earlier this mont

George Cole's widow Penny Morrell (second from left) with their children Toby (left) and Tara Cole (centre), with his co-star Dennis Waterman (second from right) and his wife Pam Flint (right)

Shortly after his death, Waterman had paid tribute to his friend, and said: 'It's a long time we've known each other. He was just one of the nicest blokes in the world and we loved working together.' 

Fellow stars of stage and screen also paid tribute to the actor, describing him as 'immaculate' and 'unforgettable'.

Sir Roger Moore said: 'How sad to hear George Cole has gone to that great cutting room in the sky. A lovely actor. A gentleman'.

Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, said: 'George Cole was a wonderful actor and he has a very special place in the public's affection. He will be greatly missed.' 

Cole became a household name for his portrayal of the dodgy second-hand car dealer in the hit show Minder which ran for 15 years, with over 100 episode across 10 seasons.

His catchphrases on the show, such as ''er indoors' and 'nice little earner', became part of popular British culture. 

Mrs Morrell and Waterman both said goodbye to Cole who died aged 90 earlier this month

Former Minder co-stars Waterman (left) and Malahide (right) comfort each other at George Cole's funeral

He played the leading character, Daley, throughout with audiences peaking at over 16 million. 

'George always said there was nothing of Arthur Daley in him - that was slightly untrue, he made a few quid here and there when he was in the RAF, if you know what I mean,' Waterman said. 

His career has spanned more than 70 years and before his death he had urged a director to 'get a move on,' because he wanted to make one more film. 

Spencer Hawken told how he had spoken to the veteran star last year to tell him the movie, Road Rage, had been delayed.

'The last time I spoke to George was to let him know the movie had been delayed and he said 'please get a move on, I would like to make another movie before I die',' he said.

'I am absolutely mortified.'

Born in 1925 Cole, who was adopted as a baby and grew up in Morden, south London, began his career in musical theatre when he left school, before getting his break in films in the 1940s.

As a 14-year-old he was taken in by comedy star Alastair Sim and his wife Naomi, who became a second mother to him, and Cole went on to star in a series of films and theatre shows with the Scottish star.

Patrick Malahide (centre) attends the funeral of George Cole accompanies by scores of the popular actor best known for his portrayal of Arthur Daley

Married couple Simon Williams and Lucy Fleming are pictured preparing for his funeral of their friend George Cole who passed away at the age of 90

Dennis Waterman (second left) played likeable bodyguard Terry McCann to small-time wheeler dealer and crook Arthur Daley (played by Cole) in the TV show Minder

Cole appeared in the 1943 film The Demi-Paradise opposite Laurence Olivier and in Olivier's film version of Henry V the following year, before serving with the Royal Air Force from 1944 to 1947.

His role as the spiv 'Flash Harry' in four of the St Trinian's films in the 1950s proved an early prototype for his Arthur Daley character, and he played the character Flavius in the 1963 epic Cleopatra, opposite Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison.   

During the 1970s Mr Cole became a sought after actor and regularly appeared on both the big and small screen. 

He first appeared with his Minder co-star Dennis Waterman in the 1971 film Freight. 

Just eight years later they were cast together in the hit ITV show, Minder.

Cole's character, an ambitious but feckless small-time crook, spent each episode dreaming up another get-rich-quick scheme while avoiding the attentions of the police - in the form of Patrick Malahide's Mr Chisholm - and the never seen but often mentioned 'er indoors. 

It was one of the most popular programmes of the decade, garnering around 17.5 million viewers at its peak. 

In 1983 its stars even entered the charts with their duet 'What Are We Gonna Get 'Er Indoors?' which reached number 21.

Minder co-stars Patrick Malahide (left) and Dennis Waterman (right) outside the Reading Crematorium

A mourner comforted another woman outside the funeral service (left) while Patrick Malahide, who did a nine-year stint as Detective Sergeant Albert 'Cheerful Charlie' Chisholm in the popular TV series Minder, arrived at the crematorium (right) 

Friends and family arrive at the funeral to say their final farewells to the popular actor who died on August 5

George Cole delivers Arthur Daley's Goodbye Message 1994

Waterman eventually left the show, with Gary Webster stepping into the role for the last two series.

Minder came to an end after 15 years and 107 episodes because Cole wanted to spend more time with his own 'Er Indoors - his wife Penny.

Mr Cole, who was awarded an O.B.E by the Queen for services to drama in 1992, was twice married.

He continued working in later life, taking guest roles in shows such as Midsomer Murders, New Tricks - which also starred Waterman - and Heartbeat.

In January last year Mrs Cole told how her husband had become 'deeply depressed' after becoming embroiled in a dispute with a neighbour.

He was said to have become sick with worry about a saw mill being built next to him home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

'This is the last thing we need. It has made us both unwell,' Mrs Cole said.

'George has fallen and knocked himself and he is on hefty medication for other health problems. This is shaking what he values.'  

GEORGE COLE HAD A GLITTERING SHOWBIZ CAREER THAT SPANNED 70 YEARS  

George Cole pictured with Dennis Waterman

The Minder star was just 10 days old when he was put up for adoption and went to live with the Cole family.

He grew up in a council flat in Morden, south London, and started performing music hall routines on stage as a child with his parents who were both amateur musicians. 

He began acting when he left school aged 14 and got a job as an understudy in a musical in Blackpool, sharing his dressing room with the animal extras - two goats and six pigeons.

In 1941, at 15, he got his first major role in Cottage to Let, where he starred alongside Alastair Sim.

While still a teenager Sim took Cole under his wing - plucking the young actor from Blitz-hit London and took him in to his Oxfordshire home as an unofficial evacuee.

He stayed with Scottish star and his family until he was in his late 20s and attributed his early success to his mentor.

In total they appeared in 11 films together, including St Trinian's - a series based on the fictional girls' school created by cartoonist Ronald Searle

Cole appeared in the 1943 film The Demi-Paradise opposite Laurence Olivier and in Olivier's film version of Henry V the following year, before serving with the Royal Air Force from 1944 to 1947. 

He found real fame in the 1950s playing wheeler-dealer Flash Harry in the St Trinian's films, but will be best remembered for his part playing another cockney wideboy decades later.

His portrayal of camel-coated, cigar-puffing used car salesman Arthur Daley entertained viewers for more than 10 years with millions tuning in to watch him and Dennis Waterman's Terry McCann - the long-suffering minder of the title.

The show attracted around 17.5 million viewers at its peak and was shown in 70 countries. 

Daley-isms such as 'nice little earner' became a regular part of the language. 

Minder came to an end after 107 episodes. Pictured: Cole and Waterman in the hit show

His ''Er Indoors' catch-phrase was even adopted into the Oxford Dictionary of modern slang, meaning 'one's wife or girlfriend, a domineering woman'. 

But when Waterman was cast before George Cole he suggested Denholm Elliott for the role of Daley. He thought Cole would be too 'posh'.  

Guest stars included Adam Faith, Jimmy Nail, Suzi Quatro, Billy Connolly and Jackie Collins. No-one ever turned down a cameo role. 

Waterman eventually left the show, which ran from 1979 to 1994, with Gary Webster stepping into the role for the last two series.  

He went on to be a regular on stage, screen and radio and worked almost non-stop for more than 70 years. 

Cole, who was made an OBE in 1992, was twice married.

He tied the knot with actress Eileen Moore in 1954 and the couple divorced in 1962. Five years later he and Penny Morrell  said 'I do,' and the couple remained happily married until his death. 

In 2013 he published his autobiography The World Was My Lobster. 

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