The iconic ITV comedy-drama Minder has become the latest classic television programme to receive content warnings on the ITVX streaming platform.
Episodes of the beloved series now carry disclaimers alerting viewers to "offensive language, outmoded sexual stereotypes and some violence".
The programme, which originally aired between 1979 and 1994, featured George Cole as dodgy entrepreneur Arthur Daley and Dennis Waterman as his bodyguard Terry McCann.
The warnings have been applied to multiple episodes across the show's 10 series run.
Dennis Waterman and George Cole in Minder
|GETTY
This development follows a pattern of similar disclaimers being added to other classic British programmes, including detective series Inspector Morse and sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
One particular episode from 1980, titled "Whose Wife Is It Anyway?", demonstrates the nature of content that prompted these warnings.
In this episode, Terry uses Cockney rhyming slang to refer to a gay man as a "raving iron" whilst discussing a couple who operate an antique shop.
The episode also features Terry telling Arthur to "give him a kiss from me" when visiting one of the men in hospital.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Dennis Waterman and George Cole starred in the classic comedy-drama
|GETTY
Additionally, Terry mentions he won't stay at the couple's flat because he wants to "enjoy a few drinks" and "pull a bird".
Sexual content includes Terry describing his encounter with an older woman as "smashing", contributing to the outdated stereotypes warning.
The trend extends beyond Minder, with Inspector Morse episodes now featuring pre-warnings for crime scenes and violence.
The detective series, which ran from 1987 to 2000, includes alerts for "satanic images" in one episode titled "Day of the Devil", which requires a parental lock.
Only Fools and Horses has similarly been affected, with multiple episodes across its run carrying disclaimers. "The Russians are Coming" from the first series warns of "offensive racial language of the time", whilst the 1985 Christmas special "To Hull and Back" alerts viewers to "dated attitudes and behaviours and racist language".
Senior MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke criticised these measures, stating: "This is another example of soft-touch Britain seeping into everything."
ITV slapped the warning on its streaming service ITV X
| PAMinder creator Leon Griffiths' series became a cultural phenomenon during its original run, with Arthur Daley's catchphrases like "'er indoors", "the world is your lobster" and "nice little earner" entering common usage.
George Cole even achieved chart success in 1983 with the novelty Christmas single "What Are We Gonna Get For 'Er Indoors".
Minder's Dennis Waterman and George Cole
|GETTY
The programme returned briefly on Channel 5 in 2009 with Shane Richie playing Arthur's nephew Archie.
Waterman, who died in 2022 aged 74, was renowned for singing the show's theme tune, as he did for his later series New Tricks.
ITV has previously stated regarding content warnings: "Programming that contains politically sensitive or distressing themes, content, or language has carried appropriate warnings since our launch."