bodyguard

THE bodyguard who inspired the Minder TV character Terry McCann has died aged 75, it was revealed last night.

Michael “Danny” Francis was a former boxer and one-time drug dealer.

The Londoner guarded stars including Paul McCartney, Cher and members of Led Zeppelin and Kiss.

McCann — played by the late Dennis Waterman in the 1980s — was based on his combination of brawn and charm.

Millions of ITV viewers loved the fictional bodyguard and his wheeler-dealer boss Arthur Daley — the late George Cole.

Gary Webster, 61, and Lex Shrapnel, 46, later played other minders in reboots of the hit show.

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Waterman wrote of Francis in his autobiography: “If push came to shove, boy could he sort things out.”

Francis is survived by his wife June — who he married in 1970 — and their three children.

The show was set in working-class west London and was largely responsible for introducing the word “minder” into British slang.

Minder brought London’s criminal underworld to millions.

Waterman left the role in 1989 after his seventh series

He even sang the theme tune for the iconic telly show.

SINGER Louis Tomlinson has donated £4,000 to help fund life-saving surgery for a bodyguard who looked after One Direction. 

The Lemonade singer, 33, pitched in hours after learning former minder Preston Mahon, 54, was staring down the barrel without urgent help. 

Preston, who texted Louis his thanks, told The Sun: “I’m so appreciative. It means the world to me.” 

Close protection officer Preston — who guarded Louis and bandmates Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan — was forced to end his 27-year security career owing to deteriorating mobility.

Doctors discovered a clogged artery in his left thigh and he had angioplasty to clear it at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.  

He was told he could have the procedure every two years but the rules changed after Covid, he said. 

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On his last visit, he says a doctor told him: “Both arteries are blocked in both legs and there’s nothing I can do.

“The next time I see you will be for bypass and amputation.” 

Preston used all his savings and borrowed from relatives and friends to pay for a private op in Spain to have stents fitted and is now £16,000 in debt.

He hopes to raise £35,000 to pay for the same procedure on his troublesome right leg.  

Preston, now a machine operator for Cadbury, said: “My dad organised for me to see an expert in Madrid who did his knees. 

“He phoned my father after the op and told him, ‘We just did life-saving surgery on your son’. 

“After the operation it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders but now I desperately need this second operation to have a chance of living out my years without pain.  

“I’ve never asked for money but I’ve got nothing left.

“My family finances have been exhausted.”

Grandad Preston, of Birmingham, who also looked after Simon Cowell, Westlife, Boyzone and Leona Lewis, is raising money through GoFundMe and, with the help of ID fans, already has more than £6,300. 

On Louis’ donation on Wednesday, he said: “I can’t thank him enough.

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting that.  

“I sent Louis a text personally saying thank you.

“All the boys from One Direction mean the world to me.

“I met up with all the lads again at Liam’s funeral exactly a year ago.  

“It was the saddest time ever but a lovely reunion.” 

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He added: “I also previously worked with Freddie Starr and went to his funeral. 

“It’s hard seeing people you cared for go and I don’t want to join them yet.”