At the time of the original series' production, the Cricket St. Thomas estate - the location for Grantleigh - was owned by the father-in-law of creator and writer Peter Spence, a Mr Taylor.

The final episode of the series proper, broadcast in November 1981, attracted a record-breaking audience of 24 million. This figure was not surpassed by any other single sitcom episode until the Only Fools And Horses Christmas trilogy of 1996. It is still one of the highest rated British sitcom episodes of all time.

Peter Penry-Jones, who plays Julian Gayforth in the last two episodes, is the real life husband of Angela Thorne (Marjory).

The Lodge, which appears to be a short distance from Grantleigh Manor, is in actual fact approximately a mile away from the house. The effect of their close proximity was achieved with fake gateposts in a number of key scenes.