The fictional town of Royston Vasey is the real name of comedian Roy Chubby Brown. He appears in Series 2 as Larry Vaughn, the town's mayor.

The real-life setting for Royston Vasey is Hadfield, Derbyshire. Many of the shops and buildings, both interiors and exteriors, were used in the show.

Vasey's vicar, Bernice Woodall, is based on Denise Richards, the agony aunt from daytime magazine TV show Richard & Judy.

Alvin Steele is based on a hotel owner in Brighton who the Gents encountered. He would wander about as his guests ate, telling pointless stories. He had a very glamorous wife, similar to Sunny in the TV show.

Advert director Jed Hunter's look is based on Steve Bendelack, who directs the show.

When Jed watches Geoff perform his miserable stand-up act in Series 3, the scene was filmed at the Canal Café Theatre in London, where the League performed regularly when they were trying to break into comedy.

Cabbie Barbara Dixon was played by Paul H. Marshall in Series 1 and 2, but Michael Gallagher in Series 3, because Paul was poorly. We never see Barbara's face... her voice is recorded by Steve Pemberton.

Benjamin's encounter with the Dentons is based loosely on Jeremy Dyson's experiences staying with relatives when he was younger. He was told to make himself comfortable, yet there were a lot of house rules. One night he accidentally locked one of his relatives out of the house because the locks were so complicated.

Pauline is based on Reece's restart officer when he was on the dole. Her interview for pushing trolleys round Asda car park is based on when Reece applied for the job, but was told he was too clever for it.

In Series 3, the Gents' mothers are in the opening prison scenes. Mrs Dyson, Mrs Gatiss, and Mrs Shearsmith are eating food at the table-tennis table, and Mrs Pemberton is playing pool with Pauline (she gives Pauline a high five).

The policeman character who goes to the Local Shop in the first episode was called Bobby Woodward... he was named by the writers after the actor Edward Woodward, who played the policeman in The Wicker Man.

Ollie Plimsolls is based on a real person who Reece worked with when he was involved in theatre in education.