The idea for the script was based on John Sullivan's holiday to Portugal, and discovering that he wasn't booked on the plane.
One of only three episodes showing the Trotters' 'fourth wall'. The view from the balcony looking in to the flat was used once before in To Hull And Back when Del throws £15,000 out of the window. In It's Only Rock & Roll, the TV set is seen in the corner of the room along with about half of the fourth wall.