The series takes place from 1853 to 1918.
Michael Kitchen reprised his role as Leon Trotsky on stage in Robert Bolt's play State of Revolution.
Curd Jürgens, Maurice Denham, Vernon Dobtcheff, Leon Lissick, and Michael Bryant appeared in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), which had covered some of the same historical events.
Gemma Jones played Queen Victoria's daughter in this mini-series, and Queen Victoria in Shanghai Knights (2003).
The first BBC role of Curd Jürgens.