Many people consider the 1996 Christmas trilogy the story's true conclusion rather than the 2001/2002/2003 trilogy; that was the moment the curtain came down on Only Fools and Horses (1981). David Jason acknowledged that the critics felt they shouldn't have gone back to it, that the bow so neatly tied in 1996 was now undone again. But the public wanted more, and so did the BBC, and since John Sullivan was writing it, everyone felt obligated to return.
The sign at the solicitor's office list's two other firms : "BRABBINS, MILLS, CATLIN and McCARTHY" and "RHODES, HOLLIDAY and DEVENEY". Anna BRABBINS was the Stage Manager; Reg MILLS, Sound Recordist; Marcus CATLIN, 1st Assistant Director and Caroline McCARTHY, Location Manager. John RHODES, the Director of Photography; Dave HOLLIDAY, the Grip and Pat DEVENEY, the Lighting Gaffer.
A scene in this episode has Del and Rodney talking about making a film starring Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. Gibson and Roberts are the main stars of the 1997 film Conspiracy Theory.
Some parts of the movie idea that Del and Rodney concoct sound remarkably similar to the plot of Lost which debuted on ABC television in the U.S. the following year.