The tortoise pictured is actually Jonathan, a male Seychelles giant tortoise. He lives on the island of St. Helena and never belonged to Darwin.
Sheila McCarthy's (Connie Hendrix) real life daughter, Mackenzie Donaldson is co-producer of this episode.
Maria Doyle Kennedy (Siobhan Sadler) and James Frain (Ferdinand Chevalier) have previously worked together in the TV show The Tudors (2007). They played Queen Catherine of Aragon and Thomas Cromwell, respectively.