At the pre-production stage, the initial idea of a factory setting was dismissed by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (the show could not be seen to promote products advertised on ITV). Thus limited, the setting was to be either the world of aeronautics or shipbuilding, with the former being selected by ATV as location-work would be far easier to shoot for an aviation-related project.
Ann Firbank temporarily replaced Barbara Murray as Pamela Wilder whilst the original actress was said to be engaged on another rôle. Firbank made all four of Pamela's appearances in the final run, before Murray resumed the part later in the year, in continuation series The Power Game (1965). (Firbank did play Pamela once more, for a 1966 satire of the latter show in the late-night revue BBC 3 (1965).)
Sixteen out of the seventeen editions made for the first series are not known to survive in the archives. The sole exception is the opener, Don't Worry About Me (1963).
Despite being given top billing, Patrick Wymark was absent from a few episodes. In addition, there were storylines which weren't tailor-made for his character John Wilder, and he consequently only had limited screen time.
Scott Furlong was loosely based on Handley Page Ltd., a small Hertfordshire aircraft manufacturing company formed in 1909, and which went into voluntary liquidation in 1970. Producer Rex Firkin instructed writers Geoffrey Bellman and John Whitney to prepare a document on the firm, which was given to prospective writers as an illustration of the set-up.
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