There are three different versions of how Jonny and Janet got together. In the first series, Gaz states that Jonny left his previous girlfriend for Janet. In series 2, it's Janet who left her boyfriend, Andy, for Jonny. In the musical special, they are both single and meet in a nightclub.
In the first series, the "Girl's Pub" is the Mayhew Inn, while the "Boy's Pub" is the Archer Hotel (in subsequent series only the Archer is used), a reference to script editor Paul Mayhew-Archer. Similarly the final end credit icon for the series title shows Nickson's ready salted crisps, a nod to the shows' creator Susan Nickson.
The shows' creator Susan Nickson has worked in media since she was 14, and was still attending high school when she created the show. Aspects of Louise's university life matched Nickson's.
A Comic Relief special joined together all three BBC 3 sitcoms Susan Nickson created, creating a shared universe between this show, "Grown Ups" and "Coming of Age".
The shows two main couples actors have previously appeared in other shows. Ralf Littel and Sheridan Smith who play Johnny and Janet played a couple in The Royle Family and Will Mellor and Natalie Casey were in Hollyoaks.