Date: Winter 1908 (from opening caption).

Rooms: The morning room light switch has vanished again.

The first appearance of Lawrence Kirbridge, played by Ian Ogilvy.

Lawrence background: He went to Winchester (public school) and then to Cambridge (University). His father was a professor of physics.

The role of Evelyn Larkin was originally intended for UpDown's co-creator, Eileen Atkins. As with the part of Sarah, Atkins turned down the role.

Georgia Brown (Evelyn Larkin) was a well-known singer and actress and had appeared in London and Broadway musicals as well as TV period pieces like The Edwardians (1972-3, appearing in one of the episodes as music-hall star Marie Lloyd) and the suffragette drama Shoulder To Shoulder (1974 – which she also co-created). Her stage work earned her two Tony nominations (for Oliver! in 1963 and The Threepenny Opera in 1990). She died in 1992.

The poem Lawrence is reciting is Second Best, written by Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) (13'35"). Lawrence's character was loosely based on Brooke's.

Note that at 15'44" Lawrence and Evelyn are clearly stated to be sleeping together. This contradicts frequent statements by writers that Lawrence's character was gay.

The Rotten Row is a sand-covered track in Hyde Park. In the Victorian and Edwardian eras it was a popular pastime for the upper classes to ride on horse or in their carriages up and down the row in order to show off to their friends.

Goof?: Doesn't Mrs Bridges' need for a dozen loaves on a Sunday evening seem a little over the top? (22'33")

Elizabeth background: She turns 21 in this episode. Her Aunt Helena once danced naked on the lawns of Southwold – this could be a reference to a sister of Lady Marjorie but, more likely, is intended to be the same Helena as mentioned in Magic Casements, who was Elizabeth's great-aunt (23'42").

The poem Lawrence is reciting is from Atalanta In Calydon written in 1865 by Algernon Charles Swinburne, a controversial poet who lived from 1837–1909 (20').

Goof: Richard and Lady Marjorie enter the morning room after Evelyn has come down from dancing on the table, despite rebuking Elizabeth for Evelyn's behaviour. Similarly, none of the servants are present during the time Evelyn is on the table, despite Rose later mentioning it (34'33").

Goof: Where does Gustave (who passes out in the hall from drink) disappear to? (31'47")

Richard background: He is MP for Hampstead (45'13") (cf. The Property of a Lady).
Reader Justin comments: "Evelyn Larkin calls Richard '...the Right Honourable member for Hampstead-on-Lyme,' but I think it's clear from context she doesn't mean it literally. As it doesn't even make fictional sense, she surely pokes fun at him; stuffy, middle-class Tories live in Hampstead and Lyme. It's safe to assume he always was the MP for Beckenham South."