Geoffrey Perkins realised he had a triumph on his hands when he received a letter addressed to Megadodo Publications, Ursa Minor. The Post Office had written 'Try BBC' in the corner.

The Man in the Shack - who rules the universe - was originally to have been played by Jonathan Pryce. He ended up playing Zarniwoop, as Douglas hadn't written the script for the bit he was in yet.

Douglas' script brinkmanship reached extraordinary levels on the second series. By the final programme, Douglas was typing the script in one room, which was then whisked into the studio for the actors to record.

As the sound effects were hurriedly added, the tape got tangled in a machine. The engineers had to cut it away with a razor blade and splice it back together. Half an hour before broadcast the tape was rushed from the Maida Vale studios to Broadcasting House by taxi.