This episode takes place in Cornwall in the 17th century.
Several of the cast and crew suffered seasickness during filming scenes set on board the Black Albatross.
This episode was wiped by the BBC and no copy of it is known to exist.
According to Derek Ware, in the original script the role of The Spaniard was a speaking part but his lines were cut before filming.
The first pirate story in Doctor Who (1963). The 2nd Doctor, Jamie and Zoe encountered space pirates led by Caven aboard a stolen space beacon in Doctor Who: The Space Pirates - Episode 1 (1969). The 4th Doctor, Romana and K9 encountered the space pirate The Captain on the pirate planet Zanak in Doctor Who: The Pirate Planet - Episode 1 (1978) and The 11th Doctor, Amy and Rory encountered the crew of a pirate ship in Doctor Who: The Curse of the Black Spot (2011).