The original airing of this episode included a brief exchange where Del reminds Rodney that Reg didn't know if Grandad was alive or dead in the eighteen years he'd been gone, and Rodney comments that they never seem to know either. Following Lennard Pearce's death less than a year later this exchange was removed from the episode, with it not being restored for any subsequent airing or home media release.
This episode was the final appearance of Grandad on the series. He did appear in the educational feature Only Fools and Horses: Licensed to Drill (1984) which was shown in schools from 1984 onwards. Lennard Pearce died during production of the fourth series.
Peter Woodthorpe was cast as Reg Trotter because of his resemblance to David Jason, although Jason himself claimed he could not see any likeness.
The manner of Reg's departure meant that John Sullivan thought it impossible for the character to return because "he'd blotted his copybook so badly that I couldn't see Del ever accepting him again". Reg was later a main character in Rock & Chips (2010).
Peter Woodthorpe {Reg Trotter) was only nine years older than his screen son, David Jason (Del).