For the German-speaking markets, 'Riget' was translated into 'Hospital der Geister - The Kingdom', as a direct translation, 'Das Reich', for obvious reasons was deemed inappropriate.
The large factory-like building that Dr. Helmer (Ernst-Hugo Järegård) surveys with his binoculars from the hospital roof is the Swedish Nuclear Power Plant at Barsebäck. Due to its proximity to Copenhagen it was a frequent source of friction between the two countries until it was shut down in 2005.
The character name Stig Helmer, played by Ernst-Hugo Järegård, is taken from the name of the character Stig-Helmer Olsson (portrayed by Lasse Åberg) which is the protagonist in the long running Swedish comedy movie series of "Sällskapsresan" (Sällskapsresan (1980) & Snowroller - Sällskapsresan II (1985)) during the 80's and 90's. The character Stig-Helmer Olsson is the epitome of Swedish dullness and strictness, which is somewhat parallel to the character of Stig Helmer as an unsympathetic Swede.
Despite (maybe even because of) his character's Dane-detesting attitude, Ernst-Hugo Järegård (Stig Helmer) became hugely popular in Denmark in the wake of Riget, and was even considered a sex symbol by many Danish women - much to his own surprise.
The dishwashers' voices had to be dubbed throughout the first series, as it proved impossible for the two actors to recite their lines correctly.