Although 20 episodes were filmed in total, only 10 are currently known to survive. There is 1 missing from the first season, 3 from the second, and 6 from the final run. Additionally, the soundtracks for 5 of the lost editions are known to survive, as does the festive mini-edition from A Christmas Night with the Stars (1958) (Episode dated 25 December 1964 (1964)).
Although a major part in the follow up sequel, Thelma Chambers was not seen in the original series. She is name-checked, however, as a fixture of Bob's love-life.
Top billing was alternated between Rodney Bewes and James Bolam for each episode. The tradition would also be carried over to the subsequent sequel series Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973).
James Bolam and Rodney Bewes both had game-changing roles in movies playing Tom Courtenay's sidekick: Bolam from The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, and Bewes in Billy Liar.
The show debuted on December 16 1964 on the newly launched BBC2 TV channel which began life in April of that year.