The title of the film and book comes from the only two words the two girls remember their mum's friend saying "Hideous" and "Kinky". Bea in particular uses the words in a game that the girls play which is similar to "tag" but if she shouts "Hideous Kinky" before her sister tags her she is free.
Kate Winslet met her first husband, Jim Threapleton, on the set of this film. He was the third assistant director.
The movie was filmed from October 1997 to December 1997, around the same time Titanic (1997) was becoming a global sensation.
Kate Winslet started the production in a heavily weakened state as she was recovering from a severe case of amoebic dysentery. The illness had caused her to miss the London premiere of Titanic (1997).