Brian Miller was the original choice for the role of Bob Ferris before Rodney Bewes.

Although 20 episodes of TLL were filmed in total, only 8 survive today. The rest were wiped by the BBC during the 1970s.

After 1974, WHTTLL was not repeated until 1995, when it aired in its entirety on BBC 2. The 20-year delay was allegedly due to James Bolam's reluctance to grant permission for its broadcast. It went on to become a short-term staple of cable channels, but has not featured on terrestrial TV in the UK since 2000. The movie spin-off usually appears at least once a year on TV, routinely around Christmas.

One of the most notable continuity points about the show is the idea that Terry has been away in the army for "five years". However, there was a real-life gap of six and a half years between the original series ending in 1966 and this one starting in 1973. Also, there are numerous references to the lads' shared adventures from around 1967, when in 'real life' Terry would not have been around then.

The boys' work mentor from the original 1960s series, Clough, does not feature. It is mentioned in the first episode though that he now runs a newsagent's shop.

Terry's full name is Terence Daniel Collier, born February 29th, 1944. Bob's full name is Robert Andrew Scarborough Ferris, born a week earlier. These dates can be worked out from dialogue in the episode 'Birthday Boy'. The 'Scarborough' in Bob's name comes from the fact that he was allegedly conceived there, but this is contradicted slightly in the opening flashback sequence of the 1976 movie. Terry's 'silver tankard' joke in his best man's speech at the end of Season 1 also seems to infer that he, not Bob, turned 21 first.

Thelma's full maiden name is Thelma Ingrid Chambers.

The lads attended Park Infant School, Park Junior School and Park Secondary Modern School. Thelma was with them for infants and juniors, and then went to 'the grammar school'. Notable school romances for the boys included the revered Deirdre Birchwood. The lads also were in the Scouts together.

Bob's immediate neighbours at his new home are the Lawsons and the Jefcotes, again never actually seen in the show. A couple called the Nortons are also later referenced as living next door.

Two running jokes throughout the show are never fully explained: Terry's supposedly injured leg and his aggressive preoccupation with being referred to as 'wiry' rather than 'thin' or 'slim'.

Terry's never-seen West German wife was called Ute Baumgarten. They married in November 1969 and split seven months later in June 1970 when West Germany defeated England in the football World Cup. Confusingly, Terry later says they were married for two years, on and off, which further clouds the continuity issue of Terry's time away.

It is revealed that the boys used to be in a skiffle group called Rob Ferris And The Wildcats. Other group members included Maurice 'Memphis' Hardaker, named after a real-life friend of the show's co-creator and co-writer Ian La Frenais.

Thelma's father, played by Bill Owen, is called George Chambers. Her younger sister is Susan, who lives with her accountant fiancé in Toronto, Canada.

Terry is younger than his sisters Audrey and Linda (never seen) and their parents are Edith and Cyril. Terry's father is not featured in either colour series; neither is Bob's father, Leslie. Bob's mother Alice occasionally appears however. It also seems to be inferred that Bob's father wasn't around when Bob, an only child, was growing up. Terry's dad is not dead or absent, though: he is continually referenced, but not actually seen, throughout this series and also during the 1976 movie.

Bob lost his virginity to a 'Wendy Thwaites' according to an episode in Season 1 - she scored 8 stars out of 7 on his scoring system.

Pubs frequented by the lads include The Fat Ox and The Wheatsheaf.

The leather-bound photograph album that Bob gives Terry on his wedding day is the same one seen in the show's opening credits.

Terry's address is given as 127 Inkerman Terrace, but external shots clearly show a different house number. Bob lives at Number 8 on an unspecified avenue in the Elm Lodge housing estate.

The two stars alternated 'top billing' on each episode. Therefore, some episodes begin with "Starring James Bolam....Rodney Bewes", and some with "Starring Rodney Bewes....James Bolam". On the closing credits the names are reversed with whoever's name came second in the opening credits,coming first on the closing credits.

Friends of the lads who are regularly spoken of but not seen include Frank Clark (Bob's original choice for best man) and Nigel "Little Hutch" Hutchinson, a sex-mad pal who always has a racing tip ready for Terry. Bob's new middle-class friends we hear of but don't meet include Hugh and Janey, but a new pal we do meet is affable Londoner Alan Boyle, played by Julian Holloway.

Christopher Biggins makes several appearances as Podge Rowley, a friend of the boys.

The 1974 Christmas Special's titles bill the show as just 'The Likely Lads'. The episode's opening sequences are set in late September, on the day of Terry's successful driving test.

Exteriors for WHTTLL were filmed on Tyneside and around the North East, while interiors were done in London.