Barry Jackson (Brian) previously appeared in If Money Be the Food of Love, Play On (1984) as Mournful. James Coyle (Bernie) previously appeared in The Long Ride Back to Scratchwood (1984) as Scots Fan.
The television episode of Colditz referred to is called Tweedledum Series 1 Episode 10 , first broadcast December 1972
The title is a pun of 'The Great Depression of 1929'. A Worldwide Economic Depression.