Bob's poem quotation ("Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,/Butting through the Channel in the mad March days") is from 'Cargoes' by John Masefield. As the lads observe, it was a standard piece of recitation in schools and particularly noteworthy to Tynesiders.
Seen throughout the film, Noda Taxis are a genuine North Eastern firm, established in 1947.
Alun Armstrong (Tommy - Milkman) appeared in the series 2 episode Conduct Unbecoming (1974) as the character Douggie Scaife. He later starred with James Bolam in New Tricks (2003) in the early 21st Century.
In a radio interview in November 2017 James Bolam denied there was a falling out with Rodney Bewes.
Rodney Bewes stated that during the filming of this movie, James Bolam made personal remarks against him, and they have not spoken since.
The true version of events is that Rodney Bewes spoke to the press and inadvertently mentioned that James Bolam was to be a father. Bolam was not happy and never spoke to Bewes again.