This is the only Monty Python work, either on television or film, where any of the troop members plays a single character throughout. Michael Palin only appears as Mr. Pither, and Terry Jones plays Mr. Gulliver. Terry Gilliam also appeared onscreen in several episodes as only one character, but also provided voices for his animations in those episodes.
The poster in Pither's cell advertising variety acts in a Moscow theatre include a double act Burgess and Maclean. Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean were British spies passing on information to the Russians during and after World War 2 although they acted individually, not as a team. The poster also advertises Marshall Bulganin & "Charlie", referring to "Marshall of the Soviet Union" Nikolai Bulganin. Also on the poster: British comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore.
There is only one sketch in this episode, lasting the entire show. This is the only episode to do this. The episode doesn't even have the usual opening intro and animation and title of the series, instead only the title of the sketch, though the closing credits are as usual, including the series title.
One of the two children asking Mr. Gulliver for his autograph is John Tomiczek, adopted son of Graham Chapman.
Clodagh Rodgers is a Northern Irish singer whose song "Jack In The Box" was the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin 1971 (1971). The Pythons made several jokes about Eurovision, especially during the third season.