The film is based on the stage comedy "There's a Girl in My Soup", written by Terence Frisby, produced by Michael Codron, directed by Bob Chetwyn and starring Donald Sinden, Barbara Ferris and Jon Pertwee. It ran for six and a half years in the West End, from 1966 to 1973, including three years at the Globe Theatre (now The Gielgud), breaking records to become London's longest-running comedy. This record was later broken by "No Sex Please, We're British" and then "Run for Your Wife".