[1] It was adapted from the comic strip of the same name which appeared in The Guardian newspaper, written by Harry Venning.
[2] The series occasionally breaks the fourth wall, with references to (for instance) a comic strip in The Guardian's social-work supplement which (the somewhat humourless) Clare does not understand, an old schoolmate of Brian's named Richard Lumsden who wanted to be an actor but was never heard of again, and Nina Conti (as Nali) being given the line "It's not like I'm a ventriloquist."
that Clare and Mrs. Singh attend, and in the final episode, where Nali (played by Conti) is seemingly a terrorist holding Clare hostage, she comments, in each relevant voice, that she could just as easily be Maggie or various other characters that Conti has voiced over the course of the series.
Clare often brings home her work problems which is just one of the main reasons why her relationship with Brian struggles.
These include the rich yet unhygienic gay man Ray; Megan, Clare's Scottish single mother-of-one former student.
Clare and Brian now have a son, Thomas, and a full-time nanny for him, the east-European Nali (also played by Nina Conti).
Clare's position at the Family Centre is now challenged by Irene's replacement, Libby (Sarah Kendall), and Brian harbours erotic fantasies about Nali.
Joan Hastings becomes a regular character (introduced in series 8, episode 6) as Megan's maternity cover.