Written by George Layton, Executive Stress stars Penelope Keith as Caroline Fairchild, a middle-aged woman who decides to go back to work.

[1] Keith and Bowles had previously appeared together in the BBC comedy series To the Manor Born.

[2] The programme was set in the world of publishing as it was one of the few industries of the era dominated by women, meaning Donald and Caroline could realistically be on an equal footing at work.

[2] However, an unwritten rule at Frankland states that married couples cannot work together, so they have to pretend not to know each other, so Caroline uses her maiden name of Fielding.

[1][2] In Series Two, Edgar finds out they are married, but does not sack them and makes them joint managing directors of Oasis.