 The concept of the film was devised by David Frost in 1967, and the first draft of the screenplay was then co-written by Cleese and Chapman, during a three-month sabbatical in Ibiza.Cook was lined up to star, but it took another two years before funding could be secured.It was the third of three films Cook was contracted to make for Columbia, the previous two being "The Wrong Box" and "A Dandy in Aspic".