In one scene Sir Mortimer Chris, the bellicose and increasingly deranged British Prime Minister played by Peter Cook, says in a broadcast to the nation, "There is no alternative". This was a slogan often used by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; one trailer pointedly ends with Cook saying this into the camera.
Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle, John Blundell, Marc Boyle, Christopher Malcolm, Blain Fairman and Christopher Muncke were the only actors from the original sitcom TV series Whoops Apocalypse (1982) to appear in this feature film version.
Loretta Swit, as President Barbara Adams, wears a wig mimicking the hairstyle made popular by Linda Evans as Krystle Carrington on Dynasty (1981).