David Jason got a letter from someone saying they saw a house on the market identical to Toad Hall three miles from Jason's house. Jason went looking for it and found it. He said it was wonderful and seemed to go on forever. It had a lake fed by its own spring. It wasn't Toad Hall, but he could imagine living in it. It was twice the value of the house he already owned. He thought about it but had to pay full price when he lost a coin toss (despite his reputation as a wheeler-dealer). But driving up to the house made him realize how much he wanted it.
The cast were surprised with the energy David Jason brought to Mr. Toad and had to work hard to keep up with him. He claimed he just about held his own as Toad.
Of all the shows David Jason did with Cosgrove Hall, he considered this classic, successful, and the most exciting. He loved the cast Brian Cosgrove had managed to assemble, and said Sir Michael Hordern was one of his heroes. He claimed he could never have stood on-stage and done Shakespeare with him and been competitive.
Cosgrove Hall wanted David Jason to play Rat, but Jason preferred Mr. Toad. Everyone who had voiced Toad had made him unpleasant, but Jason made him a lovable show-off. After he recorded an audition, he got the part.
The John Squire credited as a member of the props department was subsequently famous as the guitarist in The Stone Roses. He later remembered, "I was only making props like miniature plates and chairs. That was the first job I ever had, apart from Tesco."