The character of Francis "Franny" Scully was a pre-existing one for writer Alan Bleasdale, having created him in short stories to entertain his pupils while working as a teacher. After the stories were broadcast on radio in 1971, the character continued in stage plays and a 1975 novel, before being brought to television.
Alan Bleasdale claimed to have been inspired to create the character of "Mooey" Morgan after meeting Ray Kingsley. In a tribute to the actor after his death (The Stage, 12 April 1990) he recalled "his quite brilliant slow-burn comic timing that encouraged me to create the major role".
The closing credits list the play as simply "Scully".
David Rose the producer went to Channel 4 as head of drama and later commissioned a follow up series that was made by Granada in 1984 that was turned down by the BBC 6 years before and on the back of the success along with Alan Bleasdale tried to interest the BBC into taking it into a series which was turned down on budget grounds.