'The New Sofa' reunited veteran actors Tom Courtenay and Helen Fraser, who play Dave's parents, David Sr and Jocelyn. The two trained together at RADA and made their screen breakthroughs in the classic film version of Billy Liar (1963), which starred Courtenay in the title role, with Fraser as his fiancée Barbara. Ralf Little (who didn't appear in this special) also played Billy in a 2004 stage production and Helen Fraser played Billy's mother Alice in a 2009-2010 UK touring production.
This episode is the first occasion that the main setting is outside of Barbara and Jim's house. The majority of the episode takes place in Denise and Dave's maisonette.