Many of the background performers were recruited locally as production on the island started up for each series. Regular visitors to the island often recognize staff from hotels, bars and restaurants in minor roles. Of those cast as boat crew in the port scenes, several have been recognized as genuine crew from the inter-island ferries and pleasure cruises that operate out of Corfu harbor.
This series depicts an unmarried Lawrence Durrell moving to Corfu with his mother and younger siblings. In fact, in 1935 he was already living in Corfu with his first wife, Nancy Myers, and his family moved to stay with them. Durrell and Myers divorced in 1947.
Recurring guest star Leslie Caron (who plays Countess Mavrodaki) is the mother of the show's producer, Christopher Hall. Christopher's younger half-brother Edward Hall directed three episodes. Christopher's son (and Leslie Caron's grandson) is Ben Hall who plays Donald.
Gerald Durrell worked as an assistant or junior keeper at Whipsnade Zoo after the war.
At Louisa's initial birthday picnic in season 2, the guests agree that Louisa must be older than 35, because otherwise she would have been 13 years old when she had Larry. In real life, there is only a 14-year age gap between Keeley Hawes (Louisa) and Josh O'Connor (Larry).