The film was originally intended to feature the Shadows in acting roles, but it was decided that more professional young actors needed to be cast instead, so the roles originally intended for Hank Marvin and Jet Harris were given to Richard O'Sullivan and Melvyn Hayes, while the Shadows themselves appear only as non-speaking band members.
The theatre used in the film is the Finsbury Park Empire, which closed in 1960. Cliff Richard and the Shadows had performed there for one week in November 1959.
A number of actresses were considered to be Cliff Richard's co-star. An early suggestion was Barbra Streisand but she was deemed not suitable. Another early consideration was the German actress Heidi Bruhl, while Richard himself in an interview expressed an interest in engaging the very young Helen Shapiro for the role. In May 1961 it was announced that a 21-year-old actress from London's East End, Annette Robinson, would be the female co-star, but within weeks the part was given to Carole Gray, a dancer from Bulawayo in Rhodesia (today's Zimbabwe), while Robinson was given the smaller role of Barbara.
The standing set constructed on the Elstree Studio backlot for this film remained in situ for well over a decade, featuring in many television productions filmed at Elstree throughout the 60s and early 70s including "The Avengers," "The Saint," "The Baron," "UFO" and "The Protectors." The set was demolished in 1974.
The title of the film was also used for the British television series "The Young Ones" (1982-1984), which contained many references to Cliff Richard throughout its twelve episode run.