 Alan Bleasdale (qv) originally offered the role of Michael Murray  to Michael Palin (qv). At that time, Robert Lindsay (II) (qv)  was busy working on a film in the USA and was not available. When  Lindsay became available a few weeks later because his US project  had fallen through, Bleasdale offered him the role of Michael  Murray, saying that it was the part that he (Bleasdale) had always  wanted Lindsay to play. Rather embarrassed, he asked Palin to play  Jim Nelson instead. Michael Palin freely admits that Robert Lindsay  portrayed Michael Murray far better than he (Palin) would have done.