 This episode was written on the basis that Robert De Niro (qv) had  tentatively expressed interest in appearing in the series, but when  filming had started the producers had not actually pinned him down  to a filming date. During one scene Ricky Gervais jokingly did a  couple of takes saying de Niros name with a coffee cup in front of  his face so that they could dub different actors names in if  necessary.