Reeves and Mortimer are both fans of the original series, with Reeves citing Marty Hopkirk as the inspiration behind his all-white outfit in the pilot episode of "Vic Reeves Big Night Out". Reeves, Mortimer and Higson's connections helped to draw in many cameos and guest stars from the comedy world and beyond, to play bit parts or larger roles in individual episodes. Guest stars include Hugh Laurie, Derek Jacobi, Simon Pegg, Mark Gatiss, Charles Dance, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Reece Shearsmith, and Martin Clunes. Higson himself cameos in every episode, twice as characters who appear in more than one: these were Gomez the Limbo barman in "A Blast from the Past" and "Marshall and Snellgrove" and civil servant Bulstrode in "Paranoia" and "Pain Killers". Many episodes include story lines or mentions that pay homage to the original series. In the fifth episode of series one, a clip of Mike Pratt - who played Jeff Randall in the original series and had died before the new series was created - was used, from the episode "The Smile Behind the Veil". Kenneth Cope, who played the original Marty Hopkirk, was asked to cameo, but declined. Place names also paid homage to the original series: Spooner Drive and Berman Street - after creator Dennis Spooner and producer Monty Berman - are used in the first episode of series one; and Cope House - after Kenneth Cope - is the name of the building where the duo's office is based. The series was shot in widescreen. However, the Region 2 & 4 DVD of Series 1 was released in a pan and scan format only, to the apparent disappointment of series producer Charlie Higson. The Series 2 DVD is coded for Regions 2 - 6 and is in the original aspect ratio. The first print of the cover of the Series 1 VHS and DVD uses lenticular printing so that when the viewing angle is changed Marty's image appears and disappears. A soundtrack album to the series was released by Island Records in 2000. The show's theme, which plays over the opening titles of the series, was written by David Arnold but was not included on the soundtrack album. Incidental music for the show was written by Murray Gold who also wrote various stings and pieces based on Arnold's theme. An original song, "My Body May Die", was written for the show by Pulp and featured The Swingle Sisters.