Watson passes a newspaper seller announcing "Evening Standard!" This sound is edited into the opening credits of every episode from The Empty House (1986) onwards.
Patricia Hodge, who plays Lady Hilda Trelawney Hope here, played Phyllida Erskine-Brown, nee Miss Trant, in Rumpole of the Bailey (1978), in three seasons before and four after this "Return" appearance. Phyllida's husband in the Rumpole series was played by Julian Curry; he too was featured in a Sherlock Holmes episode, The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax (1991).
The marble bust in the Trelawney house is one of Antinous. He was the favourite and lover of emperor Hadrian.