Set 15 years after the conclusion of Oliver.
The whole soundtrack features exclusively Australian artists and nearly each episode opens with a modern pop song (or a rendition of one) that's by an Australian artist. Episode 1 opens with "The Joker and the Thief" by Wolfmother, episode 2 has "Shazam!" by Spiderbait, episode 3 has "Down Below" by The Cruel Sea, episode 4 has Cold Hard Bitch by Jet, episode 5 opens with "Take a Long Line" by The Angels, episode 7 has Vitamin String Quartet's version of "Devil Inside" by INXS, and episode 8 ends with a rendition of "Joker and the Thief."
A sign outside the Cat & Bagpipes can be seen advertising Wild's Celebrated Ales. In the musical Oliver, the Artful Dodger was played by Jack Wild.
Turned around Dickens quote from A Tale of Two Cities,. Fagan says, "They've had the worst of times, they've had the best of times. . ." S1 E3, 23:20.