Dallas: 30 things you didn't know

Dallas is the latest show from a bygone age to be resurrected. Channel 5 airs the new version from Wednesday 5 September with Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray - three key members of the famous cast. In celebration, check out these fab facts about the original series.

1. The role of JR Ewing was first offered to actor Robert Foxworth who turned it down. He went on to star in another American soap: Falcon Crest.  

2. Southfork Ranch was actually the Texas residence of Joe R Duncan, or JR Duncan. When tourists started flooding the property, Duncan was forced to sell the home. It is now a museum for the show.  

3. Larry Hagman (the one and only JR Ewing, Jr.) is the only cast member in all 356 episodes of the original series. 

4. Due to non-essential storylines, a German broadcast network wouldn't translate or show seven episodes of the series.  

5. Though she was only nine years older than Larry Hagman, the late Barbara Bel Geddes played his mother (Miss Ellie Ewing). 

6. It's assumed that brothers JR and Bobby are only a few years apart, but Larry Hagman is actually 18 years older than Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing).  

7. The 'who shot JR?' episode is still the highest watched show internationally. Over 360 million viewers worldwide turned in to discover that the shooter was J.R.'s sister-in-law Kristin Shepard. 

8. Dallas has been translated into 90 languages so far - a phenomenal number for a TV show.  

9. Ewing Oil was said to be worth $2 billion in a 1987 episode. 

10. Three cast members - Timothy Patrick Murphy (Mickey Trotter), Dack Rambo (Jack Ewing) and Tom Fucello (Dave Culver) - tragically died of Aids-related illnesses. 

11. A number of the cast have also died from cancer.  

12. Famous Dallas guest stars included:Christopher Atkins (The Blue Lagoon); Barbara Babcock (Dr Quinn: Medicine Woman), Barbara Carrera (Never Say Never Again); Barbara Eden (I Dream Of Jeannie); Joel Grey (Cabaret); Ian McShane (Lovejoy, Deadwood) and a certain Brad Pitt who played Randy, the boyfriend of Jenna's daughter Charlie (Shalane McCall). 

13. JR was only meant to be a supporting character. The show was originally about Bobby and Pamela Ewing (née Barnes).  

14. Dallas started out as a five-episode mini-series in 1978.  

15. The first episode of Dallas premiered in the US on April 2, 1978. 

16. To date, Dallas has won over 40 awards, including a Golden Globe, and earned a whopping 79 nominations.

17. A portrait was hung above the fireplace at Southfork Ranch in memory of actor Jim Davis (Jock Ewing). He died in 1981. It was later moved to the Ewing Oil set.  

18. Victoria Principal was asked to return for the final episode, but refused. 

19. Louella Lee Caraway, a Ewing Oil secretary from the first four seasons, was named after a staff writer.  

20. Dallas spawned a spin-off (Knots Landing) and a host of clones, most notably its chief rival Dynasty which starred Joan Collins. 

21. Morgan Fairchild originally played Jenna Wade, Bobby Ewing's childhood sweetheart. Priscilla Presley took over the role when Jenna became a regular character.  

22. Larry Hagman (JR) and Ken Kercheval (Cliff Barnes) are the only two cast members who were with the original series of Dallas from start to finish. 

23. Oscar-winning actress Donna Reed replaced Barbara Bel Geddes in the 1984-1985 season. Never popular with fans, the role reverted back to the original actress when she returned after a temporary leave. Donna Reed sued the producers and won.  

24. Jamie Ewing Barnes is the only character to have been killed off twice. She died in the infamous 'dream season' (blown up in a car) and then died after that season while rock climbing in Mexico.  

25. After Jim Davis died, Dallas producers wanted someone else to play the role of Jock Ewing, but fans didn't approve.  

26. Patrick Duffy credits Terry Wogan for Dallas' huge success in this country; in the late 1970s, the Irishman talked about it nearly every day on his radio show.  

27. Bobby Ewing 'died' in the last episode of the seventh season of Dallas, in May 1985. In order to bring back actor Patrick Duffy, the eighth season was explained away as 'a dream' of Pam's. However, his shower rebirth damaged the soap's credibility and is often cited as one of TV's most ridiculous storylines.

28. Before Dallas producer Leonard Katzman died, he said that the biggest mistake he had ever made was killing off April, played by Sheree J. Wilson. 

29. Hollywood veteran Howard Keel was only supposed to be appear in two episodes. When his character Clayton Farlow became popular with viewers, he was signed on indefinitely. 

30. In a 2004 Broadcast magazine survey, UK television executives voted Dallas one of the best all-time imports from the US.

Dallas airs on Channel 5 from Wednesday 5 September at 9pm.

Dallas: the Complete 1-14 seasons DVD Collection is out now