The series was set around a telephone exchange in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the title of the show being borrowed from the nickname that women who worked at exchanges were given. The first series was set in 1959 and the second one in 1961. 

The Hello Girls was launched with much promotion aimed around former EastEnders actress Letitia Dean, who played Chris Cross, one of the 'girls' who worked at the telephone exchange. It performed very well in the ratings for both of its series. 

The series' theme tune was in the style of 1950s music, which also can be heard throughout the episodes.