In Episode 1 Series 1, in the opening scenes, Alex drives past a building where we see a man apparently ready to jump off the roof [probably intended as a reference to the final episode of "Life On Mars"]. However, it is not a person but a statue. In July 2007, several of artist Anthony Gormley's "Naked Man" statues were placed randomly around London. The "Sam" figure on the building was one of them. This figure was placed on top of the Hayward Gallery in the Southbank Centre. See more...
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Continuity: In the opening minutes of Series 2, Episode 6 (just after the recap of the previous week's episode) we see Alex Drake chasing a suspect through a crowd of "fun runners" all going for a jog. Notice that Alex is wearing a red scarf around her neck - and a narrow red belt around her waist. A few seconds later, Alex is standing alone, hallucinating, and the red belt she was wearing has disappeared.
Factual error: In Episode 6 when everyone is getting into the Audi, there is a MK4 blue Ford Escort in the background which wasn't manufactured until 85-86.
Factual error: While the police are in the nightclub, the Human League's song "Don't You Want Me" can be heard playing. This was the Christmas number one in 1981, and wouldn't have been released during the summer.
Factual error: The Audi Quattro used throughout the show has single unit rectangle type headlights. These type of headlamps were not used until the 1983 model year for that car. The earlier type were of four smaller separate square headlights.
Factual error: Yet another 1983 model transit van can be seen in episode 5 the third one in this series.
Factual error: The police cars used in the show are Ford Granadas. The metropolitan (London) police did not use these cars - they used Rovers.
Factual error: In episode 5, have we moved on into 1982? "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers and "Ghosts" by Japan are used. Alex's wall chart still has her in 1981, to the best of my knowledge. These two songs were not released that year.
Factual error: Episode 3 - the white Ford transit van used in the chase at the start of the show is a 1983 model.
Continuity: In episode one, Alex Drake logs on to the computer in Gene Hunt's office. A shot shows the date: 17-07-1981. However, on a wall calendar Alex creates at her flat, the date of July 20th 1981 is circled, with the word "ARRIVED" written in large letters. That implies she arrived in 1981 on July 20th and not the 17th. So, which is the correct date, and what happened to the 18th and 19th July 1981?
Factual error: In episode one, Alex Drake goes into Gene Hunt's office and tries to log on using the computer she finds there. The computer shows a specific date: 17-07-81. If the computer is an IBM PC (as it appears to be) then the IBM Model 5150 Personal Computer did not go on sale until August 12th 1981, almost a month later.
Factual error: In Series 1 Episode 1, Alex wakes up in her new flat, and the song "Ashes to Ashes" can be heard. But the record player is on the very last track of David Bowie's "Scary Monsters" album, and "Ashes To Ashes" is the second to last track. Also, the label of the LP is the wrong color for the original 1980-81 release of the "Scary Monsters" LP: when it was released, the label was plain black with white writing, but Alex's version seems to have some characters across the middle.
Factual error: In episode 8, when the bullion van leaves the yard a 1995 N reg Rover 400 is parked on the left hand side of the road, before Ray drives off in his Granada. In 1982 the Rover 400 was not even on the drawing board.
Factual error: Series 2, episode 8: As the security van is leaving the depot it drives past an N-registration Rover 600. N registration is 1995/96 and the Rover 600 didn't go into production until 1993.
Factual error: Series two is set in 1982. TV A.M. didn't come around till 1983 with Roland Rat on it.
Factual error: During the shoot out at Kevin's flat, the car parked next to Gene's Audi, the one they hide behind, is a Talbot Alpine series 2, which didn't go on sale until October 1982.
Factual error: I can remember the early 80s. The country was in recession and there were certainly no Thatcherite yuppies about. They didn't show until 1985/86 onwards.
Factual error: Two police vehicles used in this show were made after July 1981. The transit van is a post-1983 model, and the Gord Granada MK2 is a facelift model which was not made until the autumn of 1981.
Factual error: Series 2, episode 6: A white Austin Maestro van can be seen. These didn't start production until 1984.
Continuity: In episode 8, after Gene Hunt's berating of Lord Scarman, Alex is seen clapping in closeup. When the shot is panned back, she is standing with her arms folded.
Factual error: Series 2, episode 3: "Is There Something I Should Know" by Duran Duran wasn't released until 1983.
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