Ashes to Ashes (2008) - 38 mistakes in entire show

Factual error: The Ford Granada driven by Ray in the final episode of series two is a Facelift Mark 2 model first made Autumn 1982. But it has a V registration, meaning it was first registered between August 1979 and July 1980.

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: 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 2: The song "Wishing I Had a Photograph of You" by A Flock of Seagulls can be heard, but it wasn't released until the autumn of 1982.

Factual error: Season 2, episode 2: When Alex leaves the police station at the start of the episode, there is a police liveried Vauxhall Cavalier MK2 with a cross hatched front grille. The episode is set in 1982, and this type of grille didn't appear until the Cavalier was facelifted in 1986.

Factual error: Series 2, episode 1: Two songs heard in this episode, "Rio" by Duran Duran and "Mirror Man" by the Human League, were Christmas time hits in 1982. This episode is set during the Falklands war (April-June, 1982), so these two songs would not have been released yet.

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: During the motorbike chase at the start, the Audi screeches around a corner and narrowly misses a pedestrian. When Gene shouts "what's up with you this morning, you haven't got the decorators in again.", modern day vehicles including a white LDV pickup truck (you can tell by the grille badge) can be seen in the background.

Factual error: In episode 5, an austin maestro van can be seen parked outside the police station. These did not start production until 1984.

Factual error: At the start of episode two, Alex Drake is in her flat, on the sofa, flicking through the channels on the TV. We see, in quick sucession, clips from "The Nine O'Clock News", "Panorama", and "Nationwide". However, all three of these progammes were, in July 1981 (the episode is specifically dated 23rd July 1991), broadcast on the same channel (BBC 1) and at different times on different days, not at the same time on different channels.

Factual error: Series 2, episode 6:"Hot in the City" by Billy Idol wasn't issued until 1986, and also the intro to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was heard, which wasn't released until 30th November 1982.

Factual error: When Alex's mother opens her front door to her, an Austin Maestro drives past the house. These did not start production until 1983.

Factual error: During a scene in ep 3 when Gene and Alex are talking in the police station, a poster from the 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only can be seen in the far distance. This is correct, and 'in period' for July 1981. However, next to it, on the left, is a promotional photo of Kelly LeBrock in a red dress taken for the film Weird Science which was released in 1985.

Factual error: In Episode 5, when Chris and Ray pull away in the green car to Garside workshops, a white modern day Mercedes Sprinter van is visible behind them (immediately in front of the red Vauxhall Cavalier that drives past which, incidentally, is also out of place for 1981).

Factual error: The Vauxhall Cavalier seen in episode 6 wasn't on sale until September 1981.

Factual error: In episode two, "Souvenir" by OMD was featured. It was not released until a month after the royal wedding that year.

Factual error: One of the songs played on the boat party is too early for july 1981. "Ay Ay Ay Ay Mosey" by Modern Romance was a Christmas time hit that year.