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

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: The police cars used in the show are Ford Granadas. The metropolitan (London) police did not use these cars - they used Rovers.

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: 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: 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 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: Series 2, episode 3: "Is There Something I Should Know" by Duran Duran wasn't released until 1983.

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 two is set in 1982. TV A.M. didn't come around till 1983 with Roland Rat on it.

Factual error: Series 2, episode 6: A white Austin Maestro van can be seen. These didn't start production until 1984.

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: 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.

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: 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.

Character mistake: In the episode about the prostitute killer, observe the singers in the church choir. One of them hasn't a clue as to the lyric of "Oh Happy Day." Bloke in second row.

Factual error: Series 1 episode 2: Steve Strange announces that the song his band Visage have just performed, "Fade to Grey," is their new single. "Fade to Grey" was a hit in the Autumn of 1980. Visage had issued two more singles after "Fade to Grey," both of which were hits in 1981: "Mind of a Toy" and the self-titled "Visage," which would have been their most recent release when this episode was set.

Character mistake: Series 1, Episode 3: When Alex tells Ray she will re-trace his steps for clues linking to the murder of a girl, he says, "Don't worry, lads! Wonder Woman's here!" Alex replies, "FYI DI Carling." Ray is a DS, not a DI.

Plot hole: At the very end of series two, there was a shootout during an armed robbery. WPC Granger somehow had access to a firearm. Surely the fact of her uniform rank would not have allowed this.