Life on Mars

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Factual error: In the penultimate episode of series 2, the date is given as July 1973, but in an earlier episode when the police were raiding the drug dealer's house, Cozy Powell's record "Dance with the Devil" can be heard. This was a Christmas time hit in 1973.

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Factual error: Stopford House in Stockport is used for the exterior shots of the police station. It was constructed in 1975 and wouldn't have existed in 1973 when the show is set.

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Factual error: Throughout the show in many street scenes and visible on some houses are satellite dishes. These were not available in 1973, only terrestrial TV through regular aerials. The first commercial satellite service In the UK was launched in 1989 by SKY.

Life on Mars mistake picture

Episode 3 - S1-E3

Factual error: Gay pride flags are visible in a window. The 6 color flags shown were introduced in 1979 (though an 8 color flag preceded it in 1978). (00:30:44)

Episode 3 - S1-E3

Factual error: The reflection of a blue DAF XF lorry can be seen in a window. These lorries were not made until many years later. (00:31:51)

Episode 5 - S1-E5

Factual error: At the end of the episode Sam walks down an alley looking for the son of the murder victim. In the background small split-system air-con units are visible on the outside of some buildings. These were not available at this time. (00:48:30)

Episode 6 - S1-E6

Factual error: There is a phone ringing in the police office, but it is using the American style ringing tone - with a single, repeated, long ring - instead of the British ring tone - two short rings repeated. (00:00:24 - 00:01:17)

Mhugh

Episode 6 - S1-E6

Factual error: Sam's watch (which we see when he checks it just after the escape attempt) is a quartz movement "analog" with a little window at the bottom where an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display shows the date. LCD didn't appear on watches or calculators for another five or six years.(Although in 1973, there were Digital Watches with LED (Light Emitting Diode) displays. (You can see Roger Moore as James Bond wearing one in "Live and Let Die"(1973)).

Episode #2.3 - S2-E3

Factual error: Sam and Gene arrive at a construction site to investigate stolen explosives. There is a green first generation Range Rover parked on the site. The Range Rover has its driver side (right side) side view mirror mounted on the door. In 1973 Range Rovers had side view mirrors mounted on the front end of the front wing (fender), not the door. The mirror was not mounted to the door until after 1978. (00:08:58)

Episode #2.6 - S2-E6

Factual error: In the back of the record shop amongst the audio equipment you can see 2 A&R Cambridge A60 amplifiers. These were not available until 1977.

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Suggested correction: The show is set in a form of purgatory in 2006. It's not really set in 1973.

Episode 5 - S1-E5

Revealing mistake: When the Capri crashes into the goal net & they go to arrest the suspect you can see sky satellite dishes on the houses in front of them. Satellite TV didn't start in the UK until the 80s.

peter mcgougan

More mistakes in Life on Mars

Episode 5 - S1-E5

Trivia: Chris is in front of and to the left of the camera, which is on Sam as he runs up and they have a 10 second dialogue. Sam then turns round and runs back the way he came, shouting "Annie". The camera tracks to follow him and at the very last moment Chris is forced to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. (If you listen to the audio commentary you can hear the producer laughing about this). (00:40:25)

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Question: When Sam reads someone their rights why does someone else tell him he's saying it wrong? This happens few times in different episodes.

strikeand

Chosen answer: Sam is using the modern wording of the right-to-silence caution prescribed by legislation such as the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. In the 1970s, the wording would have been different, if it was used at all.

Sierra1

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