The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test

1971
The Old Grey Whistle Test
The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test

8.1 | en |

The Old Grey Whistle Test is an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers. According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys—doormen in grey suits. The songs they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.

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Seasons & Episodes

16
15
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11
10
9
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1
0
EP20  That Was The Whistle Test That Was
Apr. 22,1987
That Was The Whistle Test That Was

5 hour finale

EP19  Big in Japan special
Apr. 21,1987
Big in Japan special

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EP18  Level 42 in concert
Apr. 20,1987
Level 42 in concert

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EP17  Paul Simon
Apr. 01,1987
Paul Simon

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EP16  Wet Wet Wet
Mar. 25,1987
Wet Wet Wet

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EP15  Episode 15
Mar. 18,1987
Episode 15

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EP14  U2 / Sinéad O’Connor
Mar. 11,1987
U2 / Sinéad O’Connor

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EP13  Deep Purple / The Mission
Mar. 04,1987
Deep Purple / The Mission

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EP12  Episode 12
Feb. 25,1987
Episode 12

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EP11  Episode 11
Feb. 18,1987
Episode 11

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EP10  World Party
Feb. 11,1987
World Party

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EP9  Run DMC
Feb. 04,1987
Run DMC

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EP8  The Cult
Jan. 28,1987
The Cult

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EP7  The Comfy Area
Jan. 21,1987
The Comfy Area

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EP6  Michelle Shocked
Jan. 14,1987
Michelle Shocked

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EP5  Episode 5
Jan. 13,1987
Episode 5

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EP4  Run DMC
Jan. 07,1987
Run DMC

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EP3  End of the Year
Dec. 31,1986
End of the Year

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EP2  Paul Simon special
Dec. 23,1986
Paul Simon special

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EP1  The Damned / Echo & the Bunnymen / Hang Wangford / Billy Bragg / Brendan Croker
Sep. 20,1986
The Damned / Echo & the Bunnymen / Hang Wangford / Billy Bragg / Brendan Croker

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8.1 | en |
Synopsis

The Old Grey Whistle Test is an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers. According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys—doormen in grey suits. The songs they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.

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Cast

Bob Harris , Annie Nightingale

Director

Producted By

BBC ,