The Old Grey Whistle Test
1986/7
1971tvEnded16 Seasons · 558 Ep
Created by:
Network: BBC Two
Season aired: 1986-09-20
Seasons
Overview
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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Episodes · 20
1
1
The Damned / Echo & the Bunnymen / Hang Wangford / Billy Bragg / Brendan Croker
1h 0m1986-09-20
2
2
Paul Simon special
1h 0m1986-12-23
3
3
End of the Year
1h 0m1986-12-31
4
4
Run DMC
1h 0m1987-01-07
5
5
Episode 5
1h 0m1987-01-13
6
6
Michelle Shocked
1h 0m1987-01-14
7
7
The Comfy Area
1h 0m1987-01-21
8
8
The Cult
1h 0m1987-01-28
9
9
Run DMC
1h 0m1987-02-04
10
10
World Party
1h 0m1987-02-11
11
11
Episode 11
1h 0m1987-02-18
12
12
Episode 12
1h 0m1987-02-25
13
13
Deep Purple / The Mission
1h 0m1987-03-04
14
14
U2 / Sinéad O’Connor
1h 0m1987-03-11
15
15
Episode 15
1h 0m1987-03-18
16
16
Wet Wet Wet
1h 0m1987-03-25
17
17
Paul Simon
1h 0m1987-04-01
18
18
Level 42 in concert
1h 0m1987-04-20
19
19
Big in Japan special
1h 0m1987-04-21
20
20
That Was The Whistle Test That Was
1h 0m1987-04-22
5 hour finale
