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The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971)

September. 21,1971
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8.1
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The Old Grey Whistle Test

1971

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 & Episode

16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Seasons 16 : 1986

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20 Episode

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Episode 1 - The Damned / Echo & the Bunnymen / Hang Wangford / Billy Bragg / Brendan Croker
September. 20,1986

Episode 2 - Paul Simon special
December. 23,1986

Episode 3 - End of the Year
December. 31,1986

Episode 4 - Run DMC
January. 07,1987

Episode 5 - Episode 5
January. 13,1987

Episode 6 - Michelle Shocked
January. 14,1987

Episode 7 - The Comfy Area
January. 21,1987

Episode 8 - The Cult
January. 28,1987

Episode 9 - Run DMC
February. 04,1987

Episode 10 - World Party
February. 11,1987

Episode 11 - Episode 11
February. 18,1987

Episode 12 - Episode 12
February. 25,1987

Episode 13 - Deep Purple / The Mission
March. 04,1987

Episode 14 - U2 / Sinéad O’Connor
March. 11,1987

Episode 15 - Episode 15
March. 18,1987

Episode 16 - Wet Wet Wet
March. 25,1987

Episode 17 - Paul Simon
April. 01,1987

Episode 18 - Level 42 in concert
April. 20,1987

Episode 19 - Big in Japan special
April. 21,1987

Episode 20 - That Was The Whistle Test That Was
April. 22,1987

5 hour finale

Seasons 15 : 1985

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31 Episode

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Seasons 14 : 1984

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38 Episode

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Seasons 13 : 1983

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20 Episode

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Seasons 12 : 1982

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22 Episode

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Seasons 11 : 1981

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29 Episode

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Seasons 10 : 1980

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41 Episode

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Seasons 9 : 1979

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34 Episode

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Seasons 8 : 1978

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37 Episode

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Seasons 7 : 1977

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39 Episode

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Seasons 6 : 1976

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36 Episode

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Seasons 5 : 1975

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35 Episode

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Seasons 4 : 1974

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42 Episode

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Seasons 3 : 1973

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43 Episode

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Seasons 2 : 1972

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49 Episode

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Seasons 1 : 1971

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42 Episode

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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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Watch Trailer

Cast
Bob Harris, Annie Nightingale
Producted By
BBC
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