CinemaOSSeries · 1971–1987 · 16 Seasons

The Old Grey Whistle Test

83%(3)IMDb

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.

Play
Status
Ended
Language
EN
First aired
September 21, 1971
Last aired
April 22, 1987
Seasons
16
Episodes
558
Network
BBC Two

Season 1

Episodes

No episodes found for this season.

Featuring

Cast & crew

2 credited
Starring
Bob Harris

Bob Harris

Annie Nightingale

Annie Nightingale

Keep watching

More like this

Siempre lunes

Siempre lunes

1988 · Series

Top of the Pops6.6

Top of the Pops

1964 · Series

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest6.5

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest

1972 · Series

Amigos siempre amigos

Amigos siempre amigos

1983 · Series

James Brown: Say It Loud8.0

James Brown: Say It Loud

2024 · Series

So You Think You Can Dance6.8

So You Think You Can Dance

2005 · Series

BBC Radio 2 Piano Room7.0

BBC Radio 2 Piano Room

Series

夏天来了盟人不在家

夏天来了盟人不在家

2021 · Series

Fanning at Whelan's

Fanning at Whelan's

2020 · Series

MADtv7.1

MADtv

1995 · Series

Beat-Club8.8

Beat-Club

1965 · Series

Soundstage8.0

Soundstage

2003 · Series

MTV World Stage

MTV World Stage

2009 · Series

EBS SPACE

EBS SPACE

2004 · Series

Showtime at the Apollo8.4

Showtime at the Apollo

1987 · Series

The Piano

The Piano

2025 · Series

The Johnny Cash Show6.5

The Johnny Cash Show

1969 · Series

Saturday Night Live UK4.5

Saturday Night Live UK

2026 · Series

Picked for you

Recommended shows

Top of the Pops6.6

Top of the Pops

1964 · Series

So You Think You Can Dance6.8

So You Think You Can Dance

2005 · Series

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson6.9

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005 · Series

Conan7.2

Conan

2010 · Series

The Terror: Devil in Silver6.7

The Terror: Devil in Silver

2026 · Series

The Larry Sanders Show7.8

The Larry Sanders Show

1992 · Series

CBS News Sunday Morning6.8

CBS News Sunday Morning

1979 · Series

Family Feud7.4

Family Feud

1999 · Series

Ballers6.8

Ballers

2015 · Series

Not the Nine O'Clock News7.3

Not the Nine O'Clock News

1979 · Series

Penn & Teller: Fool Us7.2

Penn & Teller: Fool Us

2011 · Series

Late Night with David Letterman6.2

Late Night with David Letterman

1982 · Series

Ultra City Smiths6.6

Ultra City Smiths

2021 · Series

The Kelly Clarkson Show6.2

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019 · Series

Hey Arnold!8.0

Hey Arnold!

1996 · Series

The Ed Sullivan Show6.8

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948 · Series

Carpool Karaoke: The Series6.1

Carpool Karaoke: The Series

2017 · Series

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson7.6

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962 · Series

Match of the Day7.6

Match of the Day

1964 · Series

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?6.3

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

1999 · Series