The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test was 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.

English
  • TheTVDB.com Series ID 74956
  • Status Ended
  • First Aired September 21, 1971
  • Recent February 23, 2018
  • Airs Tuesday, at 6:00pm
  • Network BBC Four BBC Two
  • Average Runtime 45 minutes
  • Genres Musical Talk Show
  • Original Country Great Britain
  • Original Language English
  • On Other Sites IMDB TheMovieDB.com
  • Episode Screenshot Format 4:3 Screencap
  • Favorited This series has been favorited by 19 people.
  • Created February 4, 2008 by
    eloise_freya
  • Modified November 18, 2023 by
    CraigWally
Season From To Episodes
All Seasons
Specials January 1970 February 2018 23
Season 1 September 1971 July 1972 42
Season 2 September 1972 July 1973 49
Season 3 February 1973 July 1974 43
Season 4 September 1974 July 1975 42
Season 5 September 1975 May 1976 35
Season 6 September 1976 June 1977 36
Season 7 September 1977 June 1978 39
Season 8 September 1978 June 1979 37
Season 9 September 1979 June 1980 34
Season 10 October 1980 July 1981 41
Season 11 October 1981 June 1982 29
Season 12 December 1982 May 1983 22
Season 13 20
Season 14 April 1985 38
Season 15 December 1985 35
Season 16 September 1986 20
Unassigned Episodes 0
Season From To Episodes
Specials 0
Unassigned Episodes 585
Absolute ordering places all episodes in a single ordered season. This is generally used for anime.
Season From To Episodes
Season 1 0
Unassigned Episodes 585

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BFI TV 100 (2000)

1 99 Sr.Kin

The BFI TV 100 is a list of 100 television programmes or series that was compiled in 2000 by the British Film Institute (BFI), as chosen by a poll of industry professionals, with the aim to determine the best British television programmes of any genre that had been screened up to that time.

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