TV The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1985/6 The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1985/6 7.5/10 by 2 users 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. Details Casts Posters Images Title The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1985/6 Alternative Titles First Air Date 1971-09-21 Last Air Date 1987-04-22 Number of Episodes 558 Number of Seasons 16 Genres , Networks BBC Two, Casts Bob Harris, Annie Nightingale Plot Keywords , Bob Harris Annie Nightingale Episodes List The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 1 Long Ryders Long Ryders 1985-10-01 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 2 Episode 2 Episode 2 1985-10-08 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 3 Episode 3 Episode 3 1985-10-15 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 4 Episode 4 Episode 4 1985-10-22 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 5 Episode 5 Episode 5 1985-10-29 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 6 Episode 6 Episode 6 1985-11-05 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 7 Episode 7 Episode 7 1985-11-12 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 8 Episode 8 Episode 8 1985-11-19 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 9 Episode 9 Episode 9 1985-11-26 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 10 Episode 10 Episode 10 1985-12-03 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 11 Episode 11 Episode 11 1985-12-10 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 12 Episode 12 Episode 12 1985-12-17 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 13 85 Whistle Test 86 85 Whistle Test 86 1985-12-31 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 14 Meatloaf in concert Meatloaf in concert 1986-02-05 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 15 Joni Mitchell in concert Joni Mitchell in concert 1986-04-01 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 16 Bryan Ferry special Bryan Ferry special 1986-04-08 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 17 Episode 17 Episode 17 1986-04-29 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 18 Episode 18 Episode 18 1986-05-06 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 19 Episode 19 Episode 19 1986-05-13 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 20 Episode 20 Episode 20 1986-05-20 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 21 Stevie Wonder special Stevie Wonder special 1986-05-23 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 22 Episode 22 Episode 22 1986-05-27 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 23 Episode 23 Episode 23 1986-06-03 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 24 Episode 24 Episode 24 1986-06-10 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 25 Episode 25 Episode 25 1986-06-17 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 26 Episode 26 Episode 26 1986-06-24 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 27 Episode 27 Episode 27 1986-07-01 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 28 Episode 28 Episode 28 1986-07-08 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 29 Episode 29 Episode 29 1986-07-15 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 30 Big Country in concert Big Country in concert 1986-07-22 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 15 :Episode 31 Rolling Stones Rolling Stones 1986-08-23 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...