TV The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1978/9 The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1978/9 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 - 1978/9 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 8 :Episode 1 Ramones Ramones 1978-09-19 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 8 :Episode 2 Rezillos / Steven Bishop Rezillos / Steven Bishop 1978-09-26 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 8 :Episode 3 The Police The Police 1978-10-03 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 8 :Episode 4 Jethro Tull in concert Jethro Tull in concert 1978-10-09 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 8 :Episode 5 Episode 5 Episode 5 1978-10-17 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 8 :Episode 6 Siouxsie and the Banshees / The Cars / John Cooper Clarke / Steely Dan / Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger Siouxsie and the Banshees / The Cars / John Cooper Clarke / Steely Dan / Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger 1978-10-24 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 8 :Episode 7 Episode 7 Episode 7 1978-10-31 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 8 :Episode 8 Episode 8 Episode 8 1978-11-07 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 8 :Episode 9 Buzzcocks Buzzcocks 1978-11-14 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 8 :Episode 10 Devo Devo 1978-11-28 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 8 :Episode 11 X-Ray Spex X-Ray Spex 1978-12-05 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 8 :Episode 12 Muddy Waters / Devo Muddy Waters / Devo 1978-12-12 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 8 :Episode 13 Episode 13 Episode 13 1978-12-19 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 8 :Episode 14 Rod Stewart in concert Rod Stewart in concert 1978-12-24 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 8 :Episode 15 Pick of the Year, Part 1 Pick of the Year, Part 1 1978-12-30 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 8 :Episode 16 Pick of the Year, Part 2 Pick of the Year, Part 2 1978-12-31 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 8 :Episode 17 Episode 17 Episode 17 1979-01-02 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 8 :Episode 18 Episode 18 Episode 18 1979-01-09 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 8 :Episode 19 Episode 19 Episode 19 1979-01-16 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 8 :Episode 20 Emerson, Lake & Palmer special Emerson, Lake & Palmer special 1979-01-23 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 8 :Episode 21 Episode 21 Episode 21 1979-01-30 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 8 :Episode 22 Episode 22 Episode 22 1979-02-13 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 8 :Episode 23 Episode 23 Episode 23 1979-02-20 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 8 :Episode 24 Episode 24 Episode 24 1979-02-27 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 8 :Episode 25 Episode 25 Episode 25 1979-03-06 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 8 :Episode 26 Episode 26 Episode 26 1979-03-13 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 8 :Episode 27 Episode 27 Episode 27 1979-03-20 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 8 :Episode 28 Episode 28 Episode 28 1979-03-27 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 8 :Episode 29 Episode 29 Episode 29 1979-04-03 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 8 :Episode 30 Iggy Pop / Tom Waits Iggy Pop / Tom Waits 1979-04-10 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 8 :Episode 31 Johnny Winter in concert Johnny Winter in concert 1979-04-17 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 8 :Episode 32 Episode 32 Episode 32 1979-05-08 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 8 :Episode 33 Episode 33 Episode 33 1979-05-15 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 8 :Episode 34 Episode 34 Episode 34 1979-05-22 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 8 :Episode 35 Episode 35 Episode 35 1979-05-29 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 8 :Episode 36 Episode 36 Episode 36 1979-06-05 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 8 :Episode 37 Thin Lizzy in concerts Thin Lizzy in concerts 1979-06-12 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...