TV Series
★8.3(3 votes)
197116 Seasons558 EpisodesEndedThe Old Grey Whistle Test
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.
Episodes & Seasons
Browse episodes by season for this series.
1971/2
42 EpisodesThe first series of The Old Grey Whistle Test began on 21st September 1971 and concluded on 11th July 1972 for a total of 43 episodes.
EP 01
EP 1
01.Season 1, Episode 1
1h
1971-09-21
01.Season 1, Episode 1
1h
Aired 1971-09-21
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EP 02
EP 2
02.Season 1, Episode 2
1h
1971-09-28
02.Season 1, Episode 2
1h
Aired 1971-09-28
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EP 03
EP 3
03.Season 1, Episode 3
1h
1971-10-05
03.Season 1, Episode 3
1h
Aired 1971-10-05
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EP 04
EP 4
04.Season 1, Episode 4
1h
1971-10-12
04.Season 1, Episode 4
1h
Aired 1971-10-12
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EP 05
EP 5
05.Season 1, Episode 5
1h
1971-10-19
05.Season 1, Episode 5
1h
Aired 1971-10-19
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EP 06
EP 6
06.Season 1, Episode 6
1h
1971-10-26
06.Season 1, Episode 6
1h
Aired 1971-10-26
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EP 07
EP 7
07.Season 1, Episode 7
1h
1971-11-02
07.Season 1, Episode 7
1h
Aired 1971-11-02
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EP 08
EP 8
08.Season 1, Episode 8
1h
1971-11-09
08.Season 1, Episode 8
1h
Aired 1971-11-09
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EP 09
EP 9
09.Season 1, Episode 9
1h
1971-11-16
09.Season 1, Episode 9
1h
Aired 1971-11-16
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EP 10
EP 10
10.0Season 1, Episode 10
1h
1971-11-23
10.0Season 1, Episode 10
1h
Aired 1971-11-23
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EP 11
EP 11
11.The Move
1h
1971-11-30
11.The Move
1h
Aired 1971-11-30
The Move performed two songs, Ella James and The Words of Aaron
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EP 12
EP 12
12.Series 1, Episode 12
1h
1971-12-07
12.Series 1, Episode 12
1h
Aired 1971-12-07
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EP 13
EP 13
13.Series 1, Episode 13
1h
1971-12-14
13.Series 1, Episode 13
1h
Aired 1971-12-14
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EP 14
EP 14
14.Series 1, Episode 14
1h
1971-12-28
14.Series 1, Episode 14
1h
Aired 1971-12-28
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EP 15
EP 15
15.Series 1, Episode 15
1h
1972-01-04
15.Series 1, Episode 15
1h
Aired 1972-01-04
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EP 16
EP 16
16.Series 1, Episode 16
1h
1972-01-11
16.Series 1, Episode 16
1h
Aired 1972-01-11
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EP 17
EP 17
17.Series 1, Episode 17
1h
1972-01-18
17.Series 1, Episode 17
1h
Aired 1972-01-18
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EP 18
EP 18
18.Series 1, Episode 18
1h
1972-01-25
18.Series 1, Episode 18
1h
Aired 1972-01-25
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EP 19
EP 19
19.Poco
1h
1972-02-01
19.Poco
1h
Aired 1972-02-01
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EP 20
EP 20
20.Bowie
1h
1972-02-08
20.Bowie
1h
Aired 1972-02-08
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EP 21
EP 21
21.Series 1, Episode 21
1h
1972-02-15
21.Series 1, Episode 21
1h
Aired 1972-02-15
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EP 22
EP 22
22.Series 1, Episode 22
1h
1972-02-22
22.Series 1, Episode 22
1h
Aired 1972-02-22
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EP 23
EP 23
23.Series 1, Episode 23
1h
1972-02-29
23.Series 1, Episode 23
1h
Aired 1972-02-29
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EP 24
EP 24
24.Series 1, Episode 24
1h
1972-03-07
24.Series 1, Episode 24
1h
Aired 1972-03-07
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EP 25
EP 25
25.Series 1, Episode 25
1h
1972-03-14
25.Series 1, Episode 25
1h
Aired 1972-03-14
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EP 26
EP 26
26.Series 1, Episode 26
1h
1972-03-21
26.Series 1, Episode 26
1h
Aired 1972-03-21
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EP 27
EP 27
27.Series 1, Episode 27
1h
1972-03-28
27.Series 1, Episode 27
1h
Aired 1972-03-28
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EP 28
EP 28
28.Kevin Ayers
1h
1972-04-04
28.Kevin Ayers
1h
Aired 1972-04-04
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EP 29
EP 29
29.Series 1, Episode 29
1h
1972-04-11
29.Series 1, Episode 29
1h
Aired 1972-04-11
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EP 30
EP 30
30.Series 1, Episode 30
1h
1972-04-18
30.Series 1, Episode 30
1h
Aired 1972-04-18
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EP 31
EP 31
31.Jerry Lee Lewis
1h
1972-04-25
31.Jerry Lee Lewis
1h
Aired 1972-04-25
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EP 32
EP 32
32.Series 1, Episode 32
1h
1972-05-02
32.Series 1, Episode 32
1h
Aired 1972-05-02
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EP 33
EP 33
33.Series 1, Episode 33
1h
1972-05-09
33.Series 1, Episode 33
1h
Aired 1972-05-09
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EP 34
EP 34
34.The Beach Boys
1h
1972-05-16
34.The Beach Boys
1h
Aired 1972-05-16
"You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone"
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EP 35
EP 35
35.Series 1, Episode 35
1h
1972-05-23
35.Series 1, Episode 35
1h
Aired 1972-05-23
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EP 36
EP 36
36.Series 1, Episode 36
1h
1972-05-30
36.Series 1, Episode 36
1h
Aired 1972-05-30
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EP 37
EP 37
37.Series 1, Episode 37
1h
1972-06-06
37.Series 1, Episode 37
1h
Aired 1972-06-06
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EP 38
EP 38
38.Series 1, Episode 38
1h
1972-06-13
38.Series 1, Episode 38
1h
Aired 1972-06-13
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EP 39
EP 39
39.Series 1, Episode 39
1h
1972-06-20
39.Series 1, Episode 39
1h
Aired 1972-06-20
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EP 40
EP 40
40.Series 1, Episode 40
1h
1972-06-27
40.Series 1, Episode 40
1h
Aired 1972-06-27
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EP 41
EP 41
41.Series 1, Episode 41
1h
1972-07-04
41.Series 1, Episode 41
1h
Aired 1972-07-04
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EP 42
EP 42
42.Rolling Stones
1h
1972-07-11
42.Rolling Stones
1h
Aired 1972-07-11
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