Richard Williams Ian Whitcomb Bob Harris Annie Nightingale Andy Kershaw David Hepworth Mark Ellen Richard Skinner Ro Newton
Opening theme
"Stone Fox Chase" – Area Code 615 (1971–83)
Country of origin
United Kingdom
Original language
English
Production
Producer
Mike Appleton
Running time
40–60 minutes
Production company
BBC Television
Original release
Network
BBC2 (1971–88) BBC Four (One-off special, 2018)
Release
21 September 1971 (1971-09-21) – 1 January 1988 (1988-01-01)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)
The Old Grey Whistle Test (sometimes abbreviated to Whistle Test or OGWT) is a British television music show. The show was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers, commissioned by David Attenborough[1] and aired on BBC2 from 1971 to 1988. It took over the BBC2 late-night slot from Disco 2, which ran between September 1970 and July 1971, while continuing to feature non-chart music. The original producer, involved in an executive capacity throughout[2] the show's entire history, was Michael Appleton.
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. Any song the doormen could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.[3]
On 23 February 2018, a one-off live three-hour special of The Old Grey Whistle Test was broadcast on BBC Four, hosted by Harris to mark 30 years since the final episode had been broadcast.[4]
^"Sir David Attenborough: 'This awful summer? We've only ourselves to blame...'". The Independent. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
^Credits of the programme
^Spencer Leigh, Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life, chapter 5 (Carmarthen: McNidder & Grace, 2015. ISBN 9780857160867).
^UTTON, DOMINIC (22 February 2018). "Witness the revival of The Old Grey Whistle Test". Retrieved 26 March 2018.
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