The Old Grey Whistle Test 1971

Overview

The Old Grey Whistle Test is a BBC2 television music show that took over the late night slot from a previous program. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers and ran on BBC2 from 1971 to 1987. The show's name is derived from a Tin Pan Alley phrase referring to doormen in grey suits who could remember and whistle songs after hearing them only once or twice. The Old Grey Whistle Test was known for featuring non-chart music, and it was described as the most resolutely serious music program ever broadcast on television. The show was launched from a tiny studio at BBC Television Centre and became a UK institution, offering a more sensible and older alternative to other music programs.