The Old Grey Whistle Test was 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.
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Seasons | |||
| Specials | January 1970 | February 2018 | 25 |
| Season 1 | September 1971 | July 1972 | 42 |
| Season 2 | September 1972 | July 1973 | 49 |
| Season 3 | February 1973 | July 1974 | 43 |
| Season 4 | September 1974 | July 1975 | 42 |
| Season 5 | September 1975 | May 1976 | 35 |
| Season 6 | September 1976 | June 1977 | 36 |
| Season 7 | September 1977 | June 1978 | 39 |
| Season 8 | September 1978 | June 1979 | 37 |
| Season 9 | September 1979 | June 1980 | 34 |
| Season 10 | October 1980 | July 1981 | 41 |
| Season 11 | October 1981 | June 1982 | 29 |
| Season 12 | December 1982 | May 1983 | 22 |
| Season 13 | 20 | ||
| Season 14 | April 1985 | 38 | |
| Season 15 | December 1985 | 35 | |
| Season 16 | September 1986 | 20 | |
| Unassigned Episodes | 0 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specials | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 587 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 587 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dione Newton | 2 | 05/19/2007 | |
| Annie Nightingale | 2 | 05/19/2007 | |
| John Burrowes | 1 | 10/03/1978 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Kenwright | 1 | 02/23/2018 |
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The BFI TV 100 is a list of 100 television programmes or series that was compiled in 2000 by the British Film Institute (BFI), as chosen by a poll of industry professionals, with the aim to determine the best British television programmes of any genre that had been screened up to that time.
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