Log In Register

Poster for The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test: Season 16

BBC Two

1971·Ended·0/20 episodes watched

0/20 episodes watched0%

Season detail

Season 16

S16E01The Damned / Echo & the Bunnymen / Hang Wangford / Billy Bragg / Brendan Croker

Aired Sep 20, 1986

S16E02Paul Simon special

Aired Dec 23, 1986

S16E03End of the Year

Aired Dec 31, 1986

Aired Jan 7, 1987

S16E05Episode 5

Aired Jan 13, 1987

S16E06Michelle Shocked

Aired Jan 14, 1987

S16E07The Comfy Area

Aired Jan 21, 1987

Aired Jan 28, 1987

Aired Feb 4, 1987

S16E10World Party

Aired Feb 11, 1987

S16E11Episode 11

Aired Feb 18, 1987

S16E12Episode 12

Aired Feb 25, 1987

S16E13Deep Purple / The Mission

Aired Mar 4, 1987

S16E14U2 / Sinéad O’Connor

Aired Mar 11, 1987

S16E15Episode 15

Aired Mar 18, 1987

S16E16Wet Wet Wet

Aired Mar 25, 1987

S16E17Paul Simon

Aired Apr 1, 1987

S16E18Level 42 in concert

Aired Apr 20, 1987

S16E19Big in Japan special

Aired Apr 21, 1987

S16E20That Was The Whistle Test That Was

Aired Apr 22, 1987

Debriefr uses essential session cookies to keep you logged in and protect against CSRF attacks. Ad-supported web pages may also use third-party advertising cookies. Privacy Policy

The Old Grey Whistle Test — Season 16The 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.