Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test (short Whistle Test or OGWT) is a former music programme of the BBC; It ran from 21 september 1971 to 1 december 1987 and is today seen as a forerunner of Later with Jools Holland. Also took out the the 33rd place in a top 100 of all time by British television programs. ==History[ Edit] == Old Grey Whistle Test paid particular attention to serious bands (so with little glitz and glamour) and let this occur in a bare studio (although there are later also on location was filmed). The first presenter, Melody Makerjournalist Richard Williams, was replaced in 1972 by whispering Bob Harris known for its whisper voice, but also because he denounced the New York Dolls as mock rock (freely translated, neprock). The reason for the latter was that singer David Johansen commented on the rabbits teeth of Harris.

In 1978 the presentation on Annie Nightingale took when the program was in danger of missing the connection with the punk generation. Punk group The Adverts referred to by their action in Nightingale's first broadcast to open with the pronunciation "At last the 1978 show" (pun on the comedy series At Last the 1948 Show). In december 1980 Nightingale was charged with the difficult task to dedicate broadcast to the newly murdered John Lennon; not much later she was replaced by Andy Kershaw(in turn), David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Richard Skinner who also of the party were at Live Aid.

In 1983 the program moved to the early evening and the title was shortened to Whistle Test. Despite all these rejuvenation cures the hippie-image remained standing and four years later the canvas with a new year's Eve broadcast full of archival footage. ==Trivia[ Edit] ==
 * Although there was a program with live music in playback indeed OGWT. For technical reasons, and also to keep everything under control, most performances included a day in advance.
 * Especially for the Japanese group The Sadistic Mika Band was the logo on the decor changed until The Old Gley Whistle Test.
 * Benny Hill parodied the programme as The Old Grey Whistle Tester; the sketch was broadcast on 24 september 1975.
 * Eric Idle (Monty Python) that year did the same in an episode of Rutland Weekend Television; There were performances by Toad The Wet Sprocket (to which the Canadian band from the 90 's is named) and the "mors dead" Stan Fitch.
 * The Fast Show also came with a persiflage; Jazz Club was presented by the shy but eccentric Louis Balfour.
 * The fourth episode of the second season of the comedy series Father Ted is called The Old Grey Whistle Theft.
 * The band Moloko has a music video that are supposedly set in an episode of and OGWT, including promulgation of Bob Harris.
 * The BBC has released three compilation DVDs.