The Old Grey Whistle Test The host was parodied by Benny Hill. The show's title was parodied in the comedy series "Father Ted", in the episode "Old Grey Whistle Theft". The series was also parodied on "The Fast Show", with "Jazz Club", hosted by the eccentric (but quiet) Louis Balfour (a parody of Bob Harris). In 2006, the series was parodied in the sketch comedy show "Snuff Box". The host was played by Richard Ayoade. The Jon Holmes radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music had a feature called the "Old Gay Whistle Test", a parody where a homosexual pensioner whistled a tune for the
Big Country at the BBC Footage from "Top of the Pops" (including two separate performances of both "Fields of Fire" and "In a Big Country" from their 1983 chart run), "The Old Grey Whistle Test" and "In Concert" is featured on the DVD. Its centrepiece is Big Country’s Hogmanay performance from Edinburgh Playhouse, originally screened live as part of the BBC’s New Year celebrations in 1984/1985. Billy Sloan, who fronted the broadcast for "Whistle Test", is quoted in the sleeve notes and recalls that, as 1985 arrived, he had nothing stronger than "Scotland’s other national drink" Irn-Bru to toast the band with. Big Country’s Bruce