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
Rick Wakeman on the BBC television show, "The Old Grey Whistle Test". Much of the television audience that night planned to watch "Blue Movie", a controversial film by Andy Warhol, but it was temporarily banned from being broadcast. Wakeman explained: "It seems most of them, rather than watch repeats, switched over to "Whistle Test" and saw my preview of "Henry" ... and suddenly it seemed as if the whole country had discovered my music ... it was a tremendous break." Following its release in January 1973, the album reached No. 7 in the UK and No. 30 in the US. "Time" named