The Old Grey Whistle Test "Stone Fox Chase" by a Nashville band, Area Code 615. The first host was Richard Williams, features editor of "Melody Maker", the music weekly. From 1972, the programme was presented by disc jockey Bob Harris (nicknamed "Whispering Bob Harris", because of his quiet voice and "laid back" style). He later became notorious among the younger generation for distancing himself on air from Roxy Music's first performance on the show and calling the New York Dolls "mock rock" and left "OGWT" in 1978. After Harris's departure, Anne Nightingale took over as host. In December 1980, Nightingale presented the show in the
The Old Grey Whistle Test "Top of the Pops", was emphasised by a lack of showbiz glitter: bands would often perform their songs in front of either the bare studio walls or plain wooden boards (actually the backs of set walls from other programmes filmed in the same studio). As with many BBC productions, this was (initially at least) as much a matter of money as of style; other late night shows of the time, having only 'minority' appeal, also had to be content with spartan sets. Another factor was that the programme was originally produced in a studio at BBC Television Centre in west