The Old Grey Whistle Test 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. Any song they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test. On 23 February 2018, a one-off three hour special of The Old Grey Whistle Test was broadcast on BBC Four, hosted by Bob Harris to mark 30 years since the final episode aired. The show's focus on "serious" rock music, rather than chart hits covered on BBC1 by
Old Grey Whistle Theft Old Grey Whistle Theft "Old Grey Whistle Theft" is the fourth episode of the second series of the Channel 4 sitcom "Father Ted". The title is a pun on the BBC TV music show "The Old Grey Whistle Test". Ted prepares for a picnic outing with other priests, but find they have been waylayed, while Dougal makes an excuse to not be able to go as to spend more time with a rebellious new priest, Father Damien "Damo" Lennon, who behaves like an insolent teenager; Ted expresses his concerns about Damien to Dougal, but Dougal continues to hang out with