The Earl Grey Whistle Test

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Series

The Essay

Duration

15 minutes

Genre

Arts
Culture and the Media
Factual

Station

Radio 3

Duration

15 Minutes

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: The Indivisible Men	20160627	This week's series of Essays, The Earl Grey Whistle Test, begins with David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflecting on their nearly 40-year partnership. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits to Q to The Word they've worked so closely together that they often get mistaken for each other. In this first programme they discuss other double acts and analyse their own creative and personal relationship in The Indivisible Men.. David Hepworth and Mark Ellen discuss other double acts and their own relationship. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
02	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Dancing About Architecture	20160628	Programme 2 in The Earl Grey Whistle Test, a series of Essays by David Hepworth and Mark Ellen, considers the tricky business of describing music in print. From Philip Larkin and Jack Kerouac, through Nick Kent and Charles Shaar Murray, many great writers have tried. More recently, reviewers describe the looks or the social lives of musicians because their readers can stream or download the music before they can write about it. Magazine editor and broadcaster Mark Ellen reflects on the art and craft of music criticism in Dancing About Architecture. Mark Ellen explores the difficulties of describing music to people who have not heard it. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
03	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: The Writer's Wardrobe	20160629	In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. Today, The Writer's Wardrobe - David Hepworth on the dress code for the creative homeworker. Music journalist David Hepworth discusses the dress code for the creative homeworker. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
04	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: It's All About The Drummer, Stupid	20160630	In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. Today - David Hepworth on the only member of bands who matters: It's all about the Drummer, Stupid! Music journalist David Hepworth discusses the only band member who matters: the drummer. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
05	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old	20160701	In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. Today - David Hepworth on what keeps rock stars going - like McCartney, Dylan, the Rolling Stones. Whereas all their peers who got proper jobs were chucked on the scrapheap years ago, they can still play to larger crowds than ever, for more money than ever, to greater acclaim than ever. If you could do that, wouldn't you? Hope I die before I get old? I don't think so. David Hepworth reflects on what keeps rock stars playing into old age. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: The Indivisible Men	20160627	This week's series of Essays, The Earl Grey Whistle Test, begins with David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflecting on their nearly 40-year partnership. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits to Q to The Word they've worked so closely together that they often get mistaken for each other. In this first programme they discuss other double acts and analyse their own creative and personal relationship in The Indivisible Men.. David Hepworth and Mark Ellen discuss other double acts and their own relationship. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
02	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Dancing About Architecture	20160628	Programme 2 in The Earl Grey Whistle Test, a series of Essays by David Hepworth and Mark Ellen, considers the tricky business of describing music in print. From Philip Larkin and Jack Kerouac, through Nick Kent and Charles Shaar Murray, many great writers have tried. More recently, reviewers describe the looks or the social lives of musicians because their readers can stream or download the music before they can write about it. Magazine editor and broadcaster Mark Ellen reflects on the art and craft of music criticism in Dancing About Architecture. Mark Ellen explores the difficulties of describing music to people who have not heard it. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
03	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: The Writer's Wardrobe	20160629	In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. Today, The Writer's Wardrobe - David Hepworth on the dress code for the creative homeworker. Music journalist David Hepworth discusses the dress code for the creative homeworker. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
04	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: It's All About The Drummer, Stupid	20160630	In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. Today - David Hepworth on the only member of bands who matters: It's all about the Drummer, Stupid! Music journalist David Hepworth discusses the only band member who matters: the drummer. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
05	The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old	20160701	In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. Today - David Hepworth on what keeps rock stars going - like McCartney, Dylan, the Rolling Stones. Whereas all their peers who got proper jobs were chucked on the scrapheap years ago, they can still play to larger crowds than ever, for more money than ever, to greater acclaim than ever. If you could do that, wouldn't you? Hope I die before I get old? I don't think so. David Hepworth reflects on what keeps rock stars playing into old age. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.