I'm sure Mike does the best he can given the 'environment' he works in i.e the BBC. Don't know how much actual influence he has on what's played or show format but when one presenter does the same show every week then i suggest he/she is bound to put there own 'stamp' on the output and presentation as John Peel and John Walters used to do on there brilliant radio one show. Perhaps a programme running on another day with alternating presenters from the folk circuit may produce some interesting programmes - how about it Harvey?

Local radio, as has been indicated, is another source e.g Radio Lancashire's 'Lacashire Drift' which has bin goin for yonks and is brill. Then there's Ally O'Brien's 'Sounds of Folk' - still in its infancy but well worth a listen. As for the natinal network TV/Radio stations, its been an argument for years. Asking the mass media to give British traditional (and not-so-traditional) folk music the attention it deserves is like p'ing against the proverbial wall.