Liz
Fair point, well made.
But, to their credit in the last 6 months or so, the Beeb has upped it's recognition of "alternative" musics a 100%
Radio 2, with its coverage of Cambridge, a bit of Sidmouth, and the regular M Harding show. Even Stuart Maconie did Ms Rusby on the critical list...Fairport on Johnnie Walker two weeks ago (Hairy gig that one!), Eliza's Anglicana..even Wogan isn't immune!
Radio 3 with the eclectic Late Junction.(including most of the Yorks carols concert by CBS and friends)...Various Folkies on Kershaw...Martin Simpson, etc. not to mention lots of Womad.
Ms Tabor seems to be a regular on Womans Hour on Radio 4 now!!

As for TV...BBC4, well what a list...Docs about Carthy, Drake, Thompson, Stanshall, concerts from Tabor & Rusby, Lots of Womad, lots of Cambridge, a retro of Sidmouth coming soon, the 2nd Transatlantic sessions...and lots more to come. (and I didn't even mention all the Blues and Country progs that are very much related)

So, appreciating your point that the Blyth prog yesterday might not have brought in your average listener, It's just astonishing to me that it's there at all!!

2 years ago, it wouldn't have happened.

(I asked a colleague at work, a non folkie to listen, and he really enjoyed it. He hadn't realised that trad songs had such fantastic tales to tell....I fear for his bank account!)

As for RVW, It's a little known fact that his friends called him Ralphie!

Kindest regards

R