Firstly Mr Red!
No I realise that this isn't about bashing anyone, I thinks that it's a problem of perception. Although MH's prog contains a lot of stuff that would appeal to us weirdos!, It's not billed as a folk programme. Yes, you have Jazz record requests, Bob Harris' Country, et al, which do what they say on the tin. This one is just called the Mike Harding show.
So, he can play just about anything he likes by and large. I do know that he spends a lot of time in Ireland, and is a real fan of the Irish culture.
But, within the constraints of his brief, I don't think he does a bad job, and, like it or not, Smooth Ops do provide, the Young Musician award, and the Folk Awards, (which occasionally gets TV coverage Blimey!)

Obviously we would all like more, but, we are sometimes well served by the aforementioned BBC4 documentary strand.

It's all a damn sight better than the 60's.

I think that whenever any network does something decent (Ch 5's recent series, for example) we should lavish praise on them.
In my experience, programme makers welcome all feedback to their work. They are not that thick skinned by and large.

It's always easier to moan about something, than it is to praise. Human nature I suppose.

As for Mr Twonk.

BBC sessions....Mmmm

As you are well aware, there was a company called Strange Fruit, that did a deal with the Beeb to release Peel sessions.
Nowadays, apart from the copyright problems that crop up now and again, musicians do have an option to purchase sessions from BBC Worldwide. And therefore release them.

The bad news is that a lot of stuff recorded in the 70's was thrown away.

The good news is that all Peel/Kershaw/Concerts/and anything else from all fields of music, that still exist, are now safely (?!) stored in a rather large database...

I very much doubt if they would be released willy nilly on the web, as I say, there are all sort of contractual hassles that would need to be worked out.

If anyone would like to get more of an insight, I would thouroughly reccommend The Peel Sessions book, by Ken Garner. Not only does it list in great detail every session ever recorded! but, tells the story of how the BBC works as regards live music.
(Oh and it's got my name in it too Hurrah!)
Hope this helps

Ralphie