John - I really know nothing of Mark Radcliffe's broadcasting - never heard him. I know very little about Smooth Ops other than that they are contracted to produce programmes for the BBC. And I rarely listen to folk on the radio or TV for that matter because the little I've heard bears small relation to much of the music that I play and enjoy "live". I've listened to Mike Harding's show perhaps half a dozen times over the last 15 years and can take it or leave it.

My point was in response to Lizzie's view that Radcliffe should not have accepted the job of replacing Harding because of the way that (we assume) Harding was treated. And the only point I made - and would still make - is that the world of music/theatre/broadcasting and its ilk doesn't work like that. Radcliffe's refusal of the job on 'ethical' principles - even supposing he knew of the way that Harding was treated (and we don't know that) - probably wouldn't have made a hap'orth of difference to the initial decision to not renew Harding's contract.

As I don't listen to radio folk output, I honestly don't have a view of how the the programme in question might change for the "better" or "worse" - a view which could only be subjective at best.