Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding-Radio 2 Folk

Subject: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:32 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2012/mark-radcliffe-adds-folk-to-radio-2-roster.html

see above. seems Mark Radcliffe is taking over Mike Harding's BBC Radio 2 folk show.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:39 AM

I like Radcliffe, never listened to Harding.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:45 AM

That's excellent news.

I like Mark Radcliffe a lot, but never hated Harding in the way many here do.

How long before the "Mark Radcliffe is crap" posts start?

Lord knows what we'll get when he takes over the programme...

Gasp, he likes 'pop music'

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Silas
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:48 AM

Terrible decision - bloody mad.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:49 AM

I've never ben mad about folk on Radio 2, but Mike Harding has a long track record of enjoying folk music and contributing to the scene. I am not too familiar with Mark Radcliffe: has he any interest in folk music, for example?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:51 AM

Mike Harding - sang in Folk Clubs for years, sang trad songs and others, played all sorts of instruments, wrote some great songs, was very, very funny. Knows loads and loads about folk in all it's forms, knows loads and loads of folkie people and is widely respected by most. Is a brilliant promoter and enthusiast for all things folk.

He will be a very hard act to follow.

Love MR - great broadcaster - love his eclectic take on music - will we folkies be happy when we have heard hos programmes?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Mavis Enderby
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 07:56 AM

Blue Clicky

Well, I like both. Best wishes to Mike and good luck to Mark.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: theleveller
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:04 AM

They should bring back Ralph McTell - he was superb.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Johnny J
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:06 AM

Actually, I like listening to Mark but I feel that a specialist show also requires specialist expertise.
Instead of engaging a "personality" presenter with the aim of attracting more listeners to the folk programme itself, would it not be a better idea to encourage Mark and other Radio Two presenters to play more folk music on regular mainstream programmes?

"specialist expertise"
Yes, I do realise that they didn't get this with Harding either! There used to be a time though..e.g. Jim Lloyd etc.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,JohnnyBeezer(Where's my cookie)?
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:08 AM

I guess Radcliffe has got the gig on the back of his Cambridge Folk Festival chops?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Romania Totale X1V
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:09 AM

New broom . Should irk the purists.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: alex s
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:10 AM

Phil Beer's the man for this job!

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:22 AM

Mark Radcliffe knows his stuff and should be an interesting choice to take over from Mike Harding.

The linked article doesn't say - is the programme still produced by Smooth Operations?

And I know this is a radical suggestion for Mudcat, but how about we actually listen to a few programmes before deciding whether it's crap or not? I'm old enough to remember Jim Lloyd leaving, and the Chicken Licken response that got ...

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:25 AM

"but how about we actually listen to a few programmes before deciding whether it's crap or not? "

Xlnt, but no chance

L in C#

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:31 AM

"The linked article doesn't say - is the programme still produced by Smooth Operations?"

I'd be very surprised if not - smooth ops produce all of Mark Radcliffe's other radio programmes

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:33 AM

Maybe Mark will be a smoother operator.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Silas
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:34 AM

The question is just why they felt that MH was no longer the man for the job? I can't see any sensible answer to that one.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:36 AM

Mark is a highly respected folk performer in his own right - look for 'The Family Mahone' on YouTube, for example...

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:40 AM

"The question is just why they felt that MH was no longer the man for the job? I can't see any sensible answer to that one."

Well it's not inconceivable that Mike Harding might simply not have wanted to do it anymore... you'd have to be a Radio 2/Smooth Ops insider to know the answer to that one.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:43 AM

On Facebook Mike is saying he was given no choice...

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:44 AM

I reckon a double act between Mike Harding and Mark Radcliffe - including a doubling of the length of the show, would be top. And MR is a long term folk fan. It would be a shame to lose MH though. He has a lovely radio manner. And he likes Sproatly Smith...

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:50 AM

I wonder how many of the posters to this thread actually listen to the show?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:51 AM

Mark Radcliffe has been on the radio for a long while now. He is a music enthusiast, and has always tried to provide interesting music on shows he has presented. Some people will like his personality and others will almost certainly hate him.
As for credentials, he has been the singer with The Family Mahone, a band in the style of The Pogues (At Cropredy - Radcliffe is in the white jacket and straw hat).
He has also presented shows from the Cambridge Folk Festival for a number of years.
On his non-folk radio shows, he regularly has played folk music, and also had folkies in the studio for chat and live songs. I seem to recall hearing Gary and Vera Aspey on one occasion and Bernard Wrigley on another.
His general attitude to presenting is somewhat irreverent, but he has a sound knowledge and love of music.
I think he will do a good job of it.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:53 AM

The BBC sacked Mike Harding....

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 08:53 AM

I guess the Smooth Operations Christmas party will be slightly awkward this year.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: alex s
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 09:58 AM

"I wonder how many of the posters to this thread actually listen to the show?"

I would guess most, if not all

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,chris
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 10:07 AM

I hope MR stops umming and er ering and learns to speak coherently
chris

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 10:17 AM

Smoothie Chops are only trying to raise the profile of the programme, and attract more listeners. If in the process of dointg so, they attract more people to folk music, then surely it's not a bad idea.
Still sad to see MH go though, he's like an old mate, as I seem to have seen and heard him around the folk scene forever.
Who can ever forget Napoleon's Retreat from Blackburn?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Silas
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 10:21 AM

You John, obviously - it was Wigan

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Girl Friday
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 10:36 AM

Geoff the Duck has said what I was going to say about Mark Radcliffe, and I think he will be good at the job, but why has Mike Harding been sacked? No mention of it on the BBC website that I can see. I have yet to peruse Facebook though.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 10:41 AM

Mike Harding has NOT been sacked. His contract is ending and he hasn't been offered a new one for this slot. Big difference.

Don't believe everything Lizzie Cornish says...

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 11:19 AM

Like I said Silas, who can forget it ;)





Well; obviously I can

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,JohnnyBeezer
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 11:20 AM

'I hope MR stops umming and er ering and learns to speak coherently'
It seems to me Chris,that Mark has based a lot of his 'Chat' on John Peel's idiosyncratic delivery.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Ricardo
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:05 PM

Given folk music's current relative popularity (you even get 'folk' hours on Sky channels VH1 and Vintage, though they rarely venture far from Mumfords, Enya and Simon and Garfunkel) surely there could be room for two folk programmes in Radio 2's weekly line-up? One maybe looking at the more traditional side of things, the other more contemporary (though obviously many acts would fit into both categories)? As things stand, it still seems a bit tokenistic.

For what it's worth, I consider Mark Radcliffe to be the finest radio DJ of his generation, but I'm not sure I'd have picked him out as a folk DJ. Still, it could have been Zoe Ball I suppose.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:29 PM

According to Mike's Facebook page he didn't exactly choose to go. Ending a contract, sacking. The end result is the same.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Morris-ey
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:38 PM

Presumably it was Smooth Ops that did not renew the contract, not BBC?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 12:53 PM

This is a joke!
Have you seen this guy on the Cambridge Folk Festival TV shows?
His ignorance of all things folk is embarrassing!
Every time he opens his mouth, he demonstrates, not what he knows about folk music, but rather what he doesn't know!
The BBC should be ashamed!

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Bernard
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 02:00 PM

I know Mark Radcliffe personally, and have a great respect for his wide and extensive folk knowledge. Those who choose to slag him off before they really get to know him should just wait and see.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Yvonne
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 02:03 PM

Well said Les in Chorlton.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Reinhard
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 02:27 PM

The Guardian: BBC Radio 2 folk DJ Mike Harding hits out at boss after sacking

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 02:31 PM

Bernard, if you think Mark as a "wide and extensive folk knowledge", why does he demonstrate his an blatant lack of a "wide and extensive folk knowledge" on the Cambridge Folk Festival Tv shows?

I know lots of people don't like Harding, but - as has been said - he's a terrific performer with over 40 years of accumulated folk music knowledge.

P.S. I wonder if Mike will now reveal what went on "behind the scenes" of the radio show?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: johncharles
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 02:34 PM

It does not seem a great way to treat a longstanding and well respected broadcaster. I suppose that is show business for you.
john

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,davemc
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 03:09 PM

Glad something's changed about the programme. Got bored with it a long time ago. Will give the new version a listen. Mike Harding had a good innings and doesn't suit everyone.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 03:27 PM

I wish someone would now replace Paul Jones on the Radio 2 blues hour, Monday evenings. He's been at it for over 25 years now - staid and unexciting.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 03:41 PM

Yes, I'm all for fresh blood, but the correct fresh blood!

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Western Suze
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 05:04 PM

Think about how much worse it could have been. When Jim Lloyd retired at the same time as his wife Frances Line retired as Radio 2 controller, it's on the record that the BBC had a final short list of two for the replacement: Smooth Operations with Mike Harding as presenter, and the existing BBC Pebble Mill team with Ian Anderson as presenter, who had just finished a 12 year run on the BBC World Service. People who read Folk Roots or have encountered Anderson's bizarre "Rough Guide To English Folk" CD will know how lucky we are to have avoided that alternative.

It's lucky that Mr Folk Roots hasn't been heard of for years, but I think they should give it now to somebody like Sam Lee who knows everything about folk instead of another ancient northerner.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:14 PM

I'm sorry, but I'd never heard of Mr Radcliffe until tonight. What "folk" credetials has he? Does he come out of the performing side or is he some sort of fan?

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:24 PM

I'm looking forward to hearing Mark Radcliffe. Emma Hartley predicted changes to the Folk Awards - is this the first?

Incidentally, Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show! is produced by John Leonard and Mark Radcliffe. It's a Smooth Operations production with Komedia Entertainment.

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: greg stephens
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:38 PM

I used to like Tony Capstick

Subject: RE: Mark Radcliffe replaces Mike Harding
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 17 Oct 12 - 06:45 PM

Suze - what's wrong with Northerners?