Do I know the names of the Oscar Judges? Booker Prize judges? Nobel Prize judges? Emmy judges?
Nope.
Do I care....Nope!
Why should I know the names of the Folk Awards judges? What difference would it make anyway?
I'm sure that the people who do have a vote, are basically well balanced individuals who have a working knowledge of the music. (That's why I'm not one of them!)
The thought of opening the voting as a free for all is just bonkers IMHO. I might select artist A or B, and give them 1 Vote. Vested interest groups would fill the Beebs In Boxes with thousands of votes for their particular favourite acts...And so the same people would win every year...
In general, It's an interesting hours broadcast. Am I influenced by it? Nope. But it's preferable to the X Factor. At least the artists play Live, and don't mime!