This is a good point, a trip to the BBC radio web site reveals some excellent local folk progs. I have the luxury of listening to BBC music on their listen again service as I work at home, and hear a bit more folk music on the radio than you may think. Mark Radcliff often plays folk in his eclectic choice of music, being in a group himself - Eliza was on the other week - and this is an excellent show.

Stuart Maconie recently had a folk feature on The Freak Zone, although this was very singer-songwritery (?). Rather disparaging to session players unfortuately, but interesing enough.

Go http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/ and click on 'Folk and Country' in the bottom right corner. It has to be said though, English folk music is, as usual, under-represented in comparison to the other Isles traditions.