Of course its not really financial help people like Tony and Una need. Its not really what the Beeb has to give - its that recognition.

A publisher phoned me up from Germany a few years ago - having traced me through my website. Therss loads of stuff on the website, but the one thing he fastened upon was the fact that I'd got an award from the BBC. Now Sooz was there the night i got the award - it could have been me, her or a guy with a noseflute and a tambourine. I was the lucky one that night.

this is the favour that is within the remit of the top guys - prestige. And they do hand it out to some some suspiciously malleable youngsters and some frankly questionable types.

And you hear them chatting together backstage, about the time they played Sydney folk festival, or was it san Francisco, or was it that little one in malibu.

It would never have fitted in with my lifestyle - with a disabled wife to take care of. Jack hudson's too ill amd roger Brooks is dead....but Tony, Una... they deserve it.