I think a more appropriate petition would be one to Smooth Operations demanding that Harding be given a generous lump sum cash present for his loyalty/good work over the years.

The Beeb aren't going to change their mind. But at least Smooth Ops could acknowledge the awkwardness of their position (getting to keep the show Harding has built up listener figures for, but with a different DJ from their own ranks) with the freelancer's equivalent of a generous redundancy package.