In the 1980s Harry Boardman in collaboration with Baz Barker and BBC Radio North did a series of programmes based on the Radio Ballad model called Ballads of Britain. Many of Harry's resident singers from the Unicorn Folk club in Manchester ( including myself ) were brought in to perform the songs. Harry and Lesley Boardman wrote the scripts and Baz did the voice-overs.
I don't know whether there are any recordings in the BBC archives - I managed to record most of them from the radio on tape, though the reception left a bit to be desired.