Biography

Mike Harding was born on October 23, 1944 in Crumpsall, Manchester, England, UK. He is a composer and writer, known for Danger Mouse (1981), Camera and the Song (1973) and Great Little Railways (1983).

He is one of the patrons of the Wensleydale Railway, a group that has been set up to re-open the mainly derelict line between Northallerton and Garsdale in Yorkshire, near where he now lives.

Comedian who came to prominence in the 1970s, styling himself The Rochdale Cowboy. Well-known musician on the folk circuit, he presents the regular folk review on BBC Radio 2.

With his superb innovative guitar playing and acutely observed song-writing, John Martyn helped define British folk music in the late Sixties and Seventies and in May You Never wrote what is arguably one of the best-loved folk songs to come from these islands. He has experienced a welcome renaissance in recent years and it's fitting that we reflect his stature as a hugely influential and talented artist. (Speaking in 2008)

Davy (Davy Graham) was one of the true originals of the British folk scene - a man who could play everything from jazz and blues to traditional music. A giant of a man and an amazing performer in his heyday, he made many great albums and had a huge influence on people such as Paul Simon, Bert Jansch and Nick Drake.

You get sacked from the BBC for two reasons. One, financial - and it can't be that because I've not had a rise in 15 years. And two, declining audience figures - and mine haven't.

Jimmy Savile interfered with kids on the BBC's premises and got away with it. Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand joked about having sex with Andrew Sachs's granddaughter on the BBC and got away with it. I present a folk show for 15 years, build the audience from 70,000 to 860,000, and get the sack.