Broadcaster Mike Harding has been axed as presenter of Radio 2's Folk Show after 15 years.
The presenter claims he has been sacked by the Beeb via a phone call. He will be replaced on the Folk Show by 6Music's Mark Radcliffe.
"In 15 years I have built the programme from 70,000 listeners to 860,000 listeners," Harding told The Guardian.
"In all that time I have never had a single phone call from Radio 2 to say I was doing a good job even though I instituted things like the Folk Awards with my producer John [Leonard]. I built that show up over the years with a lot of hard work because it is music that is in my blood.
"Last Tuesday I got the only phone call I have ever had from Radio 2 – from [controller] Bob Shennan – telling me he was pulling me from the programme. No reason was given beyond that they wanted to make it more 'live'. No other presenter was mentioned."
Harding will continue to present the programme on Wednesday evenings for the rest of the year, with his last show on Boxing Day.
Radio 2 and 6 Music controller Shennan commented: "I'd like to thank Mike Harding, who has spent 15 years at the top of his game, delighting fans with his expertise and rooting out the very best folk music.
"On his watch, folk has enjoyed a huge surge in popularity and Mike has been key in supporting the genre and introducing Radio 2 listeners to a broad range of new artists. We very much hope to work with him again in the future."
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