Mike Harding (born 23 October 1944) is an English singer, songwriter, comedian, author, poet, broadcaster and multi-instrumentalist. He is known as 'The Rochdale Cowboy' after one of his hit records. In addition, at various times of his life, Harding has been a stand-up comic, photographer, traveller, filmmaker, playwright and musician.
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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)
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Fact
1
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.
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Count Duckula
1988-1993
TV Series 20 episodes
Second Chance
1992
TV Series documentary
Danger Mouse
1981-1992
TV Series 89 episodes
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship
1990
TV Movie
The Reluctant Dragon
1987
TV Movie
One Night in Lincoln
1983
TV Series
Great Little Railways
1983
TV Series documentary 1 episode
The Mike Harding Show
1979
TV Series
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
One Night in Lincoln
1983
TV Series writer
Danger Mouse
TV Series writer - 12 episodes, 1981 - 1982 written by - 1 episode, 1981
The Mike Harding Show
1979
TV Series writer
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Count Duckula
TV Series vocals - 4 episodes, 1990 - 1993 singer - 1 episode, 1993
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Stuart Hall Show
1994
TV Series
The Easter Stories
1994
TV Series
Landlord
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Mike Harding in Belfast
1984
TV Series
Himself
The Harding Trail
1984
TV Series
Himself - Presenter
One Night in Lincoln
1983
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Harding Show
1979-1982
TV Series
Himself
A Musical Canal Celebration
1982
TV Movie
Himself - Presenter
Friday Night, Saturday Morning
1980
TV Series
Himself
Clock On
1980
TV Short
Himself
Mike Harding's Easter Book Fair
1980
TV Short
Himself
3-2-1
1978
TV Series
Himself - Special Guest
MH and 5p
1978
TV Series
Himself
The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club
1975-1977
TV Series
Himself
Mike Harding's Christmas in Yorkshire
2010
Documentary
Himself
Timeshift
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Balderdash & Piffle
2007
TV Series documentary
Himself
Folk Britannia
2006
TV Series documentary
Himself
Top 50 Greatest Celebrity Animals
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Terry and Gaby Show
2003
TV Series
Himself
The Heaven and Earth Show
1998
TV Series
Reporter
Second Chance
1992-1994
TV Series documentary
Himself - Presenter
Mancunian Presents
1993
TV Movie
Himself - Narrator (voice)
Blowing up the Dales
1987
TV Movie
Himself - Presenter
Harty
1986
TV Series
Himself
Eco: The Eyesore Way with Mike Harding
1986
TV Movie
Himself - Presenter
All Star Secrets
1985
TV Series
Himself
The Bob Monkhouse Show
1985
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Yorkshire Dales on Film
2010
TV Movie documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Known for movies
Danger Mouse (1981-1992) as Composer
Count Duckula (1988-1993) as Composer
The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (1990) as Composer
$11 Million
