Mike Harding was born into an Irish-Catholic family in Manchester in 1944. The tragic death of his father when he was a baby and his working-class upbringing have provided a wealth of inspiration for his music and 'real-life' storytelling. After a somewhat chequered early career, odd-jobbing as a dustman, bus conductor and carpet-fitter, Harding attended university to study Education and worked part-time performing in folk clubs. It was then that he found his calling as an entertainer. Since this time, Mike has proved to be a respected folk musician, actor and presenter. Following on from his music, theatre and radio success, Mike has moved into poetry, travel writing and photography. He currently hosts a show on BBC 2 and has had over 25 books published.