Biographies

Controller, Radio 1 and 1Xtra

Ben Cooper is Controller, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra.

Ben was appointed Controller in October 2011. Before the appointment he held the role of Acting Controller following Andy Parfitt's departure from Radio 1 in July 2011.

Prior to this, Ben had been Deputy Controller since February 2009, running Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra day to day and being the strategic lead for both stations.

In September 2009, Ben successfully implemented a major revamp of Radio 1's schedule – moving Fearne Cotton to weekday mornings, Greg James to lunchtimes and Dev to early breakfast; as well as introducing a new specialist line-up with documentaries, a brand new review show and In New DJs We Trust moving into the heart of the weeknight schedule.

Ben is responsible for introducing BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards to the schedule in 2010, now in it’s second year the event honours inspirational teenagers alongside celebrities in a star-studded ceremony. In 2011 Ben introduced the first ever Radio 1's Big Conversation to the stations calendar – an event which brought young people and ‘influential adults’ together to talk about the hopes and fears of young people in the UK.

Radio 1 was named Station of the Year at the Music Week Awards in 2010 and reaches nearly 12 million listeners a week with its high quality and distinctive content – making sure that Radio 1 is a central driver for the BBC in engaging with younger audiences.

Under Ben's leadership, in January 2011 Radio 1Xtra's daytime schedule was refreshed bringing Twin B to Breakfast, moving Trevor Nelson to mornings and Gemma Cairney to afternoons with Westwood continuing on afternoons. The station is currently reaching just under one million listeners.

More recently, in December 2011, Ben announced changes to the Radio 1 specialist music schedule including the addition of DJ's Skream & Benga, Toddla T, Charlie Sloth and Friction getting brand new shows on the station.

His previous role was Head of Mainstream for BBC Radio 1, implementing a series of major changes across the daytime schedule including Chris Moyles taking over the Breakfast Show and Scott Mills moving to the 4pm-7pm slot.

From 2001 to 2003, Ben was an Executive Producer at Capital Radio working with presenters Edith Bowman and Cat Deeley, before rejoining BBC Radio 1 as Head of Mainstream.

Before joining Capital, Ben was a producer at BBC Radio 1, running a number of shows including Nicky Campbell, Jo Whiley and Chris Moyles.

Ben started his broadcasting career in BBC Local Radio – with stints as a reporter, presenter and producer at BBC Hereford & Worcester and Three Counties Radio.

Ben graduated from university in 1990.