Ben Cooper

Ben Cooper is a British journalist, radio producer and media executive. He was the final Controller of Radio 1, BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network from 2011 to 2020, replacing Andy Parfitt, after which the position was abolished and replaced by Heads of Stations. He was replaced at Radio 1 by Aled Haydn Jones. Career Cooper started his career at BBC Hereford & Worcester. He also worked as a journalist at Three Counties Radio before becoming a producer at Radio 1. After a brief stint at Capital Radio as an executive producer, Cooper returned to Radio 1 where he became Head of Mainstream, then later Head of Programmes between 2006 and 2009, where he brought Vernon Kay to the network. He was appointed the station's Deputy Controller in 2009 and oversaw a major restructuring of programming, which included introducing Fearne Cotton and Greg James as weekday presenters. He became Acting Controller in July 2011 following Andy Parfitt's decision to step down as Controller, and was appointed as Controller with immediate effect on 28 October 2011. As controller of Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network, Cooper has overseen the development of Live Lounge, Radio 1's Teen Awards and Radio 1's Big Weekend. He is responsible for the overall leadership and editorial content of the three stations, whose reach is a combined weekly audience of over 12 million on radio, 10 million social users, and 14 million weekly video viewers.