Ben, from Bromsgrove, has a grand radio pedigree - starting off in 1990 after university in Brighton, making tea for the excellent Jane Garvey, when she was Queen of BBC Hereford & Worcester. From station assistant he moved up through producer, reporter and presenter, there and at BBC Three Counties, where he fronted Drivetime. Thence, in 1997, to Radio 1, where he initially produced shows for Nicky Campbell.
Thenceforward his career seems to be inextricably linked to that of Chris Moyles. He was made producer of "The Early Bit", where he and the team created "soap opera radio that was compellingly edgy". "You could get away with murder because management wasn't up," Cooper told The Guardian, "We had a drawer with an awful lot of complaints." He moved with Chris to drivetime, then was given Jo Whiley to look after.
A two year spell with Capital followed, from 2001, working with Edith Bowman and Cat Deeley, before rejoining Radio 1 as "Head of Mainstream". There, he "implemented" the Chris Moyles' move to Breakfast. He takes all whatever credit there is for hiring Vernon Kay, Greg James, and Fearne Cotton.
Made deputy controller across the two stations in 2009, Ben revamped the 1 schedule - moving Fearne Cotton to weekday mornings, Greg James to lunchtime. Earlier this year, he revamped 1Xtra daytime, putting Twin B in at Breakfast, moving Trevor Nelson to mornings and Gemma Cairney to afternoons. He still has Westwood on the books.
Moyles may be the reason for Cooper's rise - but it may prevent him getting to his dream job. The BBC Trust made it clear earlier this month that Radio 1 was still falling short in attracting listeners age 15 to 19. Cooper has described running the station as "like walking a tightrope in high heels". Presuming many teenagers only listen before and after school, are Moyles and Scott Mills, and their conversations, the right answer to the Trust's worries ? Will Cooper teeter ?
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