I've known Chris since he walked into Radio 1 in 1997. I was his producer on the Early Breakfast Show. I'm a fan of the Chris Moyles Show. And quite simply, he is the most successful breakfast show DJ in Radio 1's history. But he has done the show for over eight and a half years - he couldn't do it for ever - and I would rather he went out at the top of his game.

Added to that, this is just as much about Nick. He's a young star who is on the up. He loves his music, from Azealia Banks to One Direction. He has a great sense of humour, which comes across when interviewing either film stars or callers to the show. Plus, he can just about get away with using the word 'sick'. So, I believe the time is right to give him a new, bigger platform.

I wanted to surprise people today. There has been so much speculation over the years, almost as soon as Chris got the Breakfast Show, people were saying it would be soon over. But he not only survived the odd controversial moment, he also got record audience figures, loads of awards - including a Sony Gold - and has been entertaining over seven million listeners every morning.

I have said all along that when the moment came for the show to end, it would be a conversation between myself and Chris. It was. Chris wanted the Radio 1 listeners to be the first to hear, and to hear it from him. I'm glad in these days of instant news and social media, that this is what happened at 8 o'clock this morning.

I would like to thank Chris and the Team, and to congratulate Grimmy.

Ben Cooper is Controller, BBC Radio 1

2012 is a special year for the UK with London playing host to the Olympic Games. Here at Radio 1 and 1Xtra we wanted to make sure that we marked this in a fitting way, and in one that would give young people from London and beyond, who might not necessarily be engaged with the games, a chance to celebrate as part of Festival 2012.

The result is that in less than a week Radio 1 will embark on the most ambitious event in its 44-year history, as we put on one of the biggest gigs of the year with Radio 1's Hackney Weekend - a free two day music festival for 100,000 people, headlined by Jay-Z and Rihanna.

Hackney is the perfect fit for us - an Olympic borough with a vibrant music scene and a large young population, many of whom can often be overlooked and disengaged, so exactly the people that we wanted to reach and inspire. I don't think any commercial operator would consider basing themselves in Hackney after the images of social unrest we saw last year and the problems with gangs the area has witnessed. But what could scare others off makes Radio 1 and 1Xtra want to get involved and hopefully encourage others to follow.

The Hackney Weekend will give young people from this corner of East London and beyond, many of whom might otherwise not be able to afford to go to a music festival, a chance to enjoy over 100 UK and international artists and DJs across 6 stages. As well as Swedish House Mafia and Kasabian the performers includes the likes of Jessie J, Jack White, Nas, Wretch 32 and many more - all brought to you by the BBC.

Putting on a show like this is something you don't do alone. From the support of the Metropolitan Police, to the help of the local council on issues such as transport, to our great relationship with the UK music industry to secure all the artists, this is about partnership. All with one aim - to give young people the chance to celebrate in the shadow of the Olympic Park.

We have been working closely with the police and have put security measures in place to make sure the weekend can be enjoyed by everyone there. We've not only taken over the traditional Glastonbury weekend while it takes a year off, but we've also borrowed it's security fence to make sure no one can get into the site without a ticket. And all tickets will have photo ID on them to make sure they cannot be transferred or sold on.

But it isn't all just about the music and mud of a weekend festival. That's a part of what Radio 1 is about, but so too is tackling issues which matter to young people across the country. 2012 will be about athletes realising their dreams of gold, silver or bronze - what we wanted to do was give teenagers a chance to realise their dreams of an exciting job. With close to one million 16-24 year olds not in employment, education or training this is a big issue which we face. It's something we know our young listeners are worried about and something that's particularly pertinent to Hackney. That's why since the 1st June for three weeks we've been running our biggest ever social action programme - the Radio 1 and 1Xtra Academy in partnership with BBC Learning and a host of local London organisations.

The Academy offers young people from Hackney and beyond the chance to gain practical skills, experience and advice in a range of careers including media, business, fashion, film and music. We've had some amazing people through the doors, including Usher, Leona Lewis, Plan B, Labrinth, Noel Clarke, Dizzee Rascal, Levi Roots, Lethal B and Ashley Walters, to speak to young people about how they got started and to offer them advice. And for teenagers across the country videos, tips and advice from the Academy have been posted online for them to access.

So far I've been impressed with the way that the young people attending the Academy have been soaking up the opportunities offered to them and taking charge of their futures. We're proud to be reflecting this positive side of Hackney's younger generation to the rest of the UK.

It's this work along with Radio 1 and 1Xtra's creative ambition that makes both stations stand out from the crowd. I like to think of the stations as being the unofficial party political broadcaster of young UK, giving a voice to young people across the country. Hackney is doing just that - political because we are talking about one of the biggest issues facing them at the moment with youth unemployment and party because the 23 and 24 June is going to be one hell of a show. I hope you can join us.

Ben Cooper is the Controller for Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra

Discover more about the Radio 1's Hackney Weekend.

Read Interactive Editor (Music Events) Sam Bailey's post about how the Hackney Weekend will be made available online.

Ben Cooper and Saul Nassé introduce Radio 1 & 1Xtra's Hackney Academy

On Monday morning, as I sat on a bench on platform 1 at Bangor train station I reflected on an amazing week of activity which culminated in two days of the very best in live music.

Even though HRH Prince William and Cheryl Cole might grab the headlines, for me there is something much more exciting about my time in Bangor. You may be surprised to learn that - even though our event is called a 'Weekend' - there's so much more to it than that. The Radio 1 wagon does not just roll in to town on a Friday making a sharp exit on a Sunday. We were there for a whole week in the run up to the event with Chris Moyles and Greg James presenting their shows from North Wales and they got out and about across the area every day to meet people.

Following on from our volunteering campaign last month, on Monday we organised a beach sweep with 50 volunteers from the University of Bangor, cleaning up a local beach in exchange for tickets; The Fringe was bigger than ever before with seven gigs from Monday to Thursday showcasing new local talent; and DJs and production teams ran masterclasses at schools, colleges and the University too.

And as for the weekend itself, on Monday I watched the band Kids in Glass Houses get on the train to Cardiff with their tattoos, hats and tight jeans standing out amongst the local commuters. They played a fantastic set on Sunday on the In New Music We Trust stage that seemed to get the volume up to eleven and beyond.   

But before their energetic performance on stage in front of a huge crowd I saw them in a tent of about thirty young people teaching them how to play the guitar. 

The idea was that Radio 1's listeners come to see some of their musical heroes but may never have picked up a guitar in their lives. So across the weekend several bands took the time out to show how if you hold down the strings in this way then that way, a life of rock and roll can await. 

The reaction was so good. People's faces a mix of concentration and excitement about playing different cords for the first time in a hot and sweaty tent. Simply brilliant to see.

At the weekend and across the whole of last week we brought live music to an area of the country that is under served by the market place. From delivering world class acts to the main stage and putting up and coming bands on the In New Music We Trust stage to giving brand new unsigned musicians a slot on the BBC Introducing Stage and securing local bands performing at The Fringe - all with the hope that, as in previous years, we leave a platform for the local music scene to build upon. And in addition to that, we might just have given a young person from North Wales the opportunity, confidence and motivation to pick up a guitar and change their lives.  As I sat at the station, across the tracks from me was a poster with an advert for Bangor University. It says 'for learning and for life' - it seems quite apt.  

Watch live performances from Radio 1's Big Weekend 

Ben Cooper is Deputy Controller, Radio 1