Radio 1 is to use its forthcoming Big Weekend event to test out new digital initiatives for the station such as online curation, geolocation and Twitter takeovers.

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The new design is very visual and text-light: there is a main three-pane “carousel”, and below that, some funky sliding draws. James Thornett, head of home page search and navigation at the BBC said some clever advanced customisation had been thrown out for being too complicated.

The system goes live as a "beta" option from 10am today, and isn't quite finished. You can't yet set a location, although you'll be able to during the beta. The current home page remains the default, modules and all, while feedback is gathered.

Explanation of limitations
Email addresses of support and feedback
Link to login

The people present at the weekly meeting to decide the contents of the Radio 1 playlist exercise huge power over the nation's listening habits, because millions of us are happy to let them make that choice, rather than spend eight hours a day listening to new releases.

A reception was held at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham this week marking the opening of three specialist Centres of Sport. The Centres have been developed alongside each other by staff from Sport St Mary's and the School of Human Sciences.
The St Mary’s Endurance Performance and Coaching Centre (EPACC) with Virgin London Marathon, the Centre for Health, Applied Sport and Exercise Science (CHASES), and Centre for Sport, Health and Exercise Medicine (C-SHEM) were all declared open at the event.