The appointment follows the unveiling by BBC Director General Mark Thompson of Creative Future, the Corporation's editorial vision for the digital age.

Mr Parfitt will develop ideas for programming and content aimed at 12-16 year olds, which will deliver through existing broadband, TV and radio services.

The output will include TV drama series, as well as comedy, music and factual content, but will not involve the launch of a new channel.

He will continue as Controller, BBC Radio 1, reporting to Jenny Abramsky, and will additionally report to Jana Bennett, Director of Television for his new role.

Announcing the appointment, Mark Thompson said: "Andy's appointment is a significant step in developing the public service vision set out in Creative Future.

"The BBC plays an important role in the early years of many children's lives. But as they reach adolescence this relationship fades as the Corporation hasn't been producing enough content that appeals to them.

"We are now aiming to bridge that gap with high quality content tailored and packaged for them, which we hope will complement existing services provided by the commercial sector."

Andy Parfitt said: "It's an exciting and serious responsibility to take on in addition to Controller of Radio 1 and 1Xtra. This is a very important audience group and I know that there's a lot of great work that we can do for them"

Andy Parfitt has been Controller of BBC Radio 1 since 1998.

He joined the BBC in 1980 as a Studio Manager and he has been a producer in BBC Education, on Pick of the Week and Bookshelf, spent a period in the Falkland Islands with the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) and was part of the launch team of Radio 5, where he became Assistant Editor. He joined Radio 1 in 1993 as Chief Assistant.