On 16 May 2011, the first BBC staff began arriving at the corporation's new northern base at MediaCityUK in Salford - though the most dramatic arrival was in September, when Blue Peter presenters arrived in a Royal Navy helicopter.

Five departments - BBC Children's, BBC Formal Learning, parts of BBC Future Media & Technology, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport - have moved to the Salford site in the first year, along with staff working in local and regional programming and network production at the old BBC North building in Manchester.

The arrival in Salford was marked by a series of special events, including the BBC Philharmonic Presents festival in June, which saw the orchestra collaborate on Radio 1/1Xtra’s Dubstep Symphony, join up with Tamzin Outhwaite for Radio 2, and provide backing for Mark Kermode on harmonica for 5 live.

In the autumn of 2011, 5 Live arrived in Salford, joining Radio Manchester, radio dramas - such as the upcoming A Doll’s House with Toby Stephens and Indira Varma - and some of 6 Music's output at "Mega City One", as the complex has been dubbed by presenters Stuart Maconie and Mark Radcliffe.

BBC Sport also celebrated its arrival with a festival of events, Celebrate Sport. This saw Football Focus broadcast in front of an audience for the first time when it came from Salford Lads Club in December.

The site has also seen a number of new TV pilots made, one of which - Citizen Khan - was commissioned by BBC One after showing at Salford Sitcom Showcase in October.

BBC North West Tonight moved to the site in October and was joined in the same studio by BBC Breakfast in April. The two programmes also share a production gallery and operations team.

The whole complex, including the three BBC buildings, was officially opened by the Queen in March, during which she had a close encounter with a Dalek. The monarch's arrival followed Princess Anne's visit in February to open the new Blue Peter garden.