Clara Amfo

Clara Amfo (born 1985/1986)[1] is a radio presenter in the United Kingdom.

She currently presents The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1, the weekend breakfast show on BBC Radio 1Xtra and will take over Fearne Cotton on Radio 1's mid-morning show on 25 May 2015.[2]

Early life and education

Amfo was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey,[3] Her father was a microbiologist who immigrated from Ghana in the 1970s.[4] Amfo studied media arts with professional and creative writing at St Mary's University College, Twickenham.[5] Amfo trained at a workshop in London and learned presenting skills and how to package show reels and also attended a training course in Edinburgh.

Career

Amfo was hired by Nickelodeon as a presenter. During this time, she was a contestant in the BBC Talent competition. She subsequently took up a position at CBBC.[6] She interned in marketing at KISS FM,[7] and did some voice overs.

In 2011, Amfo travelled to Ghana to make a film in support of the charity Plan's 'Because I Am A Girl' campaign.[8]

Amfo hosted the British premiere of Red Riding Hood and has reported from assorted events in the UK including Wireless, Global Gathering, SW4 and NASS festivals. In 2012 she was nominated for a Sony Radio Award in the 'Rising Star' category.[9][10] She has done voice overs for Motorola, Nike and Spotify.

In September 2013 she joined BBC Radio 1Xtra as host of the weekend breakfast show. In 2013, Amfo was hired as the host of MTV's weekly Official UK Top 40[11] and Top 20 Chart shows, as well as The Official Chart Update and Top 20.[12][13]

In 2015, Amfo became the host of The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1. In February 2015 it was also announced that she would be taking over Fearne Cotton as host of Radio 1's mid-morning show - home of the Live Lounge - on 25 May 2015, and therefore be departing from 1Xtra's weekend breakfast show.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "Counting down to the end of the charts? How the Top 40 stays relevant in the age of YouTube", independent.co.uk; accessed 26 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Butterfly, Amelia (27 February 2015). "BBC Newsbeat". Clara Amfo announced as new Radio 1 Live Lounge presenter. BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2016. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ↑ "Clara Amfo on taking over the Radio 1 chart show: ‘I'm smiling a lot’". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ Barnett, Laura. "Clara Amfo: 'I'm inspired by Oprah. She's my spirit guide'". theguardian.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Clara Amfo: Radio 1’s new chart host must placate pop's fan armies - the Swifties and Azaleans", TheIndependent.co.uk; accessed 26 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Parkinson, Justin. "From the classroom to the studio". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "1Xtra Weekend Breakfast Show now hosted by Clara Amfo", spyghana.com; accessed 26 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Kiss FM's Clara backs girls campaign". plan-uk.org. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Davies, Rebecca. "Sony Radio Academy Awards nominations revealed, Moyles snubbed". digitalspy.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Radio presenter nominated for Sony award". Watford Observer.
  11. ↑ "Clara Amfo lands 'iconic' radio role", voice-online.co.uk; accessed 26 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Hart, Tina. "Tim Westwood departs Radio 1 and 1Xtra as new Saturday night schedules revealed". musicweek.com. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Who is Clara Amfo?", telegraph.co.uk; accessed 26 March 2015.
  14. ↑ Butterfly, Amelia (27 February 2015). "BBC Newsbeat". Clara Amfo announced as new Radio 1 Live Lounge presenter. BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

External links

Preceded by
Jameela Jamil		 BBC Radio 1
Chart show presenter
25 January 2015-12 July 2015 		Succeeded by
Greg James