Clara Amfo feels ‘blessed’ to have been able to work throughout lockdown as her job has kept her head above water during the pandemic.
Last year the presenter was a regular fixture on Radio 1 and took to the dancefloor for a very different Strictly Come Dancing, keeping the nation’s spirits up as many people remained at home.
Clara, 36, opened up to Metro.co.uk about how being able to continue working was ‘vital for me mentally’.
‘Lockdown’s been interesting, its definitely reaffirmed and reminded me of my gratitude for my profession and being able to work. I haven’t really stopped to be honest, which has been an absolute blessing,’ she said.
‘I think if I hadn’t had the routine of going into work I wouldn’t have coped entirely that well, so its been special to be able to continue working and so vital for me mentally.’
She continued: ‘I’ve definitely felt closer to audiences too, through this time, there’s a sense of openness from people and something seems to have shifted ever so slightly. I’ve been living for my WhatsApp group chats, all my favourite albums, TikTok and going to work to get me through the tougher moments.’
She and her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec became a much loved pairing on Strictly in 2020, and fans will be pleased to hear their friendship is still going strong, as they have continued to catch up with each other since the show.
‘I caught up with them virtually recently,’ she told us. ‘I spoke to Johannes (Radebe), who I adore, on the phone the other day for about an hour, and I also keep in touch with Oti (Mabuse) and lots of the others.’
Although she found the competition ‘scary’ she doesn’t regret a moment of it, adding: ‘It was honestly one of the best experiences of my life.’
Her next gig is official EE presenter at this weekend’s EE Baftas, celebrating the biggest and brightest stars of the big screen.
Clara will be on hand to get the first reaction from this year’s winners virtually as well as catch up with the celebs hosting on the night, which she joked will give us a chance to ‘nosy’ into the homes of the rich and famous.
‘Obviously, this year’s ceremony is already different in that it is split into two days, and we’re also not able to all be together,’ she began, ‘but whether face to face or via a screen I know we’ll all still get the same joy from it.
‘We all thrive on human connection whether through gigs, parties, cinemas, theatres and there’s something so euphoric about being united with strangers through something you love. I really miss that feeling – when you’re at a gig or a festival you’re never really alone, you can turn to the person next to you and sing along to a tune with them without any judgement.
‘It’s the same with award shows – it’s a group of people celebrating their peers and the art they love to create.’
Clara Amfo will return as the official EE presenter at the 2021 EE BAFTA Film Awards this Sunday, bringing fans exclusive interviews with the Awards Presenters and Winner Reactions on the night at twitter.com/EE.
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