Radio 1’s Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ Jewish slur

Radio 1’s Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ Jewish slur

Clara Amfo to host Top Of The Pops replacing Reggie Yates (Picture: Rex/Top of the Pops) Top Of The ..

Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ slur
Clara Amfo to host Top Of The Pops replacing Reggie Yates (Picture: Rex/Top of the Pops)

Top Of The Pops today announced BBC Radio 1’s Clara Amfo as the new co-presenter of Christmas and New Year specials after Reggie Yates revealed he had ‘taken the decision to step down’.

Clara, 33, will be the first new presenter of the BBC One show in over ten years as she joins Fearne Cotton to host the two, one-hour specials that will celebrate the biggest hits and most successful acts of the year.

Clara hosts Radio 1’s mid-morning show – the home of Radio 1’s Live Lounge – where she has hosted artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Jay Z to Stormzy, Wolf Alice and Royal Blood.

Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ slur
Claro will replace Reggie in this year festive Top Of The Pops (Picture: WireImage)

Speaking of her the announcement Clara said: ‘I’m so happy and honoured to be presenting Top of the Pops alongside Fearne.

‘It’s an iconic show that I’ve grown up with and continue to enjoy watching, especially during the festive season. 2017 has been a rich year in pop and I can’t wait to celebrate it with the artists, Fearne and everyone at home.’

Mark Cooper, Head of Music Television, BBC Studios says: ‘Clara is a great champion of all kinds of pop music and she lights up the screen with her radiance.

‘She’s a joy on Radio 1, she did a great job presenting on BBC TV at Glastonbury this year and now she’s co-hosting Top of the Pops! Clara and Fearne will be a formidable duo!’

Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ slur
Clara: ‘I’m so happy and honoured to be presenting Top of the Pops alongside Fearne’ (Picture: Getty Images)

The Christmas Day special will see Clara and Fearne present artists like Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, James Arthur, Clean Bandit, Rita Ora and The Script. The New Year show will review 2017’s year in music with a star-studded line-up including Craig David feat. Bastille, Paloma Faith, Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa and Rita Ora.

The news follows reports that TV presenter Reggie resigned from his posts after apologising for using the term ‘fat Jewish guy’ in the Halfcast Podcast, hosted by DJ Chuckie Lothian.

Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ slur
Last month Reggie apologised for using the term ‘fat Jewish guy’ in a podcast interview (Picture: Getty Images)

The former Radio 1 host and TV presenter said: ‘On a recent podcast during a discussion about grime artists I made some ill-considered remarks which have hurt many people.

‘I can clearly see the words I used reinforced offensive stereotypes and that there is no context which would justify such remarks.

‘My comments are no reflection on how I truly feel and I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community, people in the music industry and anyone else I have affected.’

Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates in Top Of The Pops after his ‘ill-considered’ slur
Fearne Cotton and Reggie will not be hosting the show together this year (Picture: Getty Images)

‘This has been and continues to be a huge learning experience for me and on reflection, I have taken the decision to step down from hosting Top Of The Pops this year,’ he added.

More: BBC

During the podcast Reggie added: ‘The thing that makes it great about this new generation of artists is that they ain’t signing to majors. They’re independent, they’re not managed by some random fat Jewish guy from north west London, they’re managed by their brethren.’

Using artists like Wretch 32, Stormzy and Skepta as examples the 34-year-old went to say: ‘It’s amazing to see now the example isn’t get hot and then give all of your publishing to these idiots. Or go and give all of your rights to these dickheads over here. It’s now get hot, bring the family in, keep the family close, and win with your people. That’s the example now in music.’

A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We take these issues very seriously and Reggie is in no doubt about the BBC’s view of his comments.’

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