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Clara Amfo to get daytime show on Radio 1 as Fearne Cotton bows out
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 2 March 2015
News that the UK singles chart might move back to being released on a weekday, as a result of last week’s global release day announcement, led some to wonder whether that might result in the long-mooted (or, really, ‘long-wished-for-by-TV-pluggers’) revival of ‘Top Of The Pops’.
Because if we ended up with Thursday as chart day, well, ‘TOTP’ could relaunch in it’s classic Thursday evening slot and still reveal the new Top 40 hot off the press. In its final incarnation ‘TOTP’ aired on a Sunday evening so to air the very latest chart (rather than one that had been out for several days), but the Sunday slot never really worked. Could a Thursday slot with a brand new Thursday chart give the whole thing a new relevance? Hmm, maybe. Though that possibly assumes the chart itself has some relevance beyond point scoring within the industry. Which is debatable.
But if ever there was a time to bring ‘TOTP’ back now is it, because Fearne Cotton is leaving Radio 1, which means she’d be less of a shoe-in to return as the primary presenter on a revived version of the show. Which means an all-new ‘TOTP’ would have at least a slight chance at success, she being one of the format’s weakest elements during its slide into oblivion in 2006 (something the BBC always seemed blind to).
Cotton, who also announced she is expecting her second child last week, told reporters of her decision to quit Radio 1: “After much time and careful thought I have decided to leave Radio 1 after ten amazing years. I have had the most incredible decade broadcasting on Radio 1, meeting wonderful people, helping break artists and watching live music from the world’s best”.
When Cotton leaves in May, her daily 10am-1pm slot will go to newish Chart Show host Clara Amfo, who will continue to front the Top 40 countdown programme for the station even after taking on the weekday slot (though the chart show will presumably go through an overhaul later this year as a result of the aforementioned global release day and moving chart day).
Confirming her new gig, Amfo said: “I am honoured and thrilled to be presenting such a huge show on Radio 1. The broadcasters who have gone before me have left an impressive trail and I hope to carry that on. Doing this job is an absolute joy and to now have the opportunity to broadcast Monday to Friday is something that I am so grateful for”.
And on all this, Radio 1 boss man Ben Cooper added: “Fearne has been an amazing ambassador for new music and Radio 1, and we want to wish her and her family all the very best for the future. I’m also so excited for Clara, as she represents the next generation of Radio 1 DJs bringing the best new music to young audiences in the UK”.
