Clara Amfo reveals depression battle led to her quitting BBC Radio 1 as she became 'burnt out and in a negative headspace' after eight years on air
The presenter, 41, revealed that she struggled with her mental health after becoming 'burnt out' due to the toll of her career.
Clara, who spent a decade as a DJ and regularly fronts shows including the BBC's Glastonbury coverage, admitted she was in a 'negative headspace' at the time and needed a 'little reset'.
Speaking to Fearne Cotton on the Happy Place podcast, she said: 'I was burnt out, I wasn't taking care of myself properly and I think I was a bit overwhelmed by life's injustices.
'I just wasn't feeling great and I was in a bit of a negative headspace.
'The start of 2023, I was in the flipping trenches. I was feeling really, really depressed sort of mid-2023 and I took some time off radio, and just had to have a little reset. That is when I decided I was going to leave my show.'
Clara, first joined Radio 1 as a DJ and later hosted the Live Lounge, The Official Chart on Radio 1, and her 1Xtra programme.
Clara also addressed the pressures of working in high-profile broadcasting as she said she never wanted to 'resent' the job.
She added: 'I had mixed reactions. Obviously our bosses, who are lovely, were like 'But why?'
'I'm one of these people where I am so passionate about what I do that I never want to resent anything, I don't want anything to feel like it's forced or a chore.
'And I want to be able to listen to music always as a fan, rather than as a business, and I want to be able to talk to people on a human level without thinking, 'Got to get that viral interview clip'.'
Clara left Radio 1 in 2023, marking the end of a decade-long chapter that included championing new artists through her 'hottest record' feature.
At the time, she said: 'I'm so proud of the work I've been able to do on every show, whether it's been from the 8th floor, a city in the UK or a pop star's house across the pond. I'm grateful to have had the ears of the listeners who have consistently shown up for me.
'I'm enamoured by everyone I've had the privilege of working alongside for each and every broadcast.
'I'm energised and excited for my next chapter as part of the network and beyond.'
It comes after Clara revealed that she 'debated having liposuction ' after 'getting in her own head' about her body image.
The presenter candidly discussed her relationship with her body image as she covered the December edition of UK Women's Health last year.
In the accompanying interview, Clara reflected on how she thought her career 'would be different' if she looked a certain way.
The broadcaster explained how she 'tries to stop herself' from constantly thinking about her body in an industry that is 'obsessed' with people's appearances.
She said: 'If I had done all these things but I existed in a different body, maybe had a looser hair pattern, or if I was a few shades lighter, I wonder if my career would be different, and I wonder if I would get treated better.'
'I'll be so real with you, I was debating having lipo. I won't lie, towards the end of last year – because I got in my head, I had the consultation and everything.'
Explained what stopped her, she added: 'I obsessively research things, and I was just looking at all the times when it had gone wrong for people. I think I scared myself out of it, to be honest.'
In the UK, private liposuction surgery can cost between £2,000 and £6,000.The op, which tends to last a few hours, involves removing unwanted body fat by inserting a tube under the skin and sucking out small areas of fat.
After bruising and swelling from the operation has healed, the areas treated visibly shrink. Recovery can take weeks.
Graduating with a media arts degree in 2006, Clara joined Kiss FM as a marketing intern in 2007, progressed to stand-in presenter.
She then secured a role as drivetime host, leading to BBC Radio 1 Extra in 2013 and her daytime Radio 1 show in 2015.
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