Clara Amfo replaces Reggie Yates on Top of the Pops

Clara Amfo will replace Reggie Yates on the \'Top of the Pops\' Christmas specials.

The 33-year-old Radio 1 presenter will co-host two one-hour specials of the festive music show alongside Fearne Cotton after Reggie quit for making "some ill-considered remarks".

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.

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"2017 has been a rich year in pop and I can\'t wait to celebrate it with the artists, Fearne and everyone at home."

Reggie, 34, confirmed this week he will not be co-hosting the specials after he referred to music managers as the "fat Jewish guy", which he apologised for shortly afterwards, during an interview with DJ Chuckie Lothian in an episode of a podcast titled, \'#Halfcast Podcast: Take Back The Power\'.

In a statement released via his Twitter account yesterday (05.12.17), he said: "On a recent podcast, during a discussion about grime artists, I made some ill-considered remarks which have hurt many people.

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"I can see clearly that 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 offended.

"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. (sic)"

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On the podcast, he said: "The thing that makes it great about this new generation of [music] 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."

Clara hosts the Radio 1\'s mid-morning show - which is home to the Live Lounge and sees some of the biggest acts from around the world to perform some of their hits or covers.

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Mark Cooper, head of music television, BBC Studios said: "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."

The \'Top of the Pops\' Christmas Day (25.12.17) special is set to feature a line-up including Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa, James Arthur, Clean Bandit, Rita Ora and The Script.