Clara Amfo says she’s not a ‘two-faced’ Gemini: ‘We have the worst rep in the zodiac’-Paul Simper-Entertainment – Metro

Clara Amfo is hosting new dating show Written In The Stars (Picture: Getty)

Radio 1 DJ, Clara Amfo, 38, on how star signs help find love and how new Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa shares her views on astrology.

You’re in your office, I see. What have you got behind you on the wall?

This is an orange semi-circle that I drew for just a bit of constant joy. It’s a little sunsety thing. It makes me feel good. And there’s my Barbie, which was created in my likeness last year, when I was made a Barbie role model. She sits on my little shelf.

Were you sceptical when you were asked to host Written In The Stars, where 12 singles are coupled up in a Greek villa based on their star signs?

Honestly, my reaction was, ‘I’d love to do it’. In my experience it is so part of our culture now, star signs. It’s part of our lexicon. ‘Oh yeah, he’s a Scorpio.’Or ‘he’s a Pisces, he’s really sensitive.’ It’s just so deeply ingrained.

Clara has a Barbie doll created in her image (Picture: Michael Bowles/Mattel/PA)

Astrologer matchmaker Michele Knight suggests that the couples put together will connect if they ‘work with the magic’. Isn’t that a bit of a get-out clause?

I would disagree. This show is about emotional intelligence. That’s what I was attracted to.

Obviously our 12 singles are good-looking people. Of course they are. They’re hot people. But you will see our astrologers try to make them face the good things about themselves reflected in their star signs and also the not-so-good things.

That’s what I think really works on the show. It’s not all sugar-coated, ‘Aw, you’re lovely.’ It’s, ‘No, some of the things you do trigger me, so let’s work that out.’

In what ways do you fit the bill as a typical Gemini?

Well, Geminis are allegedly natural communicators. That’s what I do for a living.

We are very social creatures but also there is that flipside. Geminis and Scorpios arguably get the worst rep in the zodiac because it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re two-faced.’ I am not two-faced, just a split personality.

I can literally be in the middle of a party on the dance floor being the centre of attention but I can also happily go on holiday by myself and not talk to anybody, or stay in the house for five days with no other human contact.

Clara says she can be happy alone or partying, like she is here backstage after winning the Live Event Award for The Earthshot Prize 2021 at the Baftas in May (Picture: Scott Garfitt/Shutterstock)

You talked on Laura Whitmore’s Castaway podcast about taking a year in 2019 just to concentrate on you. What did you learn about yourself?

It was honestly just a year for me to reset. I was a bit burnt out. I won’t lie. I hadn’t made some smart dating choices. So I thought, ‘Do you know what? I just need to do me.’

It became one of the best years of my life, truly. I have honestly never felt better. It was a really lovely liberating year. I ended it in Ghana, where I’m from, on Labadi beach with my mates going, ‘Yeahh! Best year ever!’

We were watching the sunrise. Everyone was just vibing and so excited and then 2020 happened and you know the rest.

Clara says she took a year in 2019 to reset as she felt a bit burnt out (Picture: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Where do you feel you are in your life now?

I feel excited because as well as the usual stuff that’s radio and podcasts, I feel I’m challenging myself and also showing that I can do different types of things.

People want to put you in a box sometimes. Listen, as a dark-skinned black woman in this industry, it’s a tricky one to navigate. There have been shows I’ve been up for before and I’ve smashed it in the audition or whatever and then I haven’t maybe got them. And you’re like, ‘OK, right, got it.’

So I really respect the Discovery Channel for having the balls to have me front this show. I want people to see people like me hosting shows like this because why not?

More: Sixty Seconds

Can you recommend a good non-music podcast?

Oh gosh, I listen to so many podcasts. There’s a woman in America whoI think is fantastic called Chelsea Devantez. She’s a comedy writer and a stand-up and a scriptwriter.

She does one called Celebrity Book Club on Spotify. She basically goes through people’s memoirs and dissects them. She only does women’s memoirs but it’s brilliant and fun and we are Instagram friends now.

Are you going to do more of your This City podcasts?

Yes – we are recording them as we speak. I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had a very busy year so stuff has got in the way. Also I only want to speak to people that I’m genuinely interested in rather than just get fillers on to make sure it’s on every month. Trust me, it’s coming back very soon.

‘Good egg’ Ncuti Gatwa (Picture: Maxine Howells/REX/Shutterstock)

You did a great one with Ncuti Gatwa. Are you still in touch now he’s busy with Doctor Who?

Ncuti is a Libra. When it was announced I was doing WITS – that’s what we’re calling Written In The Stars – Ncuti and Aimee Lou Wood from Sex Education really shared the story and were like, ‘Oh my God, the conversations we are going to have about this show! I can’t wait to watch it!’

Aimee is really into astrology as well. So it’s good to have those two on board for this. Ncuti is a good egg. I love him dearly.

Written In The Stars is available to stream from Nov 27 on Discovery+

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