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From interviewing JAY-Z to presenting Top of the Pops: Clara Amfo reflects on her epic year

We've had a , been , and now it's turn to give us the lowdown on her epic year.

She paid the Royals a visit, presented (coming 'atcha on Christmas Day) and picked JAY-Z's brain. Join us as we journey through Clara Amfo's jam-packed 2017...

It's been a big year for the Live Lounge. Harry Styles, Lorde, JAY-Z...

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"Sitting across from JAY-Z is absolutely in the top five most surreal moments of my life. I don't actually think it's sunk in fully yet and it happened in September.

Sitting across from JAY-Z is absolutely in the top five most surreal moments of my life
Clara Amfo

"I was going through my camera roll the other day and I was like 'okay, wow, we really did that!'. He's such an iconic person and so important to me.

"There hasn't been an album that he's put out that I haven't cared about and having him across thinking 'wow, you're JAY-Z, you're married to Beyoncé and I know what your daughter looks like'.

"It's scary how much I knew about him before talking to him and to learn about the other sides of him, about the fact that he's dressed up as cartoon characters to impress his daughter and he's just someone's dad, as well."

What was it like chatting to someone as legendary as JAY-Z?

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"We could've spoken for so long about so many different types of things but you're allotted a certain amount of time with these people because they're very busy. I think in our chat we covered politics in America, we covered a bit of philosophy, a bit of spirituality, relationship issues, fatherhood, music. I tried to do as much as I could but yeah, that was one of my career highlights, full stop."

Do you feel one step closer to finally getting Beyonc茅 in the Live Lounge?

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"Absolutely. The minute that JAY-Z was confirmed for the I thought 'alright, cool - worked on the husband, the wife is next'. My spirit tells me she's going to say yes within the next two years. I'm putting that out into the universe. I remain hopeful because him coming in was just the weirdest thing in itself and so surreal. I just think anything's possible, y'know?"

  • Prepare to have your 99 problems well and truly quashed because what problem can't be solved with a JAY-Z Live Lounge? None? Our thoughts exactly...

You paid Miley Cyrus a visit in Malibu. What was her pad like?

"Miley's house was like being in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory mixed with some kind of Tim Burton movie.

Miley's house was like being in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory mixed with some kind of Tim Burton movie
Clara Amfo

"I remember we went up the driveway and we were greeted by this giant bronze statue, which I believe was of a dog - a dog or a bear, some kind of animal - and then you go through these giant gates and immediately you're greeted with her rainbow studio, where she does all her music.

"Basically the story goes that it was the old postal room for Malibu, where they used to sort all the post, and she converted it into this gorgeous space.

"Every single colour you can imagine is on the bricks and then you go inside and she's got this big furry black sofa... and it's just full of colour and glitter and there's a picture of Dolly [Parton], her godmother."

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"She was there in her sparkly blue cowboy boots and her Elvis t-shirt and I really, really warmed to her... I've always appreciated her artistry and her voice - the tone of that girl's voice is just gorgeous, beautiful, southern drawl - but I feel she's really come into herself with this Younger Now era and there's a lovely confidence. She's still nuts, but in the best possible way; there's a calmness with it and you really felt that from her."

  • Miley blew the rainbow-striped roof off of the recording studio that just so happens to be located in her garden.

Who else has been a highlight this year?

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"Stormzy's always great when he comes in just because he is still so amazed and grateful at everything but he's still very grounded and confident with it. His Live Lounge this year, when he did Sweet Like Chocolate mash-up, I thought was wicked. I really enjoyed that."

  • It's safe to say that Stormzy blew the proverbial roof off the Live Lounge.

Which guest consistently cracks you up?

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"Oh Anne-Marie is hilarious and somebody who I've just been really happy to see grow. When she used to sing for Rudimental to where she is now, it's amazing. I'm so happy for her because she's got a lovely personality.

"I think Anne-Marie is a great example of being a true artist, she's always writing, always singing, her mind is always ticking about song ideas and this and that, but she can turn it on and get on a stage and have the best time and you have so much fun with her."

  • We don't want to get sentimental but, as far as Live Lounge sessions go, 2017 has been pretty phenomenal.

Radio 1's My Mind & Me campaign kicked off this year. How important is it for you to do more than just entertain on your show?

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"I always say that I love to play music for people and I love to share jokes with the audience but I think in showing the humanity of the station and all of us as people, it's important to talk about stuff that isn't so happy and guess what, life isn't perfect.

I've been very vocal about things that I've been through... and I feel empowered by those moments
Clara Amfo

"I've been very vocal about things that I've been through on this show and I feel empowered by those moments.

"I think people can often think that my life is perfect and I skip to work every day and meet pop stars and obviously I have an amazing time but there's been times when I've been sobbing before I've played songs because I've been having a rubbish day.

"And I want to share that with people because everyone is going through it, we all are."

  • Find out which DJ likes to go for a run to clear their head and who uses creativity to help lift their mood.

JP Cooper did a really moving cover in the Live Lounge...

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"We had JP Cooper in the Live Lounge a little while ago and he did a version of the 1-800 song by Logic - which is obviously about suicide and some really deep stuff - and one of the listeners messaged in and said 'that performance really affected me because I was an ex-serviceman and when I left [the army] I was having suicidal thoughts and that song made me feel good and reminded me that everything is going to be okay'.

"I think these are the moments that I cherish in radio."

  • Here are three powerful songs which deal with mental health and a little advice on taking care of your own.

What was it like going to Kensington Palace with Radio 1's Teen Heroes?

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"It was the second time I visited and it was really cool.

The Teen Awards were so fun this year but the most important thing are the Teen Heroes
Clara Amfo

"The Teen Awards were so fun this year, thousands of people screaming for these pop stars and it's wicked fun, but the most important thing are the Teen Heroes because they're the people you think 'how can I even complain about X, Y and Z when this person is trying to maintain their education, trying to maintain some sort of normal life and they've got a parent they've got to look after or they've got a mental disorder they've got to live with or they're struggling with homelessness?!'.

"So when you have those times when you can get them on a stage in front of thousands of people, and everyone going 'yeah, you're amazing!', it's incredible."

Finally, you're presenting Top of the Pops this year! How big a deal is that for you?

"This is probably in the top five of things I would ever want to present in my life, ever. This is a proper bucket list moment. Something that I never thought I'd get the chance to do.

" is one of the shows that's deeply ingrained in the musical ether, everyone knows what it is; whether you're somebody who lived through it when it was still live on TV or you've only caught the Christmas specials or you see the repeats.

"It's just a thing that everyone knows and to get to do it on Christmas Day and on New Years Eve, it's just an absolute honour and a joy. The minute I got asked to do it, I was like "YES YES YES YES YES!". I was so happy and I'm really looking forward to people seeing it."

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