Clara Amfo: “I’m afraid of being bored!” How to take your holiday hobbies seriously

0:00Hello and welcome to the Happy Place Guide to Holidays brought to you by British Airways Holidays I'm Fern Cotton and today I'm chatting to Clara Ampho. Do you know what? You can go on holiday and not necessarily come back with a physical skill. Sometimes it's just about self-sufficiency. Don't remember, I love going on holidays with my mates, but you know how it is. Trying to coordinate any kind of friend group. Like, we've all got that group chat that's sort of like, whatever holiday, 2025, let's do it. And there's maybe like three people keeping it alive. I'm just like, you know what? Screw this.

0:31I'm going by myself. I've travelled a lot alone, so I think for me, when it comes to getting a skill coming back from holiday, it's actually just been about self-sufficiency and knowing how to do it really well, like alone. Well, you will have gathered that this isn't an ordinary episode of the podcast, and actually there are two reasons for that today. Firstly, Clara and I had this chat live with all of you gorgeous lot in our massive talks tent at the first ever Happy Place Festival in Gunnersbury Park. And then secondly, this is the Happy Place Guide to Holidays. So it's an exclusive Happy Place mini-series brought to you by British Airways Holidays.

1:05They're all about helping you take your holidays more seriously. And this series is all about putting the passion back into our time away. In each episode, we're going big on the things that I and you lot, according to British Airways Holidays, love most about going on holiday. So that's things like food and drink and holiday reads and having time to prioritise our wellbeing. Today, with Clara, we talk passions and hobbies. there's a real trend at the moment for people booking holidays so they can do more of what they love that could be i don't know a week away sailing or painting or maybe a ski trip not for me and this is really cool according to a recent yougov survey commissioned by british airways holidays 68 of 25 to 34 year olds think it's important that a holiday gives you the opportunity to incorporate a hobby or pursuit so there are clearly loads of you following those niggling desires in your hearts, which I absolutely bloody love.

2:01There's also all your regular happy place chatting here, why Clara was ready to leave Radio 1, losing ourselves while we tried to be likeable, and why running was so vital to help her move through grief. P.S. We recorded this on the hottest, sweatiest day of the year.

2:41Hi, everyone. Come and take a seat. Welcome, Clara. Thank you for having me. This is fabulous. I am obsessed with your outfit. Let's just start right there. You look absolutely dreamy. Thank you kindly. I feel like I haven't seen you in real life for ages. In a minute. But here we are. But here we are. I mean, you've already had a summer packed with festival action. Indeed, indeed. How was Glastow? Glastow was fun. It was intense. It wasn't muddy. So I was delighted. Love. And yeah, it was everything you wanted it to be. And it's the last one for a year. So we made sure we had a lot of fun. Worked very hard, of course.

3:13Obviously. Worked very, very hard. Yeah, but you do. They're really long hours. Oh, yeah. I think that's the irony. People think when you work at Glastonbury, you just get to spend all day watching the acts. And you don't. Well, you kind of do through like a tiny monitor. you can sneak away and see a couple of things but yeah we are on every day yeah do you because you come off air at what midnight midnight sometimes 1am or if you're Paul McCartney 1.30 in the morning because you know he's got the hits yeah yeah yeah you've got to see Paul and then did you go out afterwards because I did that one year terrible idea so yeah this year on the Saturday night I got to rap a little bit early then I went to go and see Dochi because I'm obsessed with her and then I ended up in block 9 and if you don't know what Block 9 is, any Glastonbury goers here?

3:56Yeah? You know Block 9? It's a fabulous... These are my people. They're like, I was at home watching on the TV. It's too scary. It's too big. Do you know what? This sums up the union's relationship because I'll never forget one time... Have you met these people? No, they didn't go to Glastonbury. One time me and Fern were doing Top of the Pops. She was like, so what are you doing tonight? I was like, I'm going out. Going home, mate. Going home. Always. But I love that. Home is preferable. I love being at home. But I'm going to really embrace this weekend, Pierce. Yes. I'm going to stay, if that's okay.

4:26There we go. Outside. Well, I'm glad you had a lovely time. And you're off tonight to watch Stevie Wonder. I sure am. I'm taking my best seat to go and see him. It's going to be so good. It's July. Perfect. That's the best. I went and saw Craig David the other day. Oh, my God. I basically regressed to being 14 and just had the best night ever. My mate Fran got on my friend Lucy's back. We're 43. What is she doing? Living life then. I was like, you're going to piss yourself on her back. You need to watch out. It was so, it was a great gig. It was so, so good. So look, you know, you've got all of this going on.

4:58You've been so busy, relentlessly busy. We obviously, our paths crossed a lot back in the day, but then you took over from me on the Live Lounge, which was just, I was so happy to pass the baton onto such an amazing broadcaster and someone that I knew would be equally as passionate as I was, as Joe was before me about that whole experience. Looking back on that decade at radio, what do you feel? What do you think? Oh my gosh. Do you know what? Because I left Radio 1 just over a year ago now. Time has flown. And I think it's one of those things where when you really have a bit of time to sit back and look at everything, you're like, oh my gosh, I was so spoiled.

5:39So lucky. You just get a front row to the most amazing artist experiences. and seeing people live who are how we are now, with a metre in between you, and just getting to see artists' growth. It's such a rewarding thing to play a teeny tiny part in someone's artistic journey. I went to go see Dua Lipa at Wembley Stadium a couple of weeks ago and I was one of her first radio plays, one of her first interviews. I remember seeing her in a tiny venue for 200 people in East London and she's sailing at Wembley Stadium. She's always been so kind, actually, because when I did my last Radio 1 show, She sent me a massive bouquet of flowers.

6:17And I was like, you don't have to do that. That's so kind. You'll do it at E-Leaver. It's just nice to be part of artist journeys. And, you know, as a fellow music nerd, it's just, it is incredible to see that up close. Talking about those moments where, like you say, you're two metres away from a global music superstar performing for you. Which ones really stand out? Oh, OK. Oh, I've got to say. oh do you know what oh god this is so annoying because you know what it's too many there's so many i can't think of one there's too many okay okay off the top of my head oh alicia keys that was fantastic so yes alicia keys fans exactly yeah um so she did a special for us at made of which is like you know the big iconic bbc studio and it was her her band her piano and she did like try sleeping with a broken heart she did falling and like you know we've all sung falling in the shower obviously none of us can hit the notes and if you can sing love that for you you know hearing i do that keep and you're just like oh it's phenomenal amazing like do as early live lounges um like little sims the annular have a site the list goes on like we've just yeah it's an incredible experience man i remember at made of veil once made about such a weird studio by the way it's been there forever and it hasn't like no one's redecorated it it's just the same it sort smells of an old museum it's so bizarre and um we had eminem in and he was literally stood there and it was just him it was the most awkward thing him and me and he was rapping like doing stan and i was just like what do you do with your hands i was like what do you do it's gonna be a slight person and like yeah exactly can you imagine no i would have been evacuated from the building immediately um but it is it's sort of brilliantly awkward and intense and but it feels so special to have, you look back and you think, how was I allowed to do that?

8:07That's bizarre that I was allowed in the room during that. It's truly amazing. And particularly pre-COVID, because I think COVID definitely changed the game. I think we all know whether you were working from home, broadcasting from home, because some of us were doing radio shows literally from our houses, whatever. I think it really changed the dynamic of like artist availability and things like that. So to get that closeness and that face time, like I really don't take that for granted. We were very lucky. So, so lucky. How is it making that decision to leave? Because I think we're really similar in the fact that we like chapters.

8:39We like to go, right, I did that. And I know that I've, whether it's kind of stopped learning as much or I'm not as kept on my toes. I need a new challenge. I think we're both similar in that way that we want newness or to feel like we're really, really excited slash really, really nervous. but it's a big decision to leave a job like that where you get these exceptional experiences and it's taken for granted that weekly you're going to be in that situation mixing with all these amazing artists I don't know about you but when I told even people around me that I was leaving everyone was like why not a single person went good for you which is unnerving because you want people to kind of back your decision how how was that for you that's a great question because I think I had mixed reactions because, I mean, obviously our bosses who are lovely were like, but why?

9:30And I was like, do you know what it is? Like I just, I'm one of these people that I am so passionate about what I do, but I never want to resent anything that I do. Whether that is broadcast, whether that is, I don't know, the people who I spend my personal time with, whatever. I know I don't ever want anything to feel like it's being forced or like it's a chore. And I wasn't feeling that way. But, you know, I want to be able to listen to music as a fan always rather than as a business. Do you know what I mean? I want to be able to talk to people on a human level rather than thinking, got to get that viral interview clip.

10:05Do you know what I mean? And I think, you know, I'm quite good at sort of, I don't know, just sort of feeling trends in media and broadcast. And I could just feel myself being like the way I want to do things and what I've managed to achieve. I'm so happy with my lot here and don't get me wrong I'm still obviously like do Glastonbury and I still do my bits and bobs like in music around the Beb but I just felt like I don't know I've been I don't want to say I've been so spoiled because I've worked hard for what I've achieved but I just put it this way when Annie Mack our lovely friend Annie Mack left Future Sounds and passed that show on to me she was just like yeah babe like I'm just ready to do my next thing and I think that's how I felt I just felt I felt so completely satiated by it and I was like well I think there's nothing new for me to do I could carry on and do it I could but I think one thing I learned is just because you can do something doesn't mean you always should and I you know I probably could I mean look who's to say the industry is is is is what it is like you can never predict things but generally speaking I probably could have stayed a bit longer if I if I'd wanted to but um to quote the brilliant Sarah Jessica Farquhar of Sex and City slash and just like that thing.

11:17Always leaving the parties cresting. Yes. Always leaving the parties cresting. You don't want to be there when the lights go up. 100%. Christ no. And the thing is, I am a person who does dance when the lights go up, as we've established. I don't. As soon as I get to a party, I'm thinking, what's the exit plan? How am I getting out? 20 minutes cotton or 40 minutes if you're lucky. Yeah, 20 minutes. Absolutely. Peak. No, I agree. I think it's so good to leave on a high. Absolutely. Really, really good. and also good to constantly feel nervous. And I think once you've had that little thought in your head, it just gets louder and louder.

11:50When you know you need change in life, you can't really ignore it. I mean, you can try, but I think it gets harder and harder because that voice just gets louder. And at some point you've got to act on it and do the thing. Well, this is it. And I think anytime you, I've got a big thing. I always say I don't like to betray myself. I don't think people should betray themselves. The minute you allow a little bit of self-betrayal to happen in any facet of your life, I think it just snowballs and I wouldn't want to be turning up on the radio every day just like, hi guys because nobody wants that no one's tuning in for that they want a vibe yeah, without a doubt it is a tough gig and sometimes I feel awkward saying that because it is a dream job but the pressure is immense you are live for three hours every day you've got to have new things to say also if you wake up feeling a bit crap you can't express that you just need to switch on you know the happiness and go for it and it is it's full on it's a full-on cycle yeah a lot of eyes on you literally and a lot of ears on you and like you know you might say something wrong by accident like you might pronounce the band name wrong or you might get the day of the week wrong and someone be like oh my god bad it's like people love that and it's just i'm gonna make a complaint it's actually wednesday yeah thanks very much you think we're joking get a life but yeah no seriously it's it can really be like oh it drives me mad yeah but you know waiting for you to mess up yeah and it's I find that I just find that very very odd but obviously generally speaking it was a beautiful experience and I think the listeners that I and you know this the people that you form relationships with like you know who turn you on when they're in the car or at home studying whatever like they I think you have to trust that they will come with you where you go I mean hence why this room is packed out tonight because I'm sure all of you love Fern on radio love Fern on TV and like exactly yes and that's why that's why we're here do you know what I mean because you build it into It's such an intimate relationship that you build with audience.

13:43And it's a vulnerable thing as well. When you're broadcasting, it's that thing of like, hi, here to tell you things about things that I like. And hopefully you like them too. And hopefully you like that I like them. And hopefully you like me liking them. And like, let's all like things together. Yeah, the likability thing I find terrifying because certainly in the job that we've been in and still are in a different iteration, being liked is so imperative. and it's such a weird flimsy concept to be likable because obviously not everyone's gonna like me like you you know that's just how the world works that some people go oh I love how you talk I love your intonation or I like your music taste whatever it is and for some people it's just not their thing but it feels so it's so weighted because without being liked you haven't got a job and for me that has been at times excruciating to sort of land on that oh my god I don't know how to do that anymore like what and you forget to just be yourself because you're so worried about what other people's expectations are or what might be as vanilla as can be so that more people like you it's quite a fine line and I think losing yourself to that is very easy and that goes back to the self-betrayal thing you know because i think we could all do things in our gender regardless of what you do for a living you can do all types of things to make yourself more palatable to people and more you know like yes likable in that way but then at what cost a huge cost yeah you know actually it sent me completely mad at points where i was just like i don't even know what i like anymore or or how to say this thing that i want to say i think if it gets in your head too much it really plays in your mind.

15:23I mean, I was thinking back when I was looking into this chat today about I remember my last show and you came into the studio and it was such a lovely moment to have like a proper handover. But I was also aware that you had a lot going on at that time of your life. You had just lost your dad. You know, that was a very recent thing. And then you were having this huge life change of taking on the show. You were going to be there every single day. I mean, looking back on that moment in your life, were you completely overwhelmed? how were you dealing with it all you know great question again because i think retrospective 2020 isn't it i think you know when you're so caught up in something and you're just focused on like because i think we again we all do that in life like sometimes not to be that guy but sometimes we forget to be present but it's true because you're so focused on like okay what's next this and i think yeah so you because i remember your last show was may 22nd 2015 yeah you were pregnant with honey at the time weren't you and my my dad had literally died like two months prior and um and it was there was a lot going on and I think I was actually genuinely grateful for the commotion and the madness because it kind of kept me focused in my sort of grieving process and I and even though I was obviously I was I was heartbroken and terribly sad it kind of helped it was a weird healing, temporary fix for what I was going through.

16:48But I mean, looking back now, would I have gone straight into a job on the nation's broadcast? The national broadcast? I don't know. Actually, I probably still would have actually because knowing what my dad was like and he was very, you know, work and achievement focused. I think he wouldn't have wanted me to not do it anyway. But yeah, that time was, it was overwhelming, man. And I don't know how I did it, but we just get on with it, don't we? Yeah, you're in it. Yes. You're not thinking ahead of the day that you're coping with. Did that somewhat delay your grief? Did it come later? Do you know what?

17:27Do you know what? No, actually, because I think it was all so raw and I think I was still sort of so green. I was just honest with everybody around me, to be fair. So, like, you know, there were times where I'd be doing a link and be like okay you know that was an eagle from ed sheeran and then be like hi guys and under my desk i'd be like oh i'm so sad like sobbing and then switching it back on again um but then i think simultaneously i actually know tell a lot because the year after my dad had died i made a radio documentary called running with grief so i love i love to run like i'm doing the marathon next year don't know why but i'm doing it i'm doing it i'm doing it for charities i do know but I just it's one of those ones I'm just like I've just got to do it exactly but um because I so to give you context I'd found out that my father had died when I was running the Paris half marathon so I've gone to get my bibs with my mates that was March 2015 obviously took over from you May 2015 and we were in Paris we were going to go and get our running bibs and then had all these missed calls for my sister and honestly do you know what you know you just know I was like I bet I bet my dad's like I just I knew it I'm not even joking and so I never got the next year but I made a documentary called Running With Brief at the same time as uh same time of it and knowing that I was gonna do that I mean that that wasn't decided the minute that he died obviously but I think there were so many little things implemented for me along the way as well as being brought into this whole new world of Radio 1 that I that yeah I think working was actually just quite healing for you it was just a great distraction and I have to give credit to some of the people that we worked with and still work with, used to work with, I had great support, actually.

19:07People were very, very kind. And actually our boss at the time said, you know, you don't have to start. He said to me, he goes, you know, you don't have to start like now. You can wait till like maybe after some. I was like, no, no, I want to do it now. Yeah, I think there's no right or wrong way to do grief. You know, if you want to keep busy and distract yourself, do it. I think you've got to do the thing that you know is going to help you get through it. because it's undulating and it, you know, it rears its head when you're least expecting it. So you've just got to do whatever you can to cope.

19:38So you're doing a marathon next year, Clara. Oh, my God. So you're going to start training now? Is that a bit early? In this heat? Are you joking? No, that's a ridiculous question. Absolutely not. No, I'm going to start, I think, November, December, when it's chilly. When it's really cold. Yeah, exactly. Oh, that's going to be fun, isn't it? Yes, bring on. Are you good at celebrating your wins, would you say? Do you know what I am actually? I didn't used to be as much, but I am because I think, I'm just very aware of how fleeting everything is. And this is not to be a downer, it's just real life.

20:13Not to talk about death again, but like, you know, I lost a mate like coming up to two years ago now. And she was only 35 when she died. She had blood cancer and she was the most vivacious, brilliant, just, she was life. her name was Poppy she's brilliant Poppy Chancellor she's an amazing artist look up her work Poppy's paper cards she was amazing and she was an incredible artist and just life personified and I think you know her passing and just seeing how life can kick all of us in the arse I think I've just become acutely aware particularly these past two years of like listen man when things are great bloody enjoy yourself because when it's can I say can I say a naughty word or maybe not kids here it's up to you guys Oh, do you know what?

20:58No, the ears are babes. My parents are babes. No, no, no. When things aren't great children. Literally like a six-year-old sat on a beanbag. There we go. We're about to drop the F-bomb. There we go. When things aren't going so well, guys, you know, it's like... They like to say the words. Yeah. Say it. Listen, no, no, no. We've got to be well behaved. If you repeat that, I don't want to get the blame from your mum and dad. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Clara said. No, but I think, because, you know, I've dealt with deep, deep, deep depression in my life. Again, I don't know a single person that hasn't.

21:32I've experienced some horrendous, particularly the start of 2023. Mate, I was in the flipping trenches. Why do you think that was? Oh, gosh. I think I was burnt out. I wasn't taking care of myself properly. I think I was a bit sort of overwhelmed by, I think, life's weird, not weird, valid injustices. I just wasn't feeling great. and I was in a bit of a negative headspace. And it got, yeah, I was really, really depressed, like sort of mid-2023. And I took some time off of radio and just had to have a little reset. And that's when I decided I was going to leave my show actually at the time. So I think I've been in a place where I've dealt with, you know, some horrendous things in my life that have maybe manifested, you know, in my day to day.

22:22So when things are going well, I'm like, you know what? hold on to it and flip and celebrate because you just you just don't know what's happening next and I think that's such a good attitude to adopt and it's it's a choice that you make because I I totally get that and I desperately try to cultivate that sort of mindset of like even being here this weekend you know it's completely overwhelming for me you know I'm just a random human and I'm like what I what am I doing here I shouldn't be doing like this is all too much at times that I have to really allow myself to go look it's happening people have turned up and the sun's shining and it's lovely I find it really hard and I think you know in a similar way to you having had very very low mental health at periods sometimes I will naturally have the propensity to think in the opposite direction which is more don't enjoy it too much because the rug's going to be pulled under your feet again and it's it's so tricky to make that choice so I think it's actually a disciplined approach to mental health is to go I choose to lean in to this good moment rather than it's so much easier to go don't enjoy it too much it could all go you know and I I I really struggle with that one still and it's that thing it is it is that phrase you know I mean again it's so nuanced but generally speaking I've come to the belief that happiness is a choice and that's not to say force it because if you're having a rubbish day you're having a rubbish day and life is life.

23:44I'm not about, you know, deluding yourself to thinking like everything's perfect in the world or whatever, but whether it's the smallest thing like, oh, you know what? I caught my train this morning for my commute or, oh, I had a really funny text exchange with my mate or I got a bit of time to watch my favourite TV show or this happened or whatever. Sometimes I say it out loud to myself. I'll be at home and then be like, oh my gosh, like you did this today. Like, great. Like, wicked. Like, it feels so minor, but I do think it helps. Yeah, I do. Because, yeah, when life is rubbish and you can't see a way out, you want to think about those moments.

24:20Yeah, you've got to draw on those times. Like we were saying before we walked onto the stage, not to be obsessed by him today, but Craig David is a professional gratitude giver. He is constantly, like, you know, you might have seen him on TV. Sorry, I'm listening to you. My legs are so thick and sweaty. Mine are literally sweating. There we go, there we go. They are winding off each other like a wet seal right now. They are so bad. I can't even move them. I'm embarrassed to move them. I should have talped. When I get up, it's just going to be wet. You know? Right. There we go. Sorry. I'm back engaged.

24:51We are all disgusting. If you come for a hug later, I wouldn't, actually. Well, should we do like an elbow? Indeed. Yeah, we'll do one of those. OG COVID times. No, look, we're on the same boat. We are absolutely rank. Someone's bought a fan. So clever. And so chic, actually. Like an old fan. Come on, Taipei personality. It's giving chic, big time. yeah Craig is so good at gratitude and you might sort of watch him on TV and think oh I don't know if I believe that it is absolutely real it's so grateful I think also because he had a big dip and time out he's so grateful that people turn up to his shows that he gets to sing on stage and it is you're so right it's those little moments of like catching the train or eating a nice meal and or little moments of connection with another person it's also so important I want to talk about stuff outside of work as well, because I think the balance of, you know, this industry, which is so relentless.

25:45And even when you're not working, you're constantly thinking about, I mean, I don't know about you, but I'm constantly like, do I still have a job tomorrow? Like, it's a constant panic that it might all go. I definitely need things outside of that just to really ground me and keep me sane. I love painting. I don't do it anywhere near enough, but I love painting outside of music, which obviously has a slight work crossover. But painting feels like it's mine. Like it's nothing to do with work. It's just for me. What do you have outside of work that keeps you feeling good? Oh, so lately I've become one of those Pilates girls.

26:19Yes. I'm obsessed. We've got Pilates here this weekend somewhere. Obsessed, obsessed, obsessed. I can't stop doing it because I only started doing it about two months ago. Can't stop. And also dancing. Don't know if you guys know, I did a little show called Strictly Come Dancing a few years ago. I was robbed. No, I'm joking. You were so great. You were a way of sunshine on that show. Oh, my God. But I loved that show because I felt like a little kid because I just, I love to dance. I love, love, love to dance. So that's my passion outside of work. Like, if I can go to a dance class, that's me all day.

26:50Have you kept up ballroom? Are you doing that specifically? Do you know what? Not ballroom, but I've been doing a bit of, like, jazz, a bit of contemporary, a bit of basic ballet. Check out the point. Check out the turnout. darling. But no, that's, I truly, I love to dance. It makes me feel, that is my happy face. Like, I love it. It's so good. And without sounding like, I don't know, a bit flimsy and woo-woo about it, I think there's something in dancing that gets stuck stuff out of you that you can't talk about in therapy or whatever. It's like a way of getting it out of you. Well, it's a primal thing, isn't it?

27:23Like, we've done it since the dawn of time. It's another form of communication, you know. And again, it's such an intimate thing to do with somebody or such a freeing thing to do by yourself. And it just makes you feel good. And also, hitting an eight count just feels good. It's when you get it. Love it. Absolute dream. We'll have you here next year doing a dance class. Do you know what? Maybe you will. Maybe you will. You do therapy, right? Oh, they love therapy. Yeah, me too. I wouldn't be here without it. No, same. Absolutely no way. I was with my therapist just yesterday. Yes. Won't say a government name because that's a little bit across the line, but she's great.

27:54Shout out to H if she's listening to us. and is it weekly you're regular I see her every Friday we go and have a good old chat and she's she has honestly she's changed my life but I've been in therapy forever yeah same and I think it is if you can do it you know it's sometimes tricky to get if you you know it's expensive or if you can't get it on the NHS but if you feel like you need it it is game changing 100 % game changing how would you say it has changed your life oh my god I think therapy has changed my life in the sense of it makes me question everything but in a way that isn't me being unsure of myself it's just about assessing things okay it's essentially asking what's really going on here so just say if someone's pissed me off or I'm upset about something okay but why is that really are you upset with what this person's done what's it really triggering inside of you and what and what do we need to fix about that because actually this time last year I had a massive row with um with my lovely friend who you know my lovely friend Covey I had to cuss him out because um we're friends here we're sharing and he won't mind me telling this story because um we were going to um we were going to a gig we're going to a festival and um I was okay meet me outside the train station at this time do not be late supposed to meet him at like two o 'clock this man turns up at 3 30.

29:16I'm just around the corner I'm coming for 50 you know you know everyone's got that friend who's sort of like yeah I'll be there in like 10-15 minutes and it's sort of like it's you just literally yeah exactly yeah it's you and i was waiting for it for over an hour and a half and i was absolutely fuming by the time and we've we've been friends for years never had a row it was our first argument ever i had to cuss him out because i was just like you cannot you cannot leave me outside like obviously i'm a people person whatever you cannot leave me waiting somewhere for an hour and i started crying and i got real upset and I was like okay also let me interrogate what's going on here and because of therapy I was able to express that to them I said Kobe I've got a real big thing about people wasting my time I really value authentic real friendships if I'm sorting us out tickets for something whatever you being late and disrespecting my time makes tells me that you don't care about me and makes you wonder if our friendship is real and then it makes me think is anything real and I spiral and because that's one of my core wounds um working in the industry but you know what I mean abandonment and like you know people kids I'm going to say piss they're going to piss out of your time and like okay fine and not valuing you like that that stuff triggers me because I listen you know when I'm in industry I'm sure you can be fake as hell I think but again I don't think it's even an industry thing like I am so particular about who I spend my time with like I wouldn't do this if I didn't love you do you know what I mean it's a Saturday morning I could happily be in bed but I'm here Because I genuinely like and love you.

30:47No, but that's just the fact. I hear you. I'm just saying, yeah. And so when it comes to my friendships, I don't play. So if you're keeping me waiting outside somewhere for an hour and a half, that's going to piss me off. And I got really upset. But then I therapised it out and I said, you have to understand, I've been really going through it lately with sort of like friends and wondering who's real and what's going on. And that's why I'm really upset. And then we worked out and it was fine. But if I wasn't in therapy, I don't think I would have been able to have that mature kind of confrontation with him and resolve it in the day.

31:19Without a doubt. And Kobe will never be late again. Yes. After this. Very public rant, which I'm really here for. Yeah, yeah. I know him. I know him. He's been late for me before. I know this guy. He's a 10-10 human, but yeah, I had to cuss him. Yeah. So when we're talking about passions, dance, amazing. Have you ever been tempted to go on a holiday driven by a passion? I did, yeah. Well, I went to Cuba just before the pandemic because, again, I just love that part of the world. And I've always been obsessive, like South America and all of that. And I took a salsa class in Cuba and it was so fun.

31:54I did loads of classes when I was out there. So I did like a cigar rolling class. I did a salsa class, like cooking, all of that. And it was just, it was so fab. I really, I went by myself. I travel alone a lot. According to a British Airways Holidays YouGov survey, 70 % of travellers say they like to come back from holiday having learned something new. Are you in that bracket? Yeah, I think so. Because I think, do you know what? You can go on holiday and not necessarily come back with a physical skill. Sometimes it's just about self-sufficiency. Do you know what I mean? Because, yeah, I don't know why I love going on holidays with my mates, but you know how it is.

32:31Trying to coordinate any kind of friend group. Like, we've all got that group chat, sort of like whatever holiday 2025 let's do it and there's maybe like three people keeping it alive and like seven people just got it on archive you're like can we get a plan and I'm just like you know what screw this I'm going by myself I'll go with one person I think I've and just because people's schedules are different I've I've traveled a lot alone so I think for me when it comes to getting a skill coming back from holidays actually just been about self-sufficiency and knowing how to do it really well, like alone.

33:02And just little things like, just how I pack, because I'm famously a hand luggage only, babe, unless I really have to. This is like Richard E. Grant. When we did an episode of this with him, I'm like, how? I have to take a pillow with me. It takes up half a suitcase. I wish I was joking. My life would be so much easier. Do you know what it is? I think I've got a massive fear of like, again, I'm quite an impatient person. I hate waiting around. And not that, you know, like queues are ridiculously long. I'm just a Gemini in it. I'm just like, let's go, let's go. And I just like the idea of travelling.

33:35And also, if you're going somewhere hot, you don't need that much stuff. Yeah, still need my pillow. I guess, and your pillow. Yeah, I do. But yeah, I've got them down, hand like a joanie, like to an art. So that's been my biggest skill. I love that. I've done some really successful passion-led holidays. Like, I love art. So I've done Guggenheim. I've done Paris, been to the Louvre and the Musée d 'Orsay. and I love a little Barcelona. I love doing an art trip. But also, I once tried skiing. I don't like skiing, I've decided. Not for you. No, I didn't grow up skiing because no one skied where I grew up.

34:11It's just like wasn't a thing. Very much the same, yeah. Like not a thing. So I went age 30. It's a really bad idea. It's really hard. Skiing's really hard. It's tricky. I'm not really a ski hunt, TBH. I'm more about apres ski. Apres ski. Apres ski. Love that. Love that. Love the look. Me too. Love to get up. Do you know what? I tried snowboarding once. I did quite enjoy it. But I think, yeah, it's one of those ones that I think you've got to really be in the mindset and be really ready and dedicated to doing it. It's a fact, though, like skiing. You have to put all the stuff on. You have to go in a chairlift.

34:43It's like, what the hell? To go up, to go down. Although, to be fair, I did go to a trip. I went to Canada a few years ago and I did snowblading and that was really fun. What is that? It's basically rollerblading. But like I say, it's like mini... Rollerblading? It's like mini skis. So it's like snowblading. so it's just sort of like you know like a ski is like that a slow bade is like that that sounds even harder than skiing though no do you know what it was technically I think easier but I had a good time it was cold don't like to be cold that much no no is there any sort of passion led holiday you would love to go on a new skill you'd like to learn whilst you're away do you know what I would love to go on a Mai Tai holiday I would really love to because a friend of mine did that so she went to because I've been to Thailand for like parties and enjoyment but I've never been to Thailand for like fitness and she goes every year she goes to like a Mai Tai retreat and so she just learns to like do all that and like wear the cool shorts.

35:32Obviously not just for the aesthetics. I actually would like to learn the skills but like the shorts are fab. But yeah, she did that and she does that and it looks really cool. I would love to do that. Yeah, that sounds so good. I think that's really cool. Are you good at relaxing when you go away or do you find, is it like a couple of days to switch off? How long does it take you? See, the thing is, I love an activity on holiday but I also, I love the option to do nothing but I also hate, I have got such a fear of being bored and I need to always stay somewhere where I can visit like a local gallery or a local tourist spot.

36:04But I also love the fact that if I want to wake up at like midday and just lie out for like six hours, I'm going to do that. I also want to know there's an option of, yeah, going to check out, yeah, a live music venue or a museum or whatever. So it's a bit of both. But I'm quite good at like being like, don't email me, don't text me, nothing. I literally have my out of office on my WhatsApp unless it's idle gossip or Beyonce emergency Beyonce emergency unless she decides to start doing interviews if that woman calls me I'm on a flight but besides that leave me alone I put my phone in a drawer and then I buy a camera and then I go and take pictures old school with a camera because if I answer one email I'll look on Instagram and then I'm scrolling and then I've lost 20 minutes where I could be actually thinking of nothing.

36:53And living life. And actually living a life. Very important. That really helps me to switch off big time. British Airways holidays want us to take our holidays more seriously. That's what they're really trying to help us out with. That for me is the way that I'll do it, is the phones in the drawer. How do you like to take your holidays seriously? I think, yeah, definitely switching off from socials. I won't lie. I do like a little story. I like, you know, I'm that cliche. If there's a nice sunset, I'll capture it. I'm having a nice meal. I'll capture it. But I think, yeah, definitely just get off your flipping phone, man.

37:26Go analog if you can. Obviously, like emergencies, whatever. But yeah, I love what I've got. Obviously, other brands are available. Let me just say, I've got an instant camera. I love taking my little camera with me too. And I think it's just about doing what the locals would do. I'm very much into finding someone local. Even talking to a taxi driver and being like, you know when you leave the airport, okay, what do people actually like to do for fun here? and just chucking yourself into it. Because I don't like to go on holiday to hang out with, respectfully, other British people. No. I want to be with the people.

37:59No. Obviously, you're going to meet fellow travellers along the way, but I want to see what people on the ground are actually doing. But let's avoid them, is what we're saying. Yeah, big time. I agree. Have you sent a postcard recently? I've stopped doing that. I think we should bring that back. That is a great question. Has anyone sent a postcard recently? No, of course not. It was in the 80s. Yeah, my dad used to love a postcard. One person with a hand up. Oh, you did. Yeah, good on you. Love that. Yeah, bring them back. You can still buy them. I've seen them. They're there. It's a beautiful gesture.

38:27Postcard letters are still, they're so valuable. When someone takes the time to write you something, even if it is wish you were here, that is special. It is cute. Remember back in the day, you'd send a postcard and then your mate would get it a month later. And now it's what, like two or three days now? And then you get it the same day now. There you go. It's taken the sort of glamour away, isn't it, slightly? I'm going to be talking to Sarah Cox on this. Love Coxie. Yeah, we love Sarah Cox so much. I'll be chatting to Saz all about holiday reads during this series. Have you got a book you want to read or a book that you loved reading on the beach?

39:00So I am about to reread Children of Blood and Bone. So it's this brilliant sort of like fantasy. I love all that stuff. I love witchy stuff. Do you? Like fairies and stuff. I love all that thing of like, oh, you've just turned 16 and you're a witch. I love all that kind of stuff. And it's being adapted into a movie. because I know they're shooting it at the moment. So I want to reread it so that when the film comes out... You're ready. Yeah, I'm very much... I'm such a nerd like that. I love to know the source material... Me too. ...before I watch, like, an adaptation so I can do a little compare and contrast.

39:31Yeah. So I'm going to reread that. It's so rarely as good as the book. I know that's a bit of a cliche, but often you're like, oh, wasn't as good? Yeah. Wasn't as good? Do you know what? We have got a live book club, Happy Place book club, happening here, I think it's tomorrow morning, with Lisa Jewell, who is obviously a phenomenal fiction writer. And she's got this book called Don't Let Him In, which is, for me, the summer read. It is so brilliant. I couldn't put it down. It's a bit of a thriller, but it's sort of relentless. Like, how can it keep going? And I was sort of falling asleep reading it at night, but that is a good beach read.

40:03So if any of you are coming back tomorrow, we're going to be chatting all about that there. There's also the paperback of a book called Scripted. That's out right now. And I wrote it. Who wrote that? If you want to get that for your holidays, please do. That would be really helpful. And finally, where is your holiday happy place, Clara? Oh, do you know what? I think my holiday happy place is Ghana. That's my roots. And not just saying this, but BA are the only airline that fly there direct. Yes. We go back. We go back. But Ghana, that's where I feel. I just feel grounded and I feel, you know, connection to my family.

40:41and I just feel like one of the best versions of me when I'm there. And it's such a, if you've never been, I urge you to go. Ghanaian hospitality, there's nothing like it. It's the best. If you like vibrant people, if you like bright colours, if you like to go out and dance, if you want beautiful beaches, great food, all of that, I highly recommend Ghana. That's my happy place. What would be your top tips if someone was like, right, I'm going to book this trip, what are they doing? Which is maybe slightly off the tourist path. Okay, oh, I mean, do you know what? But the touristy things are still fab.

41:11But I would say, obviously, go to, so when you go to Accra, Bukatritzakakum National Park. It's the big Ghanaian National Park. And you can see, like, monkeys and beautiful birds and zebras. And it's just, it's amazing. You feel like you're in the Lion King, like at Pride Rock. Yes. It is incredible. Go to an area called Osu, which is sort of like the short ditch of Accra. So it's sort of like trendy, sort of like hipster area. And there's an amazing bar called Republic. And there's live karaoke every night. And it's amazing. What's your karaoke song? Mariah Carey, We Belong Together. That is...

41:44I mean, there's some high notes in that one. Yeah, that's why it's so great, because I can't sing it. Okay, great. So for everyone else's entertainment of my own, that's why I love it. Can you do... I can't do karaoke unless I'm, like, heavily drunk. Can you do it so much? I'll do that shit so much. Really? Will you? Sorry, excuse my language. 100%. I've only done it twice. I did it once when I was 17 in Mallorca, and there was a karaoke contest at my hotel, and me and my best mate, Ali Bowers, did Dancing Queen, and we won. But there were two contestants. And then I did it again. And it was a radio...

42:14I don't know if you were there. It was a Radio 1 party at a bowling alley. And I was with Greg James. And I had drunk about 100 Moscow Mules. And I went for Adele Rolling in the Deep. You know what? I think I might have missed that one. If you're planning karaoke trip. It's like the... It's so... It's impossible to sing. Only Adele can sing that song. But this is it. But again, that's the joy of karaoke. And then I played it on the radio. And I was screeching. It was horrendous. It was so bad. We could have had it. Correct. It's that. So we're saying karaoke. And what dish are we eating? What's the one dish we should eat in Ghana?

42:47So in Ghana, Jalot rice is the best rice. It's like a lovely spicy rice. It's like a flavored like tomatoes and like local spices and like tilapia fish. It's the best you'll ever have. I love that fish. Because the seafood in Ghana, banging, banging. And the fruit as well. Just all the fresh fruit you could eat. Like it's the best. And fan ice. It's like our national ice cream. It's banging. What's fan ice? Fan ice. So like the catchphrase is fan ice. Ice, ice. So nice. No, it's nice. I saw that. It says on the advert. They should be paying me for this. Run me a check, Ghana. You should be sponsored by this.

43:16Obviously, other ice creams in Ghana are available. But what is it? Like an ice cream and ice lolly? It's like the national frozen yoghurt. And it comes like this lovely sort of peel-off thing. And it's just so delicious. Oh, I want one. Yum. So, yeah. And also, the bottle fizzy drinks in Ghana are the best. They hit differently. I'm not joking. Are they in glass bottles? Yes. Because that makes it better. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We all know that. It makes it better. It genuinely tastes different. So, yeah. get yourself obviously other drinks are available but a bottle of Fanta in Ghana it's going to change your life oh my god I want to go desperately promise you Clara what a joy to have you at the Happy Place Festival I am so happy to have you here as I said you need to go in the shopping tent which is literally there don't throw me with a good time there are so many good brands in there I am going to spend so much money this weekend I can't wait Clara Ampho we love you so dearly thank you for being on Happy Place thanks everyone for coming Oh, Clara.

44:08I love you, Clara. What an amazing, special lady you are. Now, if you want help taking your holidays more seriously, then you know where to go. British Airways Holidays allows you to book with a low deposit and pay off your holiday in flexible instalments. They offer a 24-hour holiday helpline and all holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. What's more, all British Airways holidays are at all protected. So they've got you well and truly covered. Next time, by the way, is the final episode in this mini series. And my hilarious pal, Sarah Cox, is going to be here. We're going to be chatting to her about the power of escaping into a deliciously good holiday read.

44:48So I hope you're back here for that. In the meantime, a massive thanks again to Clara, to British Airways holidays for making this chat happen, to the producers of this episode, Anushka Tate and Basil Oxtaby, and to you, you're gorgeous.