Lily Allen
Singer-songwriter Lily Allen is interviewed by Kirsty Young.
Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the singer-songwriter Lily Allen.
Less than a decade ago she dipped her toe in musical waters by releasing her demos on social media, this summer she's one of the headline acts at Glastonbury. It's 29 years since she first appeared at the festival; back then she was a new-born being carried through the crowd in swaddling. Indeed, she was as good as baptised at the font of celebrity culture - her dad, Keith, is an actor and writer, her mum, Alison, is an award-winning film producer - for a time her step-dad was Harry Enfield. So, it seems almost inevitable that she's ended up at the centre of a media-saturated life.
Except that in all likelihood she would have been propelled there entirely by her own endeavours: her lyrics are witty and wise-ass and capture concisely what it is to be a savvy, young woman today.
She says, "the only thing I can do really is write lyrics and the only way I know how to do that is by being honest and doing it with integrity because otherwise there's no point".
Producer: Cathy Drysdale.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
Clip
Music Played
-
Pulp
Common People
- The BestÂ… Anthems Ever.
- Universal.
-
Sultans of Ping F.C.
Where's Me Jumper
- WhereÂ’s Me Jumper.
- Union Square.
-
Castaway's Favourite
-
The Stone Roses
I Am the Resurrection
- The Complete Stone Roses.
- Silvertone.
-
-
The Streets
Blinded by the Lights
- Blinded by the Lights.
- Universal.
-
Gerry Rafferty
Right Down the Line
- The Best of Gerry Rafferty.
- EMI.
-
Etta James
I'd Rather Go Blind
- At Last: The Best of Etta James.
- Decca.
-
General Degree
Traffic Blocking
- Westwood: The Jump Off CD1.
- Mercury.
-
Tommy McLain
Before I Grow Too Old
- Another Saturday Night.
- Ace.
-
Book Choice
-
Auntie Mame – An Irreverent Escapade - Patrick Dennis
Luxury Choice
-
Husband’s shirt with daughter’s bunny sewn onto it.
-
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Kirsty Young |
Interviewed Guest | Lily Allen |
Broadcasts
- Sun 29 Jun 2014 11:15Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
- Fri 4 Jul 2014 09:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
Featured in...
Archive 2011-2015—Desert Island Discs
Guests are invited to choose the eight records they would take to a desert island.
Voices of 2014
A collection of highlights from this year's Desert Island Discs
Most Listened to Desert Island Discs of 2014—Desert Island Discs
A collection of the most listened to Desert Island Discs on iPlayer Radio from 2014.
Listen to over 2,000 programmes
Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.
Articles
Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.
Podcast
-
Desert Island Discs
Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.