Ever since Lily Allen “unofficially” stopped making music on a consistent basis in 2014, with the release of her third album, Sheezus (a title that now forever associates her with the ilk that once thought Kanye was god), she’s most definitely become what can be described as a dabbler. Not to say that Allen had yet fully indicated a complete “step back” from music at that time. However, the fact that it took her another four years to release the next album, 2018’s No Shame, began to infer a certain “lapse.” Or lack of interest. Not just in music, but in the industry surrounding it, especially as Allen began to realize how crushingly lonely it could be (particularly while on tour).
As for the name of that album she now released seven years ago, No Shame, it appears to be a title that has taken on new meaning in the years to follow, in terms of indicating that, indeed, Allen has had no shame when it comes to doing whatever she wants. Career pursuit-wise. And the one thing she seemed not to want to do anymore was music. Not just because, as she’s mentioned on Miss Me?, she feels that No Shame didn’t get the kind of attention and success it deserved when it was released (though it did get nominated for a Mercury Prize). But also because of her conscious decision to recoil from the rigors of pop star life (particularly touring) for the sake of raising her two daughters, Ethel and Marnie. The children from her first marriage to Sam Cooper, a “normal” (a.k.a. a builder and decorator) who served as the primary inspiration for Allen’s No Shame. In addition to serving as “material” in her autobiography, My Thoughts Exactly, which would come out later that year. To be sure, 2018 was the last truly “big” year for Allen in terms of “output” on the tangible release front.
Though, when it came to participating in theater and other acting endeavors (e.g., a short-lived TV series called Dreamland), Allen became rather prolific starting in 2021, when she took on her first West End play, 2:22: A Ghost Story. Then would come her mostly panned performance in a revival of Martin McDonagh’s 2003 play, The Pillowman, followed by this year’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, renamed to just Hedda and once again directed by Matthew Dunster (who also directed Allen in The Pillowman). Going even more “esoteric,” the play was put on for an extremely limited run in Bath—so yes, it was a peak example of Allen aiming to attract only the nichest of the niche in her already niche audience. Which is becoming even more so by all this dabbling (complete with her OnlyFans feet account).
In order to “focus” on getting ready for Hedda (in other words, memorizing her lines), Allen took what can best be categorized as her umpteenth break from Miss Me?, the podcast she had started with her long-time friend, Miquita Oliver, in early 2024. In point of fact, it’s usually been Oliver that’s carried the show on her back every time Allen decided she needed to dip out. Something that didn’t only happen when she went through a bad breakup/divorce with David Harbour (a marriage itself that was a bit of a “dabble” for her), but also when she felt obliged to tap out for various trips. All the while, the only times Oliver “checked out” was when she had surgery for her fibroids and a couple of times for some trips of her own. This lopsidedness in devotion throughout Miss Me? seemed to signal some inevitable form of doom (at least for Oliver). And, in truth, it’s a wonder Allen endured as long as she did (at a whopping year and a half) without “bowing out” sooner. After all, despite the general success of the podcast, Allen faced a backlash after many of the episodes, whether it was her take on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, her (lack of) will to keep a misbehaving rescue puppy or, more recently, her comments on not being able to recall how many abortions she’s had. Save for the puppy backlash, most of her podcast regaling was taken out of context and overblown. As is the way of the media (especially the British media).
But, of course, nothing Oliver said ever made headlines. A further testament to their discrepancy in fame levels. Which is also why something about Allen’s seemingly abrupt decision to bounce feels all the more reckless in terms of leaving Oliver in the lurch as she scrambles to take the helm of the show herself. Not that she hasn’t been doing this for the most part already, having invited such guests as Jordan Stephens and Zawe Ashton on during Allen’s noticeably numerous absences. However, the BBC must have some faith in her (perhaps after monitoring the ratings she pulled in after Allen’s “tap outs”) to even consider letting her continue to do Miss Me? when the entire show was founded on the concept of them, specifically, “chatting shit.” In effect, the entire premise is centered on their friendship/rapport.
And, yes, because they’re such good friends, Oliver was nothing but supportive when Allen publicly made the announcement on the September 11th (how fitting) episode, “Exodus.” The first show in many weeks since the two had been reunited, between Allen’s Hedda gig and Oliver going on a little vacay (no doubt, in part, to process losing her partner in crime on the podcast). And so, to come at the audience with that for their reunion was a bit…much.
As for Allen’s explanation, it was sort of the usual. In a nutshell/to paraphrase: “I just need time to focus on other things.” Further adding/emphasizing that the podcast actually is quite a lot of work. Chiefly, the time and effort to record and edit it, not to mention its frequency (twice a week)—no radio pun intended. As for the “other things” she might be referring to, naturally, the remaining devotees of Allen’s music career were quick to speculate that her newfound commitment to finishing an album (one she’s talked about [on the podcast] being in the vague process of making) has at last taken top priority after so many years of dabbling in everything else. Having her hands in a lot of different pies (and not just the ones she’s been making at home), as it were.
While this may or may not be the case, there are those who are clearly gunning for a “breakup album” (that at last confirms what really went down with Harbour). Though they’ll certainly take whatever they can get from Allen at this point. Even an Alright, Still re-release/anniversary tour in ‘26 (this, too, being something Oliver has encouraged her to do on Miss Me?). Just as long as she’s done dabbling in other things for a while (including her input into the creation of a line of vibrators). Because, honestly, what except going back to music, could be worth casually jettisoning a podcast with your (alleged) best friend?
As for the fact that both Allen and Oliver are Tauruses, well, let’s just say that only one of them fits the conventional stereotype about how consistent and reliable that sign is supposed to be.
Genna Rivieccio
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