Lily Allen (A-side)

Singer-songwriter Lily Allen talks about her fourth, and most personal album, 'No Shame'.

Series in which leading performers and songwriters talk about the album that made them or changed them.

Recorded in front of a live audience at the BBC's iconic Maida Vale Studios, each edition includes two episodes - the A-side and B-side.

In the A-side, Lily chats to John Wilson.

Always conversational in tone and infused with a dark sense of humour, Lily Allen’s lyrics never shy away from the personal – and her 2018 album is no different. Set against dancehall and reggae influences, the album moved away from her usual witty, sarcastic, song writing style and opted for a more "candid" approach.

With tracks like ‘Trigger Bang’, ‘Lost My Mind’, ‘Three’ and the album title track, she tackles everything from the breakdown of her marriage and her friendships… to maternal guilt, substance abuse and, as if that’s not enough, social and political issues.

In the B-side of the programme, it's the turn of the audience to ask the questions.

Producer: Paul Kobrak

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018.