Lily Allen's life: biography of the singer

© Derrick/Santini

Connections
Lily's dad is comedian and Fat Les singer Keith Allen, and her mum is film producer Alison Owen. Lily has 2 sisters and one brother, Alfie (for whom she wrote the song Alfie), as well as several half-brothers and sisters.

School
Lily wasn't cut out for the education system. She attended an impressive 12 different schools in 11 years and was expelled from several public schools for drinking and smoking. 

Bad influences 
Growing up in a resolutely showbiz envrionment, Lily started experimenting with drugs and alcohol from adolescence. She spent time in the Priory after taking an overdose and slitting her wrists, one of several trips to rehab. After she was slammed for her Elton John outburst at the NME awards, Lily vowed to curb her drinking. 

Health
As a child, Lily was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, a rare heart condition. In 2007, she found out she has a heart murmur and the dignosis made her start exercising regularly, going from a size 12 to a teeny size 8. 

Alright, Still
Lily's debut album blended light, sunny tunes destined for dancefloors with sharp, witty lyrics that spared no-one: 3 songs about her family scraps, references to drugs and an attack on George Bush entitled F**k You Very Much. 

Engagement
After singing about the dark side of her home town on single LDN, Lily met up with Boris Johnson to discuss ways to combat knife crime in the capital, and has said she wants to organise a concert to raise awareness of the problem.