Entertainment
Lily Allen shares details on creation of new album after split: “It said everything that I needed to say”
As an artist, Lily Allen stands firm by her belief that heartbreak can be a gift. After all, it helped lead to her latest album, “West End Girl.”
“You know, while I was writing it, I wasn’t really sure that it was going to see the light of day,” Allen told CBS News special correspondent Anthony Mason in an interview for “CBS Mornings” that aired Thursday, describing the music as “an act of desperation.” The studio album, released in late October, was written during the breakup of her nearly 4-year marriage to “Stranger Things” actor David Harbour.
The theme of what’s been described as Allen’s epic “breakup album” centers around tales of a deceptive partner, which the singer says is based partly on truth and partly on fantasy.
Harbour has not directly addressed his breakup with Allen or commented on her “West End Girl” album. But in an interview with Esquire UK, published around the album’s release, Harbour discussed the importance of accepting your mistakes. “I’d change everything or nothing. If you accept your past, you accept it completely, even the pain, the mistakes… It’s all part of the journey, the growth, the wisdom, the empathy, and the connection, and if you change one thing, you change everything,” he told the magazine at the time, adding that his work is about being honest.
New album says “everything that I needed to say”
But Allen said it was a “nightmare” holding onto the album and stunted her healing process. She felt a sense of relief and peace when she finally was able to share her words with the world.
“Since I’ve put it out, it’s felt completely and utterly liberating. It was kind of hellish having it in the background,” Allen said. “I don’t know. I just feel like I couldn’t – it said everything that I needed to say. And I felt like I couldn’t really like get on with my life until I’d said it.”
Her newly released music quickly lit up social media, with fans reacting to it on TikTok.
Allen wrote most of the record within the span of 10 days at the end of last year. She was excited to complete the album, but at the same time her personal life was falling into pieces.
After spending Christmas with her two daughters whom she shares with ex-husband Sam Cooper, Allen decided to check herself into a treatment facility.
“I knew the things I was feeling were too intense,” Allen explained her decision to seek professional help at the time following her separation. As a recovering alcoholic, Allen said she’s not afraid of working on herself and knew she needed some quiet time.
A cathartic release
The Brooklyn townhouse that Allen and Harbour gave Architectural Digest a tour of in 2023 is now listed for around $8 million. The pair bought the home in early 2021 shortly after they got married.
Allen said her music was cathartic – for herself and her children.
“All of the pain that, you know, that I’ve been through in the past year, they’ve been through too,” Allen said. ” But you know, one thing that I wanted to do was to show my kids that, you know, you can use that pain and harness it and turn it into something else. And I think I’ve done that.”
Now, Allen is preparing for her 2026 tour – her first since she got sober in 2019.
The singer said she’s planning her touring schedule around her girls’ holidays so they’ll be able to come and bring their friends.
“I can’t wait to have them there. It’s like, it’s gonna be… It’s as much for them as it is for me,” Allen said, adding that she feels like she’s living her best life after a year of healing.
Entertainment
Anna Cathcart teases big changes in ‘XO, Kitty’ season 3
Kitty Song Covey is entering her senior year – and apparently, she still hasn’t discovered the concept of “chill.”
Anna Cathcart is back as everyone’s favourite chaos queen in season 3 of XO, Kitty, premiering on Netflix this spring. And according to the 22-year-old star, Kitty may want to consider a yoga class. Or three.
“She just needs to calm down a little bit,” Anna told People magazine. “I feel like Kitty has the most chaos [sic] of anyone I know, and that’s what we love about her.”
“But also, girl, you need to sit down sometimes,” she continued. “Take a deep breath, it’s okay. She kind of always has been [that way], but in a controlled way, I guess. She handles it well.”
Season 3 picks up after that cliffhanger (you know the one), and for the first time, fans will see a summer episode – yes, summer at KISS is officially unlocked.
“I’m finally allowed to talk about that because it’s been a secret forever,” Anna shared. “So very excited and I think they’re going to be surprised, but also super happy. So I can’t wait.”
And it’s not just poolside vibes. “[Kitty’s] making some big decisions in her life and it’s senior year, all of that, so I’m very excited for them to see,” she added.
Translation? Expect romance, identity spirals, possibly tears – and definitely Kitty-level impulsive decision-making.
Entertainment
Holly Willoughby could be next big digital star after Gordon Ramsay
Holly Willoughby is preparing to make her TV comeback with her won Youtube channel, following reports of her solo project.
Since leaving This Morning, she briefly hosted ITV’s You Bet! and Netflix’s reality show Celebrity Bear Hunt.
It has now been reported that the 44-year-old is following other stars who have their own channels, including Ant and Dec, chef Gordon Ramsay and rapper KSI.
By comparison, Gordon Ramsay leads with 21.9 million Youtube subscribers, followed by KSI at 17.3 million.
A source close to Ms Willoughby previously told Daily Mail:
‘She is working with her husband Dan Baldwin’s production company Hungry Bear to develop a ‘multi-strand programme for digital platforms’ in a move she is said to be ‘thrilled and excited’ about.
She also has a production company on hand, Hungry Bear, which creates Gladiators and Michael McIntyre’s Big Show and is run by her husband Dan Baldwin.
A TV insider said: ‘This is a massive game-changer for Holly and the wider industry because this show and her channel will be a threat to the main broadcasters, particularly This Morning and ITV.
‘Advertisers are increasingly turning away from traditional terrestrial telly and looking for new opportunities and new ways to promote themselves online — and with a magazine show like this it’s the perfect vehicle.
‘And if any of the big-name retailers could cherry-pick a presenter who’s an ideal figure to front it, then it is surely Holly.’
Ms Willoughby has largely been off our screens since she left This Morning in October 2023, after she was told a former security guard had planned to kidnap, rape and murder her.
Entertainment
Ramadan, Eid remittances to keep rupee stable
- Interbank rate stays range-bound through the week.
- IMF review talks begin under EFF and RSF.
- Remittances rise year-on-year, dip month-on-month.
KARACHI: The Pakistani rupee is expected to stay stable and may strengthen slightly in the near term, supported by seasonal remittance inflows during Ramadan and ahead of Eid, The News reported, citing a report released on Saturday.
The currency traded in a tight band in the interbank market this week, closing at 279.55 to the dollar on Monday and at 279.47 on Friday.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) team began talks with Pakistani authorities on Wednesday for the third review under the $7 billion Extended Financing Facility (EFF) and the second review of the $1.1 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
Upon successful completion, Pakistan would become eligible by the end of April for about $1 billion under the EFF and an additional $200 million under the RSF.
The geopolitical situation has worsened as the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the region into a new conflict.
The rupee has appreciated by approximately 60 paisa since the beginning of the year, said Tresmark, a platform that provides live financial rates, in a client note. While this increase is modest on its own, it is more significant when considering the broader context, it said.
The rupee has strengthened despite several challenges, including rising geopolitical risks and US posturing in the region, escalating tensions along the western border, isolated internal security incidents, Brent crude prices trading above $72 a barrel, a steady decline in exports, a widening trade deficit, tariff pressures and a persistent inflation differential with the US.
“Seasonal remittance inflows around Ramadan and Eid are likely to keep the rupee well bid in the near term,” the Tresmark’s report said.
“That said, most economists argue that further appreciation offers limited structural benefit, which makes the recent firmness somewhat counterintuitive,” it added.
Pakistan’s remittances rose 15.4% year-on-year (YoY) in January to $3.5 billion. However, these flows dropped 4% on a month-on-month (MoM) basis. Remittances increased 11.3% to $23.2 billion in the first seven months of the fiscal year 2026.
“Premiums have marginally improved. If costing is tight, exporters should opt for forwards, as rupee outlook continues to look stable to slightly stronger,” it said.
According to the report, the rupee’s stability is not isolated. Several high-carry or reform-backed EM currencies have also held firm despite geopolitical noise, including the Egyptian pound, Thai baht, South African rand, Brazilian real, Mexican peso, and Indonesian rupiah.
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