Robbie Williams has opened up about Lily Allen’s latest album, West End Girl, calling it “like Black Mirror meets Smash Hits” – a blend of unsettling brilliance and nostalgic pop.
Released last month, West End Girl marks Allen’s first album since 2018’s No Shame. Its release came shortly after Allen confirmed her split from Stranger Things actor David Harbour. The couple, married in 2020, reportedly separated amid rumours of Harbour’s infidelity earlier this year. Following the split, Allen sought professional help to manage the “emotional turmoil” and revealed that her new album draws inspiration from “deep-rooted issues with rejection and abandonment” post-divorce.
Williams, meanwhile, has been openly praising the record. Sharing a t-shirt he designed on Instagram, which nods to Allen’s track Madeline, he wrote: “Been making a bunch of T-Shirt ideas the last few days… this ‘Madeline’ one references a track from Lily Allen’s new album. It’s been out a couple of weeks now and I think about it every day.” The shirt features the phrase: “In a way, aren’t we all Madeline?”
Speaking about the album, Williams said: “I honestly can’t remember the last time an album stole my thoughts like this. It’s like Black Mirror meets Smash Hits. By that, I mean it’s insanely good, unsettling, and might have just predicted the next five years of pop culture.”
The track Madeline depicts a fictional character Allen created, allegedly involved with Harbour. Its lyrics are raw and confronting, capturing themes of mistrust and heartbreak. Allen later clarified that Madeline is entirely fictional, “a construct of others.”
Critics have welcomed West End Girl enthusiastically. NME gave it four stars, praising it as “a sleek, smart collection that sees Allen back at her very best,” noting that while it addresses grief and misery, it never feels depressing. Songs like Ruminating explore the challenges of open marriage, Madeline fuses fury and empathy, and Just Enough delivers heartbreak amplified by lush strings.
Next spring, Allen will embark on her first tour in seven years, performing West End Girl in full at theatres across the UK. She will also headline Mighty Hoopla 2026, selling over 35,000 tickets in just 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, Robbie Williams is gearing up for his long-awaited album BRITPOP in 2026. Originally scheduled for October, its release was delayed to avoid competing with Taylor Swift. If it tops the charts, Williams will tie with The Beatles at 16 Number One albums – a record-breaking achievement. His upcoming ‘Long 90’s Tour’ will see him perform both his debut album and BRITPOP in full across multiple UK cities.