Miss Me? - Fred AI-gain

Episode Date: February 20, 2025

Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver discuss the BAFTAs, the decline of Hollywood and Lily’s ‘new’ track with Fred Again..This episode contains very strong language and adult themes. Credits: Producer: Flossie Barratt Technical Producer: Will Gibson Smith Production Coordinator: Hannah Bennett Executive Producers: Dino Sofos and Ellie Clifford Assistant Commissioner for BBC: Lorraine Okuefuna Commissioning Editor for BBC: Dylan Haskins Miss Me? is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Are you looking for ways to make your everyday life happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative? I'm Gretchen Rubin, the number one bestselling author of The Happiness Project, bringing you fresh insights and practical solutions in the Happier With Gretchen Rubin podcast. My co-host and happiness guinea pig is my sister Elizabeth Kraft. That's me Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer in Hollywood. Join us as we explore ideas and hacks about cultivating happiness and good habits. Check out Happier with Gretchen Rubin from Lemonada Media. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

This episode of Miss Me contains very strong language and adult themes. Hello, welcome to Miss Me. back in New York. Hello! Yeah you are. Yeah you bloody are. You're back at home in the iconic Miss Me set. I did up this room and I think that it hasn't been done very well lighting wise. I don't think it gives, it's not particularly flattering for me. But you know, who cares? That's good because millions of people are watching these clips and now we're fully, fully visualized. Think millions might be a stretch.

No, I think not. I've like looked too much into the data, but yeah. If you accumulate, we're talking hundreds of millions, aren't we? Okay. That's what I've said in my data roundup. No, it's nice to see you there. It's nice to see you at home.

Little bit more settled. Yeah, you think? I think so. I feel pretty good. It's so nice to be back with my baby girls. They've got the day off school today and tomorrow because I think it's like an inset day. So yeah, I get to spend some time with them.

And then- What do they want to do on those days? Day off school? Like lounge around and fight with each other. Yeah. We take the dog for a walk. Probably some sort of baking exercise at some point. Gosh, you've got to be such a multitasker

as a mother, don't you? Ethel got a new skateboard yesterday, so she'll want to go out and skate today. Oh, my God. That's so cool, because Phoebe's kids are now into skater face. Skater mode. Like, yeah, but like totally like they're there, man. Yeah, it's really it's really fun to watch them explore that kind of thing. I wished I was a skateboarder when I was their age. It's like a dream come true, living vicariously through my own children. But anyway. But what are your memories of our skateboarding time?

Because that was the best gift that life had ever given us. So you turn 12 and then a skate park opens right where you live. We were like, what? Whoa. And it got so drama-filled and messy, those relationships with those skateboarders. You know who you are. But I remember before that, you had to go to South Bank to go and seek out the skaters. Yeah, totally. It was a further reach. It was a bit more adventurous. South of the river. It was a further reach. It was a bit more adventurous. South of the river. It was a real endeavor. Anyway, it's nice to know that all the kids are moving into this new phase of life. This is really pre-teen behavior in it now.

Oh, Ethel is a teen. She is 13. Oh yes, of course. First year of being a teenager. Yeah. We are in the teenage years. There's a lot of course, first year of being a teenager. Yeah, we are in the teenage years. There's a lot of like, both of them have got like vanity tables in their rooms now.

And so there's like suddenly like a lot of like hair straightening, curling, trying on makeup and then like locking doors. And then I come in and I could see that she's just scrubbed a load of makeup off. It's like you don't have to be embarrassed like show me how to do makeup. I don't know how to do makeup. Well I think this is kind of where the beginning of not vanity but being suddenly the way you look becoming a really important part of just like your everyday thinking. Before that it just isn't really is it? And then suddenly it's

everything. Yeah it's funny the transition in Marnie because she just really did not give a flying fizzle about her appearance and now it's like she won't leave the house unless her hair is perfect. Oh my gosh. But I think that might be the influence of her big sister. And what about you? You look great, Are you training? Meditating. I'm like addicted to my meditation at the moment. I'm loving it. Such a good new vice. It's just like, the clarity is just like, I mean, I wish I'd got into it sooner. You're looking quite meditated out. Right. So if you've been watching telly in America,

how do you see the BAFTAs? I didn't. I haven't seen them. Right, well let me tell you the whole. I mean, I saw that Zoe Saldana won. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely, and look, I'm only human. I am only human. So I was fucking excited to see Kylie Jenner

at the BAFTAs in 1995. Galeano, Lilly, Alan, oof. Oh my goodness, I can't wait to go and look Lily, Alan. Oh my goodness. I can't wait to go and look at the pics. Oh my God. I mean, there's just been this like love fest between her and Timothee. And you kind of, you want, yes, okay, yes.

I was excited and I was excited to see what people were wearing, okay? That's the truth. But there needs to be this distinction, I think, continuously looked at distinction between celebrity and cinema. And unfortunately, the BAFTAs have followed many routes that other TV programs have taken, which is that this is only worthwhile because of celebrity. And that we don't have, there is too much fear to be a grown-up show right like you remember

the BAFTAs in the 90s and noughties with Stephen Fry yeah and he was just enigmatic and would use magnificent language and yeah you know it was just actually I have a perfect clip that Will has made for me about the kind of language that we should be using when we host the BAFTAs. British Academy Awards started many, many, many years ago when all around here was green fields, sheep grazed in Leicester Square. There was no internet movie database to look up someone's credits on

when you wanted to pretend that you'd heard of them and knew their work. Rough, primitive times, but with an innocence who's passing, perhaps we all regret. Come on, rough, primitive times. It's like, why can't, that kind of language is what I used to expect to see at the BAFTAs on television. And now everything is very dumbed down and worried,

so worried about being grown up. And I don't understand why we can't just have one night, one night of the year that is just a little bit different and smarter and you know, I don't know, respectful of the fact that cinema is life affirming and vital. Not my words. That's what Grimmie texted me yesterday when we were gossiping about the BAFTAs. He said there's too much of a flippant approach to it when actually cinema is this life affirming thing. Yeah. I mean, do you know what? it's funny that you talk about this because I feel

that when I'm in LA, maybe we've discussed it before, maybe we haven't, I've definitely spoken to others about it before, but that it feels like such a strange city now because, you know, the reason everyone is there or the reason that, you know, LA is LA and Hollywood is Hollywood is obviously because that's where all the studios used to be. And, you know, that's where the films were made and the film stars all lived. And there was like real glamour attached to it.

You know, the art of storytelling through film. And, you know, it's not really anymore. You know, there's two sort of like old Hollywood glamorous hotels, the Sunset Tower and the Chateau Marmont. And most things are not shot there anymore. They're shot in Atlanta, they're shot in like Winnipeg and places that have big tax breaks for filmmaking. So when you're in LA, it's like,

oh, what is this place now? Is it like the ghost of a feeling? In LA, it's like, oh, what is this place now? Is it like the ghost of a feeling? Well, what is there is like influencers and celebrities. So it's like become, it's what you're saying about the BAFTAs kind of mimics what's happened in Hollywood as well. It's like the value is not in the storytelling

and the creativity and the beauty of film. It's about paparazzi pictures of people that sell product and that's kind of crazy. But listen, I definitely googled Kylie Jenner's outfit and got excited and was like, oh, fuck, she turned up and turned out. And I'm into the narrative of her relationship with Timothee Chamalin. I think it's a beautiful moment of power, to be honest, and glamour meeting all at once. But when I'm talking about the actual making up of the show, The BAFTAs, It feels like TV, it's not David Tennant's fault because they got David Tennant to host it.

A few years ago, it was Richard E. Grant and Alison Hammond. And I think that there was just this kind of underlying narrative of we're scared for it to just be this. So it's got to also be this. It's got to be palatable and spoon fed. And it doesn't, we're only talking about cinema. Do you know what I mean? It's not like, it's not the Nobel Peace Prize. It's cinema and it doesn't. We're only talking about cinema. Do you know what I mean? It's not like it's not the Nobel Peace Prize. It's cinema. It's entertainment. People can handle it.

And I just feel like as someone that wants to host the BAFTAs in the future, I might be losing as I talk about it. That we can do better and that we should do better because we have done better, which the Stephen Fry clip shows you. All I'm talking about is like using great language because it's an awards ceremony about cinema. Who did host it this year? David Tennant was the host of BAFTA's 2025 Lil, a smart, brilliant man who I'm sure has access to wonderful prose in his mind.

But I just don't think he was allowed to do that because something else is being asked of everything, which is to sort of infantilize instead of inspire. He did sing the Proclaimers. He walked into the Proclaimers, which I didn't think was quite funny. David Tennant getting Coleman Domingo to be like, It's the same with everything, isn't it? It's the same with films, same with TV, same with music. It's all just like, let's don't say it. Lily, don't say it.

Lily, oh, do you know what? Mikey Madison won for an aura. I love her. Fab, isn't she? Her speech was lovely. And she was also, you know, following Lily Allen's lead to show vital support and shine a light on the sex workers community. And I thought, oh, well, that's good. Lily did that. Lily did that with her feet last year. Mikey Madison is continuing. No, but seriously, to talk about it in such a massive space. I'm back on the feet, by the way. I've restarted after a few months in retirement. I bet you have. Will you go get a special pedicure for it? No, actually I haven't. I've got to wait till I get back to London to have my pedicure.

People paying good money for your crusty feet. Yeah. It's all good. Anyway, I saw the BAFTAs, you didn't, but you did see White Lotus and I haven't seen that. Well, I only watched half an episode because I was so tired last night, but my thoughts on it are it looks great and I can't wait to get into it and we love Amy Lou Wood. Oh, always. That's my thoughts, my two pennies?

I don't know what the saying is. Although I read that she did a self-tape for that part and did it in an American accent and then just did it in her normal accent as well and they said, yeah, keep the normal accent. I like the way White Lotus has quite surprising English cameos, it seems. Like that Will Sharp guy who'd written that brilliant sort of comedy fucking mental series that I love called Flowers on Channel 4. He's a great writer. And then who else was English in it last year that was surprising? Anyway, now this year it's Amy Lou Wood for next year, Lily Allen. I think you'd be great in White Lotus. That would be like a dream job. I don't know. I haven't even got an agent at the moment.

I need to work on that. Well, let's use Miss Me. What job do I want? I want the BAFTAs and Lily wants White Lotus. Come on Miss Me. I mean, I've got Header coming up in the summer. That's going to be really fun. I'm really looking forward to it actually. Just diving into like a long project, you know, it's going to be, it's going to be good. Cathartic. After the BAFTAs, I was really excited. I was like, what film will they put on after the BAFTAs? And it was Elizabeth. I just thought, go thought, go on Alison, Elizabeth, the film about Elizabeth II that Lily's mother made.

No, Elizabeth I. Sorry, obviously, sorry. About Elizabeth I. History buff slip up there. You said starring Cate Blanchett. Made Cate Blanchett's career, excuse me. Yeah, kind of. That was when she was like, thrust into the world.

And someone else made a film acting debut in that. Little cameo in that, yeah. Little cameo? Let's have a look, let's show Lil herself. Oh, fuck off, I really don't want to see it. Oh no, please. Come on. Oh, Lidia Schm Come on. Oh my God.

Well, personally that made me feel emotional. Almost nearly 30 years ago, isn't that crazy? 30 fucking years ago. I was probably the same age as Marnie, 12, 11 or 12. And you did any little hopeful eyes, dancing with opportunity. What did you think? Were you like, oh, I'm just doing a facial? Little did I know what was around the corner. I mean, the only reason I was there was because

I'd been expelled from school, I think, and my mum was so busy doing the film that she didn't have time to find me a school. So I just had to go to work with her and be tutored. And yeah, they put me in the film. I was Lady in Waiting E. Classic story I did not know that's why I thought you were. You know who were the two other ladies in waiting was Emily Mortimer and Carolee McDonald. Excuse me great co-stars. So there was like five of us that were, you know, always together and those two were the main ones and then there was like three backups, you know, like ones that didn't speak. Although I did have one line but it got cut. Oh, what was it? Because now you've

got an audience, go on. It was. We were spying through the keyhole, watching Elizabeth and I think Robert Dudley played by Josephines making love. And I said, but they're laughing. Deep. But they're laughing. Hang on. This is not just a line, this is a deep line. Because what you're saying is... I thought this was meant to be like aggressive and horrible, they're having a nice time, but they're laughing.

One line and you see what that kid's gone through, what she's previously witnessed about love. She probably hasn't gone through anything, although I don't know, in Elizabethan times, maybe she had. But they're laughing. Yeah, maybe she was like, I don't laugh when that's happening to me. It's horrible. Okay yeah the backstory of Lady in Waiting E. It gets really quite dark.

Well it's good to hear you say that line and reclaim that line for yourself now after your 30 year career. All right, Lily, let's have a little break because I know that there are some AI things that we need to dissect and discuss. So we'll be dissecting AI and it's inevitable takeover after the break. Yes, Lil? Yes. Are you looking for ways to make your everyday life happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative? I'm Gretchen Rubin, the number one bestselling author of The Happiness Project, bringing

you fresh insights and practical solutions in the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast. My co-host and happiness guinea pig is my sister, Elizabeth Kraft. That's me, Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer in Hollywood. Join us as we explore ideas and hacks about cultivating happiness and good habits. Check out Happier with Gretchen Rubin from Lemonada Media. ["Happy New Year"] Welcome back, here we are on Miss Me.

Here we are on Miss Me, Lil. You're in your left front chair. I'm at home. Let's be honest, it's been quite a tumultuous few months for us. That's it. And I feel like we might have just finally got to it. That's it. What?

I don't feel like for you, I feel like you've just been being drunk, Pete. I'm joking. I'm so fucking joking. I'm so fucking joking. But it feels nice to like, I don't feel like for you, I feel like you've just been being drunk. I'm joking. I'm so fucking joking. I'm so fucking joking. But it feels nice to like, I don't know, put our feet on dry land. Yeah, I feel like I'm sort of starting to see the woods for the trees a little bit. You know, I don't want to speak too soon.

Yeah. Baby steps, day at a time. I'm really like in my recovery at the moment. I'm like trying to go to meetings every day. Well that's good. It's good that you're busy because your AI, the AI version of you is taking over the moment. I'm trying to go to meetings every day. Well, that's good. It's good that you're busy because your AI, the AI version of you is taking over the charts. Yeah, I mean, maybe that's good, though. I actually haven't heard this song. And I

haven't. Basically, my cousin Gracie was like, Oh, my god, you've got a new song out with Fred again. I was like, I definitely don't. But also I did do a song with Fred again back in the day with Burn a Boy that Heaven's Gate is produced by Fred again. Oh I love that tune. I didn't know that was, gosh you were so ahead of your gamey time. I know. Um let's hear it because I spent all weekend trying to not hear it which believe me wasn't easy because it's just everywhere. Friday nights. They go absolutely viral on TikTok. Everybody wanting to know who the vocalist is.

A lot of people think it's Lily Allen. In fact, some people thought it was Fred again, up until the mysterious production outfit behind the track Emotion came out and said it's their new one, their first ever release. Well, at least when I do start

making an album, I know where to start because that's done that's done really well. And people thought it was me. So that that's good maybe the AI is is a good thing I feel like maybe it's good yeah it's like a dress rehearsal that you don't have to organize which is really handy the tunes actually not shit yeah that's why people thought it was me would you be are you okay with that being out in the world and people thinking it's you? That's my question.

I mean, I don't really tend to do like, you know, four to the floor kind of dance music, but I mean, I don't really know what to think of it. I hadn't seen it. I'm not on TikTok. So I don't, it's just bizarre. It's just bizarre, isn't it? People suspect that it's me. We don't know if it is a real person singing, or if it is indeed an AI version of my voice. I don't I don't think it sounds like me to be honest, but

lots of people do. So there we go. Yeah. Emotion. Emotion. If you're listening, would you get in touch? If you're listening, would you get in touch? You can just use the Listen Bitch WhatsApp group, we'll figure it out. It's 0800 30 40 90. 0800 30 40 90. What do you want him to say? What's he getting in touch to say? I want him to tell us who it is and if it is my voice AI'd or if it is a real person. Please. And if it is, would you then sue him? No, but I might sue the company that made my voice. Okay, it's quite complicated.

It's a kind of complicated legal minefield. But what happened with Scarlett Johansson is different. That's a different use, misuse of AI. I think they've kind of mocked up, what was it, a series of Jewish celebrities with a t-shirt kind of going against Kanye. I think it was like in response to Kanye's, you know, awful outburst over the past couple of weeks.

And yes, they AI'd a bunch of celebrities that are also Jewish to come out, you know, in response to the comments that he'd made. A total piss tape? That really is a piss tape. This stuff is just going to get worse and worse. Like there needs to be some sort of like regulation, right? I mean, it's just too powerful. It's just too powerful. No, see, I disagree because if I put it into my work life when Jesse, what we're writing the other day, he went, oh, I just put it through AI. And I was like, why? And he was like, you know,

just to give it some order. And it had taken every semblance of nuance out of our writing. So it felt like it was written by someone who has no experience, no empathy, etc. Which is what AI is. So I, Jesse's like, we have to find a way to work with it. I disagree. We have to remember we're better than it and fight against it. I don't know. I've been seeing some weird stuff about it recently. There was like, you know, a woman like input her

text conversations over a period of time with her, you know, somebody that she was dating and asked the AI, like if it was, if the relationship was going anywhere. Oh my fucking god. And told her like, no, get out of this relationship quick. Oh my god, it said no. I mean, it's so crazy. Apparently you can get AI boyfriends and girlfriends to help you through a breakup.

I'm not sure how much that would help, but they are on, they are available. It's so crazy. It's a scary world. The reason this has come up as well is because some fucking Dubai property developer wants to buy the trademark of James Bond. And this is to, they've said, no, no, I have to get this right because I'm learning about trademarking obviously in building my company and it's such a minefield. But what they've said is that they're not honoring the use of the trademark enough. So they don't think there are enough Bond franchise things. They want to get the trademark, own it so they can have like Bond restaurants and cocktails and lounge bars. It's like, no, that would

be killing the brand and destroying the legacy of something that is like deeply important to millions and millions of people. We don't need a James Bond bar in Dubai. Thanks. Wow. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Late stage capitalism. What can I say? Gotta love it. Gotta love it.

The world is just becoming such a great and pleasurable place to inhabit. My final thought is we can be bigger than this and fight back. I hope so. I'll be there on the front lines. And me fucking too. Lily, I love you. Are you coming here soon? You're going to next stop London, yes? No, I'm going to LA tomorrow for a few days. And then I'm coming back to New York for a week. And then I'm coming to London. Yeah, we have a lot of family celebrations on the way.

Theo's 40th. And then we have your birthday and something in between. So here we go. I really don't wanna think about my birthday. You're gonna have to, I had to turn 40 like a big girl. I know, but you were excited about it and you know, like in a good place. No, Lily, I had to mate myself in a good place. I was like, I'm not married.

I don't have a kid. Oh my God. And then I had to look at everything else that was in my life. Yeah. Gratitude, gratitude. I've been doing my gratitude lists as well. Do you know what I'm saying? And I liked what Simon said on the Miss Me episode that he did

when he said, isn't happiness right here? Isn't it right here if we look for it? Well, that's what my meditation is all about. It's about the here and the now, not the past, not the future. Right now, babes. We got Miss Me Live to fucking worry about. Let's stay in the here and now now, not the past, not the future. Right now, babes, we've got Miss Me Live to fucking worry about. Let's stay in the here and now, shall we? Be Here Now, Ram Dass, have you read that? No, I always think Be Here Now is the name of the Oasis album.

I think it is. Maybe they named it after this. What is this? It's a sort of philosophical idea about living in the present. Sounds like that. Be here now. I think I get it. I think I get it. Well, I think that's enough for one day. I felt that was very meaty and very droppy. Yeah, some meat was dropped today. I think we could officially say that.

Some meat was dropped. Bye, Lil. I'll see you on Monday for Kissy Kiss Kiss Listen Bitch Bitch. The theme for next week's Listen Bitch is kissing. Kissing. On the lips. On, well not necessarily. What are the other kinds Lil, if it's not on the lips? Kissing the hand.

Of the queen. Right yes. Sort of regal kiss, yeah. Kiss my ass? You can kiss anything, you know, you can kiss your baby's forehead. Sorry, yeah, yeah, absolutely, all kissing will come into it. Snogging, pecking, I've written out all the names of all different types of kissing, don't you worry, nothing's changed here at Miss Me.

Look forward to the history of kissing from Makita Oliver. I tried to find it, I couldn't really find it. But yeah, we found some stuff. Great, look forward to that. Yeah, just can't wait, can't wait. That's it, I just can't wait. Love you, Lily, I'll see you on Monday, darling. See you on Monday, babes.

Thanks for listening to Miss Me with Lily Allen and Makita Oliver. This is a Persephoneca production for BBC Sounds. Exciting times Ellis. Oh is it? Why? Well our brand new podcast is here. Two releases a week and we get to leave behind the shackles of live radio and draconian vaping laws of broadcasting house. Ellis, we are the pioneers of digital Britain, grasping the opportunity to redefine the audio landscape

through powerful, impactful, dynamic conversation. You and I will inspire the next generation of free thinkers. What are your aims and aspirations for this new dawn? Uh, I'll try to arrive on time and not eat manguane. You know what? I'll take that. The Ellis James and John Robbins podcast, out on Tuesdays and Fridays. Listen on BBC Sounds.

Are you looking for ways to make your everyday life happier, healthier, more productive and more creative? I'm Gretchen Rubin, the number one bestselling author of The Happiness Project, bringing you fresh insights and practical solutions in the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast. My co-host and happiness guinea pig is my sister, Elizabeth Kraft.

That's me, Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer in Hollywood. Join us as we explore ideas and hacks about cultivating happiness and good habits. Check out Happier with Gretchen Rubin from Lemonada Media.