This article is about the comedian. For the hockey player, see Keith "Bingo" Allen

Keith Allen (born 2 September 1953 in Swansea, Wales) is a British comedian, actor, singer and writer. He appeared in a number of films made by The Comic Strip Presents... (notably The Bullshitters, a parody of The Professionals) on Channel 4 in the early 1980s after becoming one of the breakthrough acts of the Comedy Store in 1979. The brother of comedian Kevin Allen, Keith Allen has done both straight and comedy acting. He appeared in the black comedy, Twin Town, the Channel 4 adaptation of A Very British Coup and played the lodger who dies at the beginning of Danny Boyle's thriller Shallow Grave (1994). In the same year, he turned in a critically-acclaimed performance in a BBC adaptation of Martin Chuzzlewit.

He is a member of Fat Les, a band which also contains Britpop artists Damien Hirst and Blur bassist Alex James. Allen is also closely associated with the band New Order. He co-wrote their only UK number one single, "World In Motion," and occasionally performed with them live. He has also been involved in several other football-related records, including "England's Irie" by Black Grape and "Vindaloo" by his own group, Fat Les. He also contributed the song "On Me 'Ead, Son" to the film England Manager. also once danced onstage with the Happy Mondays in New York City. In 2005 he appeared in the Endemol produced BBC2 television programme Art School alongside Ulrika Jonsson, John Humphrys and Clarissa Dickson-Wright where he discovered a passion for painting.

Allen presented the Manchester Passion, a contemporary retelling of the last few hours in the life of Jesus Christ on Good Friday - 14th April 2006.

Allen is also a keen conservationist and is patron of the Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Allen is also an interviewer. His interviewing style could be considered as controversial. Allen attempts to become a mate of the person pushing for a real knowledge beyond the media's written perception of them. For example this is shown in his long delayed April 2006 documentary about lottery winner and chav Michael Carroll.

In April 2006, Allen began work filming the BBC's new Robin Hood drama series, in which he co-stars as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Allen is a fan of Fulham F.C..

Allen is the father of pop artist Lily Allen.

External links

• Guardian Unlimited profile

1953 births | Living people | British comedians | British television actors | Welsh film actors | Natives of Swansea

Keith Allen | Keith Allen