Allen pulls out of literary event due to 'ill health'

Pop star Lily Allen has been forced to pull out of judging a British book award competition, citing "ill health".

The 'Smile' singer signed up to join the judging panel for the Orange Prize for Fiction in December, but failed to show up for an important meeting last month because she was too "depressed" - after suffering a miscarriage.

Instead, the 22-year-old sent her mother Alison Owen along to stand in for her.

However, now Allen has withdrawn from the contest completely, reports Gigwise.com.

A spokesperson for the star says: "It is with deep regret that Lily Allen has withdrawn from the judging panel.

"Lily had read extensively for the first stage of the judging process and was looking forward to the shortlist meeting, but recently found that she was unable to commit 100% to the role due to ill health."

The competition is one of the UK's most prestigious literary awards for female authors, with previous winners including novelists Zadie Smith and Lionel Shriver.