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1st December 2008

Lily quits as Orange judge

07.04.08

Singer Lily Allen has stepped down as a judge on the Orange Prize, the organisers have confirmed. Her manager cited ill-health as the reason she would not continue judging the women's literary award, reports the Daily Mail.

The 22-year-old did not attend an initial "long-list" meeting with the other judges last month, participating by phone instead. And she failed to take part in a debate last week which decided the shortlist.

Organisers were accused of being too celebrity-minded and stretching the credibility of the prize when the young singer was named as a judge alongside broadcaster Kirsty Lang, Guardian Review editor Lisa Allardice, journalist Bel Mooney and novelist Philippa Gregory.

The shortlist for this year's prize will be announced a week on Tuesday.

Daily Mail

Orange Prize Prize Lily Allen

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