Lily Allen was "terrified" about how her revenge album West End Girl would be received

In an interview with ELLE UK, Lily said: "I was processing things that were happening at quite a traumatic period of time. I don't think that it's a particularly self-aware record. It's a really angry record. And it's a lot more about rage directed towards other people. It's not really about self-reflection.

"When I wrote this album, I spent about eight months being absolutely terrified of what was gonna come back at me."

The Smile hitmaker explained that making the album has helped her realise that anger is "not necessarily a bad thing to express".

She said: "I think that if I've learnt anything about myself from it, it's that rage is powerful and necessary, and it's not necessarily a bad thing to express. In fact, repressed rage is arguably more damaging."

Lily detailed how her album has struck a chord with women who have experienced similar situations.

She explained: "It is f****** insane. In my Instagram DMs, I get loads of women telling me really graphic stuff. Literally like, 'My husband will be f****** me in the a** while he is texting other women.' It makes me feel so s***."

The Not Fair artist - who has daughters Ethel, 14, and Marnie, 13, from her marriage to first husband Sam Cooper - also expressed her gratitude for the support she got from the parents of her children's friends as she went through her traumatic split from Harbour.

Lily recalled: "They were there when I was in a really tough spot - they could see how drawn I was and how withdrawn I became and how skinny I got and how sad I was.

"They'd come and pick up their kids from play dates and I wouldn't come downstairs. I'd be in my bedroom crying. And so I think this album came out and they're all happy for me."

The March issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 5 February.