Allison Pearson

Allison Pearson (née Judith Allison Lobbett [Private Eye, 27 May 2008] , born 1960, Carmarthen) is a British writer. She is best-known as a regular columnist for the British newspaper "The Daily Mail", and as author of the 2002 novel "I Don't Know How She Does It".

Early life

She went to Market Harborough Upper School (now Robert Smyth School), then Lincoln Christ's Hospital School, both comprehensive schools. She went to the University of Cambridge, then taught at an inner London school. She also sold advertising.

Career

Journalism

Prior to joining "The Mail", Pearson served as columnist with London's "Evening Standard" and "The Daily Telegraph". She began her career with "The Independent on Sunday" in 1992, where she was a TV critic, winning Critic of the Year at the British Press Awards in 1993.

Broadcasting

Pearson has presented Channel 4's "J'Accuse"; BBC Radio 4's "The Copysnatchers" and appeared as a regular panellist on "The Late Review" (the predecessor of "Newsnight Review").

Books

Pearson is the author of a novel, "I Don't Know How She Does It" (2002), a "chick lit" examination of the pressures of modern motherhood. The book was a bestseller in England and America.

Controversy

In May 2008, Pearson aroused the ire of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, when she suggested in an article that her daughter, Princess Beatrice, was overweight. A significant amount of public support for the princess was subsequently shown, with many commenting on Ms Pearson's own apparent lack of anatomical perfection.The Duchess called Pearson for a meet with her and her daughter, Princess Beatrice but Pearson refused to take the call and ignored them. On the programme "This Morning" the Duchess named and shamed Pearson for refusing to meet up face to face and have a chat about the story written in the paper. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/21/royalsandthemedia.dailymail"Pearson hits back at Duchess of York",] "Guardian", 21 May 2008. Retrieved on 22 May.]

Pearson is currently being sued by Miramax for non-delivery of her mooted second novel, 'I Think I Love You', for which she accepted a $700,000 USD advance in 2003. The novel was due to be delivered in 2005, but Pearson has failed to produce the novel or to respond to Miramax's enquiries as to its whereabouts since 2006. [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN1137860320080811] Reuters, 11 August 2008. Retrieved on 12 August 2008. ]

Personal

Pearson appears to be a divorcee [Private Eye's 27 May, 2008 edition details Pearson's maiden name of Lobbett, suggesting that Pearson is separated or divorced)] , but now lives with Anthony Lane, [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2003/12/14/bolane.xml&sSheet=/arts/2003/12/14/bomain.html "A writer's life: Anthony Lane",] London "Daily Telegraph", 14 December 2003. Retrieved on 3 July.] acclaimed film critic for "The New Yorker" magazine. They have a son (born September 1999) and daughter (born February 1996) and have lived in Cambridge since 2003. She married Simon Pearson in May 1988 in Lincoln.

Bibliography

*"I Don't Know How She Does It" (2002) ISBN 0-701-17302-5

References

External links

* [http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/columnist-323/Allison-Pearson.html Daily Mail]
* [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/allison-pearson-just-like-lynda-herself-i-feel-im-bloody-lucky-509201.html "Independent" article October 2005]

Video clips

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIPQ37Asuz0 S4C "Without Walls" clip from 1994]