A Welsh-born screenwriter, film director, film producer and actor. HIs first acting roles came by way of The Comic Strip and progressed to the BBC sitcom The Thin Blue Line and many other theatre and TV roles. He also wrote and directed several documentaries for the BBC in the 1990s. In 1997 he directed and wrote the cult Welsh black comedy feature Twin Town. He also directed the films The Big Tease and Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London and hit UK TV series Benidorm. He is the younger brother of comedian Keith Allen and uncle of pop singer Lily Allen.