"Shameless" (2004) TV series 2004-????

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Creator:

Paul Abbott

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

13 January 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

The story of a young group of siblings pretty much abandoned by their parents, surviving by their wits...

Plot Keywords:

Siblings | Alcoholic | Car Thief | Father Son Relationship | Head Butt

Awards:

9 wins & 21 nominations

Cast

David Threlfall	...	Frank Gallagher (52 episodes, 2004-2009)
Gerard Kearns	...	Ian Gallagher (52 episodes, 2004-2009)
Elliott Tittensor	...	Carl Gallagher (52 episodes, 2004-2009)
Rebecca Ryan	...	Debbie Gallagher (51 episodes, 2004-2009)
Rebecca Atkinson	...	Karen Jackson / ... (42 episodes, 2004-2009)
Kelli Hollis	...	Yvonne / ... (37 episodes, 2004-2009)
Samantha Siddall	...	Mandy Maguire (36 episodes, 2004-2009)
Jody Latham	...	Philip 'Lip' Gallagher (35 episodes, 2004-2008)
Alice Barry	...	Lillian / ... (35 episodes, 2004-2009)
Warren Donnelly	...	Stan / ... (33 episodes, 2004-2009)
Johnny Bennett	...	Liam Gallagher (32 episodes, 2006-2009)
Maggie O'Neill	...	Sheila Jackson (28 episodes, 2004-2007)
Marjorie Yates	...	Carol Fisher (28 episodes, 2004-2007)
Lindsey Dawson	...	Jez (28 episodes, 2004-2007)
Dean Lennox Kelly	...	Kev (27 episodes, 2004-2007)
Maxine Peake	...	Veronica (27 episodes, 2004-2007)
Annabelle Apsion	...	Monica Gallagher (27 episodes, 2004-2009)
Nicky Evans	...	Shane Maguire (27 episodes, 2006-2009)
Tina Malone	...	Mimi Maguire (25 episodes, 2005-2009)
Dystin Johnson	...	Norma Starkey / ... (25 episodes, 2004-2009)
Michael Legge	...	Tom O'Leary / ... (25 episodes, 2007-2009)
Sean Gilder	...	Patrick Maguire / ... (24 episodes, 2005-2009)
Ciaran Griffiths	...	Mickey Maguire / ... (24 episodes, 2007-2009)
Aaron McCusker	...	Jamie Maguire (23 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jack Deam	...	Marty Fisher (21 episodes, 2004-2007)

Runtime:

90 min (including commercials) (2 episodes) | 60 min (including commercials) (32 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:MA | UK:15 (Season 1) | UK:15 (Season 2) | UK:18 (Season 3)

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Company Pictures

Trivia:

The role of Frank was originally given to Sean Gallagher, but then it was thought he was too young to play the character. It cost makers Company Pictures £100,000 to re-shoot the scenes already filmed with David Threlfall as a replacement.

Quotes:

Frank Gallagher: [to a fish] Now you know what I feel like... Stop whinging! Drink more.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: Dinnerladies (#4.2)" (2006)

Reminds you how good TV can be

Once in a while, there comes along a TV drama series that makes you glad the medium was invented. A series that makes you glad to be alive; a series that breaks your heart that you have to wait a whole week to see the next episode. Shameless is such a series.

The Gallagher family consists of dad Frank and his six children (their mum apparently abandoned them years ago). Frank spends most of his time out drinking, only returning to the family's council house on a run-down Manchester estate when he's dragged home comatose by the police in the early hours of the morning. The result is that the six kids more or less bring themselves up, with the eldest - 20-year-old Fiona - acting as the token mum.

From all this, it should make for depressing viewing. But the beauty of Paul Abbott's semi-autobiographical drama is that it's not even remotely depressing. The six Gallagher kids, their friends and neighbours form an extended family where everyone loves and supports everyone else; and the result is bawdy, rude, but above all uplifting, heartwarming and fun. The performances are uniformly excellent and to single anyone out would be unfair. The first episode does a wonderful job of introducing the large cast of characters - not just in a cursory way either, but in sufficient depth to make you care about this assortment of misfits enough to want to tune in next week to see what befalls them next.

This is what TV should be. Watch it.