Shameless
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224454051
2008-07-08T22:22:47Z
DWaterson
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under class -> underclass
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox Television
| show_name = Shameless
| format = [[Dramedy]]
| image = [[Image:Shameless title.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Opening credits for series 1-4
| network = [[Channel 4]]
| creator = [[Paul Abbott]]
| executive_producer = [[Paul Abbott]]
| head writer = [[Paul Abbott]] <br> [[Danny Brocklehurst]]
| starring = [[David Threlfall]]<br>[[Annabelle Apsion]]<br>[[Gerard Kearns]]<br>[[Rebecca Ryan]]<br>[[Elliott Tittensor]]<br>[[Rebecca Atkinson]]
| distributor =
| first_aired = [[13 January]] [[2004]]
| last_aired = present
| runtime = approx. 50 minutes
| num_series = 5
| num_episodes = 50 <!-- Episode 5.6 - E4 First Look - January 29, 2008-->
| list_episodes = List of Shameless episodes
| country = {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| website = http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/S/shameless/
| imdb_id = 0377260
| tv_com_id = 22545
}}
'''''Shameless''''' is a [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]] award-winning [[United Kingdom|British]] [[comedy drama]] [[television]] series set in the fictional Chatsworth Estate in [[Manchester]], [[England]]. Produced by [[Company Pictures]] for [[Channel 4]], the first seven-episode series aired weekly on Tuesday nights at 10pm from [[13 January]] [[2004]]. The [[dramedy]], centered within UK [[underclass]] culture, has been accorded critical acclaim by various sections of the British media, including ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'' newspaper and ''[[Newsnight Review]]'' on [[BBC Two]].
The programme was created and, at least initially, mainly written by [[Paul Abbott]], who is also the programme's [[Executive producer|Executive Producer]]. Much of the series is based on Abbott's own experiences growing up in a similar situation to the Gallagher children in [[Burnley]].
The first series was co-written with [[Danny Brocklehurst]] and Carmel Morgan. In subsequent series, Abbott and Brocklehurst shared the main writing duties.
For the fifth series a 6,100 m<sup>2</sup> (66,000 sq. ft) exterior and interior set was built on an [[industrial estate]] in [[Wythenshawe]], [[Manchester]].<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://www.northwestvision.co.uk/page/shameless-makes-its-mark |title=Shameless Series 5 new set |publisher=northwestvision.co.uk }}</ref>
==Plot==
The opening credits have always featured a monologue from what could arguably be called the central character of the series, [[List of characters from Shameless#Frank Gallagher|Frank Gallagher]]. The series charts the lives of the dysfunctional Gallagher family, comprising the father, Frank Gallagher and his nine children, widening the scope to other occupants of the estate as the series progresses. Central characters include:
*[[List of characters from Shameless#Fiona Gallagher|Fiona]] (series 1–2),
*[[List of characters from Shameless#Lip Gallagher|Lip (Phillip)]] (series 1–4, guest series 5),
*[[List of characters from Shameless#Ian Gallagher|Ian]],
*[[List of characters from Shameless#Carl Gallagher|Carl]],
*[[List of characters from Shameless#Debbie Gallagher|Debbie]],
*[[List of characters from Shameless#Liam Gallagher (Shameless)|Liam]],
* Nigel and Delia (2–4, Frank's twins with Sheila),
*Stella (born at the end of series 5. Frank denied that he named her after the [[Stella_Artois|beer]])
Other characters featured in earlier series included Fiona's boyfriend [[Steve McBride|Steve]], a middle-class car thief (series 1-2); [[Kev Ball|Kev]] and [[Veronica Fisher|Veronica]] (series 1-3, guests in series 4), the Gallagher's neighbours; [[Kash Karib|Kash]], the owner of the local shop, and his wife [[Yvonne Karib|Yvonne]]; [[agoraphobia|agoraphobic]] [[Sheila Gallagher (Shameless)|Sheila]] (series 1-4) and her daughter [[Karen Jackson|Karen]]; Lip's girlfriend [[Mandy Maguire]]; the policemen Tony and Stan, along with various regular background characters. The cast was expanded for the series 2, with Carol and [[Marty Fisher|Marty]], Veronica's mother and brother, becoming regular characters after guest roles in the first series. In series 3, Mandy's family, led by her drug-dealing mother [[Mimi Maguire]] and [[Paddy Maguire]], became key characters. In series 4 we also meet three of the Maguire parents' sons: Shane Maguire, who is determined to show his parents and the estate that he is a hard man and a good worker, and Mickey Maguire, who is gay and similarly determined to prove himself. We also meet Jamie Maguire, who has been in prison for 10 years for murder. The estate are initially scared of him in case he turns against anyone, but as we find out he is a partially reformed character, and wants to get on with his life. He eventually marries Karen Jackson.
The Gallagher family reside on the fictional Chatsworth Estate, a [[council estate]] in [[Stretford]], [[Greater Manchester]], although is actually filmed on location in [[Gorton]], East Manchester. The scenes in the local pub, [[The_Jockey|The Jockey]], are filmed on a set in [[Salford]] although the exterior shots are of a real pub named ''The Wellington'' which is located in West Gorton.<ref>[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/1005/1005304_shameless_moves_to_new_home.html The Wellington pub]</ref> Also in proximity are other landmarks including Yvonne's shop and the Gallagher household which is located on the corner of [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?&q=Clowes+St+M12 Clowes Street and Wenlock Way.]
As from series 5 there has been a purpose built set for the show on the Roundthorn Industrial Estate in South Manchester on the site of the old [[Umbro]] factory.
==Critical acclaim==
In April [[2005 in television|2005]], the programme's first series won the [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series|Best Drama Series]] category at the [[British Academy Television Awards]], the most prestigious awards given in the British television industry. It was also nominated for 'Best British Drama' at the 'National Television Awards 2007', but lost out to 'Doctor Who'. Also 'Shameless' has won two awards at the 'Royal Television Awards Society North West Awards 2007' where it beat 'Coronation Street' to the 'Best Continuing Drama Award' and Gerard Kearns (Ian Gallagher), won the 'Best Performance In A Drama Award' for his role in Channel 4's 'Mark Of Cain'.
The programme has been sold overseas, where it airs on channels such as [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] ([[Australia]]), [[Showcase Television]] ([[Canada]]), [[Nederland 3]] ([[The Netherlands]]), [[YLE FST5]] ([[Finland]]), [[SIC Radical]] ([[Portugal]]), [[RTÉ Two]] ([[Ireland]]), [[Sundance Channel]] and [[BBC America]] (Which only aired the first series ([[United States]])), [[Yes (Israel)|yes+]] ([[Israel]]), and [[Jimmy (Italian television channel)|Jimmy]] ([[Italy]])
==Style==
''Shameless'' is noted for having a style very different from other [[British comedy#Television|British comedies]]. A "moving camera" shooting technique (employing few masks or filters) is employed, reminiscent of the BBC2 drama ''[[This Life]]''. The show’s interiors are filmed on staged sets and occasionally on location. The soundtrack is part naturalistic, but occasionally uses music and voiceovers. The music is by composer [[Murray Gold]].
Each episode begins and ends with a narrative voice-over by one of the characters highlighting the themes of the episode. The opening and closing voiceovers are often humorous in nature, as the point of the episode has already been shown. The commentator of each episode is normally the one on whom the plot focuses. This was much more prominent in the first two series, where a plot revolving around one character would normally prevent any other prominent sub-plots involving other characters; in series three, co-abiding plots revolving around different characters are more common. However, unlike many shows, these plots are not entirely separate and the plots always support each other to the episode's conclusion.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
The show is characterized by [[Paul Abbott]]’s extensive use of Manchester dialect and slang - and considerable profanity - and is a humorous but warmly realistic portrait of under-class life on council estates where petty crime and violence loom large and authority figures are the antagonists. (Whilst the two policemen, Stan and Tony, are likeable individuals, the police force as a whole is portrayed as antagonistic). An underlying tenet of the show is the strong underlying bonds of blood and loyalty which bind the Gallaghers and by extension families, in the face of any vicissitudes. Parental figures are largely absent or feckless, the cohabiting siblings often left to fend for themselves or forced into a reversal of the parent/child relationship (as made evident by Frank Gallagher's admission "''kids who are convinced I'm actually theirs''" in the revamped opening credits for season 5), ever wary of the authorities becoming aware of their living situation and separating them; indeed, many episodes’ plots involve evading the authorities. There is some idealisation of this living manner, making poverty and criminality become the norm while somewhat antagonising other classes.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} (In Series 1, Steve’s middle-class status was often the subject of adverse comment.)
==Episodes==
{{main|List of Shameless episodes}}
Series one of ''Shameless'' included seven episodes, and aired between [[13 January]] and [[24 February]], [[2004]]. Such was the popularity of the first series that the third was commissioned at the same time as the second. A Christmas special aired [[December 23]], 2004. The second series began [[January 4]], [[2005]], and finished [[March 8]], after ten episodes. A New Year Special aired [[January 3]], [[2006]]. The third series began the following week on [[January 10]] and concluded on [[February 21]], after airing 7 episodes. With effect from the second episode onwards, each episode was premiered on the partner channel to Channel 4, [[E4 (channel)|E4]], each Tuesday evening following the Channel 4 episode. ''Shameless'' returned for a fourth series on [[January 9]], [[2007]] and aired until [[February 27]], with a total of eight episodes. The fifth series began on [[January 1]], [[2008]], and ran for sixteen episodes, airing through to [[April 15]], [[2008]].
In March 2008 [[Rebecca Ryan]] who plays Debbie Gallagher in the show announced filming on a sixth series would begin in April.<ref>"[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/theatre_and_dance/s/1041534_shameless_stars_stage_hit Shameless star's stage hit]"</ref>
==Cast==
{{main article|List of characters from Shameless}}
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. In 2007, it was revealed that [[Matt Lucas]] and [[Bill Nighy]] asked for cameo parts in Shameless, but creator, [[Paul Abbott]] said the show would lose its realistic charms if they brought in celebrities to play parts.
==DVD releases==
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series One'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s1.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 7 Episodes
* 2 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Meet the Cast'''
*'''An interview with Paul Abbott'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
|align="center" | {{UK}}
|align="center" | {{AUS}}
|align="center" | {{USA}}
|-
|align="center" | [[27 December]] [[2004]]
|align="center" | [[22 September]] [[2005]]
|align="center" | [[24 April]] [[2007]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series Two Plus Christmas Special'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s2.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 11 Episodes
* 3 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Feature Length Christmas Special'''
*'''Audio Commentary (Episode 4) Featuring Paul Abbott, Dearbhla Walsh & Matt Jones'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[31 October]] [[2005]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series Two'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" |<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s22.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 10 Episodes
* 3 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Audio Commentary (Episode 4) Featuring Paul Abbott, Dearbhla Walsh & Matt Jones'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[16 January]] [[2006]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series Three Plus New Year Special'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s3.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 8 Episodes
* 3 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Feature Length New Year Special'''
*'''Mockumentary: Being Alice Barry (Lillian Unpeeled)'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[30 October]] [[2006]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series One, Two And Three Boxset'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_123.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 26 Episodes
* 8 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Meet the Cast'''
*'''An interview with Paul Abbott'''
*'''Feature Length Christmas Special'''
*'''Audio Commentary (Episode 4) Featuring Paul Abbott, Dearbhla Walsh & Matt Jones'''
*'''Feature Length New Year Special'''
*'''Mockumentary: Being Alice Barry (Lillian Unpeeled)'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[30 October]] [[2006]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series Four'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s4.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 8 Episodes
* 3 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Take That Sequence Directors Cut'''
*'''The Missing Scenes'''
*'''Full Unedited Frank Rant'''
*'''Outtakes'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[29 October]] [[2007]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series One, Two, Three And Four Boxset'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s1234.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 34 Episodes
* 11 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Meet the Cast'''
*'''An interview with Paul Abbott'''
*'''Feature Length Christmas Special'''
*'''Audio Commentary (Episode 4) Featuring Paul Abbott, Dearbhla Walsh & Matt Jones'''
*'''Feature Length New Year Special'''
*'''Mockumentary: Being Alice Barry (Lillian Unpeeled)'''
*'''Take That Sequence Directors Cut'''
*'''The Missing Scenes'''
*'''Full Unedited Frank Rant'''
*'''Outtakes'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[29 October]] [[2007]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series Five Limited Edition'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s4.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 16 Episodes
* 5 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Behind-The Scenes'''
*'''Exclusives Audio Commentaries on Episode 9 & 11'''
*'''Building The Set'''
*'''Outtakes'''
*'''Deleted Scenes'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}, {{flagcountry|Republic of Ireland}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[21 April]] [[2008]]
|}
{| border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 0 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- style="background:#EFEFEF"
| colspan="5" | '''Shameless: Series One, Two, Three,Four And Five Boxset'''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center" width="100" | <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Shameless_s1234.jpg|100px|]] -->
| align="center" width="400" colspan="3"| '''Set Details'''
| width="300" align="center" |'''Special Features'''
|-valign="top"
| colspan="3" align="left" width="400"|
* 50 Episodes
* 16 Disc Set
*16:9 Aspect Ratio
*Subtitles: yes (English)
*English (Stereo)
| rowspan="4" align="left" width="300"|
*'''Meet the Cast'''
*'''An interview with Paul Abbott'''
*'''Feature Length Christmas Special'''
*'''Audio Commentary (Episode 4) Featuring Paul Abbott, Dearbhla Walsh & Matt Jones'''
*'''Feature Length New Year Special'''
*'''Mockumentary: Being Alice Barry (Lillian Unpeeled)'''
*'''Take That Sequence Directors Cut'''
*'''The Missing Scenes'''
*'''Full Unedited Frank Rant'''
*'''Outtakes From Series 4 And 5'''
*'''Behind-The Scenes Exclusives'''
*'''Audio Commentaries'''
*'''Building The Set'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | '''Release Dates'''
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | {{UK}}, {{flagcountry|Republic of Ireland}}
|-
| colspan="3" align="center" | [[21 April]] [[2008]]
|}
==See also==
*[[List of characters from Shameless]]
==Further reading==
*{{cite book |first= Sally R.|last= Munt|authorlink= Sally R. Munt|year= 2007|title= Queer Attachments: The Cultural Politics of Shame |pages= 133-159|chapter= Shameless in Queer Street|publisher= Ashgate Publishing|location= [[London]]|isbn= 0754649210}}
*{{cite journal |first= James|last= Walters|year= 2006|title= Saving Face: Inflections of Character Role-play in Shameless|journal= Journal of British Cinema and Television|publisher= Edinburgh University Press|url= |volume= 3|issue= 1|pages= 95–106|doi= 10.3366/JBCTV.2006.3.1.95}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.channel4.com/shameless ''Shameless''] at [[Channel 4#Channel4.com|Channel4.com]]
*{{imdb title|id=0377260|title=Shameless}}
{{start box}}
{{succession box |
| before = ''[[Buried (TV series)|Buried]]''
| after = ''[[Doctor Who]]''
| title = [[British Academy Television Awards]]<br>Best Drama Series
| years = 2005|}}
{{end box}}
{{Shameless}}
[[Category:Channel 4 television programmes]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Manchester]]
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