One of America’s largest TV cable networks, HBO, is apparently going to launch a US version of Channel 4’s Shameless after working out a deal with the producer of the West Wing and ER, John Wells.

The move follows several years of discussions between US networks and Wells. NBC was originally reported to have struck a deal which involved Woody Harrelson as their version of Frank Gallagher, although it was never actually made.

Mike Lombardo, president of the programming group HBO told TBIvision.com, “We are developing a US version of Shameless with John Wells writing. [The question is] how do you move that show to America and not lose its essence?”

Exactly! I don’t think you can.

Shameless – which is about to air for its sixth series on Channel 4 – follows the life of the Gallagher family on a housing estate in Manchester and has been shown on BBC America and the Sundance Channel in the US. It’s apparently received good viewing figures, but can it really cross the pond intact for a remake?

I can’t see how, can you? I can only imagine that it’ll be a ‘trailer trash’ family in the US and I guess they’ll be on welfare as it’s called in the States, but British humour is very different to that of American humour and unless all they’re doing is literally using the concept, I don’t see it working.

For a start, a lot of the humour is in the accents of the Gallagher’s and local sayings so how can they transfer that to America? Frank’s catchphrase of “Let’s ‘av a par-taeeee” just can’t be replicated.

That said, I’ll be very interested to see them try!