Fans of Father Ted will undoubtedly recognise Pauline McLynn as Mrs Doyle, housekeeper of Craggy Island’s Parochial House however, we’re about to see the brilliant Pauline in a very different role as a librarian who’s set to become Frank Gallagher’s new love interest in Shameless.

Pauline will portray Libby the librarian who’s passion for romantic literature is said to be going to “awake something in Frank” or perhaps more precisely, little Frank, who, as we know, has been responsible for quite a lot of the population of the Chatsworth Estate… Read more & comment »

I’ve missed Shameless for a few weeks now, for several reasons but primarily because it’s on late and I’m a bit of an old fart and have to be in my bed by ten or I’m like a dead thing the next day… however, yesterday, feeling in devil-may-care mood, I stayed up past ten and caught up with the Chatsworth Estate gang.

Ably aided by my daughter, who never misses an episode, I got up to speed with what they’ve been doing – ‘scuse the ‘speed’ pun – and I’m going to make a point of staying up to watch it in future. In fact last night, throwing caution to the wind, I actually stayed up to watch the next episode on E4’s First Look too! I know!

So, the article that follows may contain spoilers about next week’s episode so if you didn’t watch it on First Look or don’t want to know what happens, don’t read on! Read more & comment »

Oh I so love this series! It just gets better and better! This week saw Frank being the victim of identity theft and someone had run up huge credit card debts in his name, however, no sooner had Tom arrested him than he had to let him go again when it was obvious that Frank had nothing to do with it – this time!

Frank is of course pretty much oblivious to the effects of the credit crunch; he couldn’t get a library card, never mind a credit card, but David Threlfall who plays him told the Daily Mirror that the credit crunch might well mean the show gets more viewers… Read more & comment »

The brilliant Shameless was back on TV last night and it was excellent, except for the talking baby Stella. When she first ‘spoke’ to Frank, I could accept that it was just yet another of his drug induced episodes, but when we learned that Monica could hear her as well… it just seemed ludicrous.

One of the attractions of Shameless for me was always the fact that the characters really could be living out there on the Chatsworth. It reflected real life in many ways but having Monica hearing baby Stella talking too ruined that. If they’d left it at Frank being able to hear her, it would’ve been fine. Read more & comment »

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?” Read more & comment »

The Gallaghers, the Maguires and all the lawless, loveable characters of the Chatsworth Estate return for 16 new episodes in January on Channel 4. Yippeee!

This sixth series promises benefit fraud, brothels, stints in jail and stings gone wrong, with fake suicides, cold turkey, joyriding, lesbian romps, lingerie parties, revenge and a trip to the seaside to boot – all life-affirming events in the world of this Manchester estate.

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Whilst having another secret rendezvous, Debbie and Tom suddenly have to come to the aid of an assaulted woman – but things go horribly wrong when Tom gets arrested on suspicion of being the perpetrator of the attack. Only Debbie can supply his alibi – but not without compromising their delicate position.

When Norma wakes up in a stranger’s jogging bottoms after a night on the tiles she sets off on a wild goose chase to find out who she must have slept with. Read more & comment »

In this weeks episode, Mimi’s short fuse gets the better of her when she harms her favourite son, Micky. Desperate to reign in her temper she attends anger management courses and gradually evolves as a new, sensitive woman – and responsible drug dealer. Seeing his business going down the pan, Patrick despairs and knows he has to get his old Mimi back or they’ll go bankrupt.

Tuesday 1st April 10:00pm – Channel 4

Jamie’s ex-cell mate, Mark comes to stay but Karen doesn’t trust him and the battle lines are drawn. Karen’s got a fight on her hands if she’s to prevent Mark from leading Jamie back into a life of crime.

When Carl gets poor grades in his GCSEs, he realises everybody thinks he’s a failure. So he sets out to prove them wrong and with a little bit of help from Paddy, finds his real talent: in the boxing ring. And he’s miraculously – inexplicably – good at it…

Yvonne gets a shock when she hears that her daughter Meena has arranged her own marriage (see the clip above) Read more & comment »

This week on Shameless, Shane and Micky think all their Christmas’s have come at once, when Paddy and Mimi take a holiday.

The boys decide to throw a party. The only problem is Paddy has locked the cupboard containing all their ‘gear’ and they’ve no cash to buy booze and drugs.

Things go from bad to worse when they enlist Liam to help them with a money making business venture, as they soon find themselves outsmarted.

Tuesday 26 February 2008, Channel 4, 10PM

This week on Shameless, a gas leak at the Gallaghers’ brings sexy fireman Sean (Matt Cross) to Ian (Gerard Kearns) and Mandy’s (Samantha Siddall) attention. The two make a wager on who’ll get to shag him. Ian wins, and gets more than he bargained for: a relationship.

It’s not long before Ian is introducing him to the family but just as everything’s looking rosy, he discovers a secret about Sean’s past that has explosive consequences. Carl (Elliott Tittensor) starts dating the dullest girl in the world, just so he can shag her mum. Read more & comment »

In episode six of Shameless next week, a mishap with baby Katie and a bag of Es leads to a standoff between Mandy (Samantha Siddall) and Frank (David Threlfall). When the family back Mandy, Frank is forced to leave the house and ends up sleeping rough. Meanwhile, when Liam (Johnny Bennett) learns he’s going to be nappy changing for Monica’s (Annabelle Apsion) new baby, he decides to run away. He catches up with Frank and the two outcasts bond over a camp fire and a leaky tent.

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Just in case you can’t wait, we have brought you a sneek peek at next Tuesday’s episode of Shameless on Channel 4.

It looks like Shane has finally found the woman of his dreams, but she wants paying for her services…..what will he do?

Frank Gallagher (David Threlfall) has won the lottery; or so the residents of Chatsworth think when Yvonne (Kelli Hollis) announces it on the local news.

And Frank’s not about to announce that he’s never bought a lottery ticket in his life when free drinks are coming his way. But will he ‘fess up when Liam (Johnny Bennett) is kidnapped and the ransom fee is his so-called winnings?

Channel 4, Tuesday 22 January 2008, 10PM

When Monica (Annabelle Apsion) starts getting visions of nursery rhyme characters, she knows exactly what’s going on – she’s going to have another little baby! To quell the family’s protestations, she takes a test and is devastated when it comes back negative. Her solution to her emotional upset is to throw herself into making up for the lost years with the kids she’s already got, but when she causes Liam (Johnny Bennett) to set himself alight, the kids decide something needs to be done.

Shameless Series 5 Episode 3 Monica Having A Baby ?! – A funny movie is a click away

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