Shameless is a British comedy series set in Manchester on the fictional Chatsworth council estate, created and partially written by Paul Abbott, who is also the programme's executive producer.
He accompanies her to her home in Chatsworth, a deprived inner city council estate, to meet her large family, and the pair begin to grow close, until she receives a visit from the police concerning her alcoholic father, Frank (David Threlfall).
Meanwhile, Karen's agoraphobic mother, Sheila Jackson (Maggie O'Neill), finds a new man, Kev (Dean Lennox Kelly) and Veronica Ball (Maxine Peake) fall out over money, and a local copper PC Tony (Anthony Flanagan) has fallen in love with Fiona.
Meanwhile, Ian is forced into hiding after turning down the advances of Mandy Maguire (Samantha Siddall) - most popular girl in school and only daughter of the toughest family on the estate - feeling humiliated, she spreads lies and sends her brothers after him.
Meanwhile, Sheila tries to overcome her agoraphobia with Debbie's help, whilst harbouring a life-changing secret, and it seems Steve's days as a free man are numbered when a jealous Tony discovers the source of his fortune.
Final Appearance: Monica Gallagher and Norma Starkey (until series 3) It's Christmas in Chatsworth, and Kev and Lip rob a van load of meat to make a big profit on the estate.
However, the meat is for experimental purposes and the army descend on Manchester and quarantine the estate on Christmas Eve to prevent an epidemic, causing chaos to converge on the streets and riots to begin.
Things turn nasty when a vengeful Tony begins operating against Steve, and a deadly showdown at a warehouse sparks off a chain of events that changes life for the Gallaghers forever.
With Lip facing a prison stretch, Fiona, Tony and Frank attempt to deal with the bent copper, while Ian, Marty, and Carl Gallagher (Elliott Tittensor) find themselves taking part in a burglary.
The video starts spreading around Chatsworth, leaving the residents wondering who the mystery man is, with the culprit eventually being revealed as local policeman, Stan Waterman (Warren Donnelly).
Fiona is panicked to discover the woman in charge of the family's review is none other than her old school enemy, Katrina Webb, who also turns out to be the future Mrs Dawson, and just when it seems all is lost for the Gallaghers, an unlikely figure saves the day: Frank.
Meanwhile, Frank becomes a medical guinea pig and is left devastated when he discovers the drugs he has been taking leave him unable to get drunk, unearthing a new, realistic side of himself, which threatens his relationship with Sheila.
Elsewhere, Debbie falls in with a crowd of people her own age, and, realising what she has been missing out on, quits her job of running the Gallagher household, leaving Lip, Ian and hapless Carl in charge, while Kev is forced to confront his fear of flying when Veronica plans a holiday abroad.
Paddy sets out on a dangerous mission to finally confront his enemies, but he uncovers a web of lies, betrayal, and murder involving Jamie, his deceased son, Fergal, and his most trusted associates.
Receiving no support from his family, Frank begins sleeping rough, and Liam, fearing he will have to take care of Monica's baby, joins his father, and the pair strike up a bond.
It seems like she's struck gold, until her first night of sex and drugs turns into a living nightmare, not just for her, but for Jamie, Ian and Karen, as the foursome find themselves covering up a murder, but Frank may have discovered the truth.
Meanwhile, Kelly returns to Chatsworth, revealing all about her and Paddy's deal, and when Shane attempts to stand up to his father, he ends up in hospital, ripping the Maguire family apart and forcing Mimi to take sides between her husband and her children.
Meanwhile, Carrie receives promotion and jumps at the chance to flee the estate, and when Tom's career completely falls apart, Stan is left heartbroken by the loss of his two friends, while Carl grows suspicious of Mickey's sexuality and sets a trap for him.
After a few harsh words from Frank and with the departure of Monica, Norma begins to question her life and place within the Gallagher family, she decides to leave Chatsworth and returns to her old lorry driving job, where she is reunited with an old flame.
Return and Final Appearance of: Kash Karib After managing to upset everyone, Frank gets cast out for the night by Debbie and seeks shelter in a church confessional where, he overhears a neighbour's shocking story, Meanwhile, the marriage of Mimi and Paddy is beyond redemption, but the Maguires refuse to see divorce as an option, so they both hire the same hitman to kill one another.
His passion reignited, a whirlwind romance ensues - but will Libby's mother Patty Croker (Valerie Lilley), bibliophile activists and riot police stand in the way of Frank and his new love?
But things soon turn sour when news reaches them that they are now the prime suspects for Bonehead's murder, and the pair uncover a deadly secret that Hazel is so desperate to hide, while back in Chatsworth, Jimmy's reign of terror continues, and it's the Gallaghers who are caught in the crossfire.
Kelly is suspicious of the power new girl Bonnie exerts over Lillian in the brothel, and Avril and Jackson's continuing efforts to spice up their sex life leads daughter Letitia to believe that her father is having an affair.
Elsewhere, Kelly visits a client in the hospital and runs into his wife, sparking off a heartbreaking chain of events that will change her life forever, while a confused Gloria Meak (Angeline Ball) tries to remember who took advantage of her the night before.
After a conversation with Frank, Jamie and Shane engineer a plan to raid Manchester's former War Rooms, now owned by the Lottery, with the aim of lifting a stash of scratch cards as a way to make some easy money.
And, Aidan and Chesney collect meat for a raffle and manage to get stuck with a live cow, while Shane tries make amends for his shocking crime by protecting the family of the man he killed.
Elsewhere, Frank is determined to prove to Dominic and Billy that he has slept with everyone on the Chatsworth estate, and his time at the World of Burgers comes to an end, while Kelly discovers Lillian is not a British citizen.
Meanwhile, Frank is climbing the employment ladder as caretaker of "St Mimi's School", conveniently funding his new leisure activity - the Gastric Bandits, a prostitute double act with Sherilee and Derilee.
As his kids befriend the locals and his wife Esther takes an unlikely shine to Frank, Kassi must deal with his growing troubles - and an enraged Mimi, But will a dinner party between the Blancos, Gallaghers and Maguires help to un-strain relations or will it be a night of chaos?
Voice over: Jamie Maguire First Appearance: Esther, Thalia and Saul Blanco Chesney meets Remona, a fiery chemist while looking for a replacement chillers and he soon decides to renovate Chesco, add a pharmacy department and employ her to run it.