Shameless stars pay tribute to 'end of an era'

Shameless stars past and present have paid tribute to the show, marking its grand finale as it came to an end after 11 series.

The Channel 4 drama, starring David Threlfall as layabout Frank Gallagher, finished its nine-year run in a final send-off on Tuesday night, which featured the return of faces from the past. The Bafta-winning series bowed out with 1.3 million viewers.

Elliott Tittensor, who played Frank's son Carl Gallagher, tweeted: "Shameless I love you, I could shed a tear! I'm so thankful to have been a part of it. The soundest cast & crew ever!"

The 23-year-old actor, who is dating actress Kaya Scodelario, thanked the show for introducing him to his girlfriend: "Plus if it wasn't for Shameless I wouldn't of met the love of my life @kScodders :) for that I owe them everything. I miss you beautiful x"

Jody Latham, who reprised his role as Elliott's screen brother Lip, wrote: "The End of an Era x"

Coronation Street actress Natalie Gumede, who played Kirsty Soames on the ITV soap, wrote: "Caught the last ever #Shameless on +1. Congrats cast and crew on 11 years! An amazing feat. Take a bow @Rattersbatt! Now...Onwards! #exciting"

Shameless, which was created by Paul Abbott, premiered in January 2004 and soon became one of Channel 4's longest-running dramas. It was named best drama series at the Bafta TV Awards and Best TV Comedy Drama at the British Comedy Awards in 2005.

Set on a fictional council estate in Manchester, the show also starred Dean Lennox Kelly, Tina Malone, Maxine Peake and Chris Bisson.

Anne-Marie Duff (Fiona McBride) - who met husband James McAvoy (Steve McBride) on the show - also returned for the finale.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.