The final ever series of Shameless will kick off on Channel 4, Tuesday 26 February 2013, at 10pm.

The Jockey is calling time and bringing the multi award-winning and iconic Channel 4 drama series Shameless to an end, with one final series – its eleventh. One last series with fourteen brand new episodes, Shameless 11 filmed in Manchester. Creator Paul Abbott has story-lined the full series and a suitably Shameless finale is planned for this blisteringly funny and offbeat drama series.

Having begun filming in 2003 in Manchester, Shameless 11 will mark the celebratory tenth year anniversary for the series when it broadcasts in 2013. At the end of series eleven, a staggering 139 episodes will have been screened on Channel 4.

Shameless charts the wickedly unpredictable chapters of the lives of feckless anti-hero Frank Gallagher (David Threlfall) and all the colourful characters living on the Chatsworth Estate. Over the years Shameless has been key to the careers of many British screen stars including: James McAvoy, Anne-Marie Duff and Maxine Peake, not to mention a talented team of now high profile writers and directors – and several much loved characters will return for the final ever episode of Shameless!

Shameless 11 will be as celebratory, defiant and as unapologetic as ever. With the hilarious energy of the stalwarts of the Chatsworth thriving in the Double Dip recession – always a law unto themselves, always with family at their core, living in their robust micro climate.

Stella Gallagher runs the Gallagher roost with a rod of steel – aged six! Jamie Maguire (Aaron McCusker) discovers he isn’t a pure blood Maguire and introduces the estate to his Muslim half-brother Kassi (Jalaal Hartley – The Borgias) and his Jewish cooking mad wife Esther (Isy Suttie – Peep Show) as they disembark on the estate with their four feral children in tow. Mimi Maguire (Tina Malone) makes saving the local school her personal mission. Feckless patriarch Frank finds himself climbing the employment ladder as the janitor of “St Mimi’s” School and falls into the arms of the Gastric Bandits – a prostitute double act, Sherilee and Derilee (Sarah Totty and Sue Vincent). Fireworks fly when Avril (Karen Bryson) moves in with her loud and overbearing sister Patreesha (Jacqueline Boatswain – Grange Hill) and niece Mary Mae (introducing 21 year old Adelle Leonce) ). Chesney (Qasim Akhtar) opens up a chemist section in Chescos, run by white Muslim atom bomb on a timer Remona (Moya Brady). And Lip Gallagher (Jody Latham) turns up mid series – and nothing has changed between father and son...

Then by the end of this epic series Monica (Annabelle Apsion) returns from “buying a loaf of bread”, Monica (Annabelle Apsion) is back in the Gallagher nest – and Frank… In a state of emergency the Gallagher off-spring are summoned to show solidarity and Fiona (Anne-Marie Duff), Lip (Jody Latham), and Carl (Elliott Tittensor) come running – family will always be at the core of Shameless. With the Gallaghers reunited alongside all the Chatsworthians plus Kev (Dean Lennox Kelly) and Kelli Hollis (Yvonne Karib) the only way to go is… to party!

Creator Paul Abbott has story-lined the new series alongside a pool of talented writers including: Jack Lothian, Mark Brotherhood, John Kerr, Melissa Bubnic plus Sean Conway and Jimmy Dowdall (who are two of the many young writers that Paul has mentored over the years). Executive Producers are George Faber, Charles Pattinson, Paul Abbott and David Threlfall. Series Producer is Jean Holdsworth and producer Tim Whitby. Directors are: Paul Walker, David Threlfall, Dominic Leclerc, Daikin Marsh and Gordon Anderson. A Company Pictures production for Channel 4.

For further information and interviews please contact:

Deborah Goodmanpublicity 020 8959 9980 / publicity@dgpr.co.uk