Shameless

When Fiona Gallaghers (Anne-Marie Duff) bag is stolen on a night out in Manchester, a handsome stranger called Steve McBride (James McAvoy) comes to her rescue. 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, Lip Gallagher (Jody Latham) makes a shocking discovery about his brother Ian (Gerard Kearns) that turns the brothers close relationship upside down, and he also uncovers a shocking secret about the local shopkeeper, Kash Karib (Chris Bisson). Elsewhere, Karen Jacksons (Rebecca Atkinson) father, Eddie (Steve Pemberton), leaves home after catching her in a compromising position.

Kev accidentally proposes to Veronica, and although he soon admits hes still legally married to Roxy, they decide to go ahead with a fake ceremony anyway in order to claim a small inheritance from Veronicas father.

Karen and Franks affair continues behind the backs of Shelia and Lip. Shelia is concentrating on beating her phobea of open spaces, through a nurse that comes and visits her. Shelia goes shopping through a virtual reality machine but panics when she gets too near the doors. Ians affair with Kash is ruined after security cameras are installed in the shop to stop shop lifting. Yvonne notices strange behaviour and comes to the correct conclusion. She tells Kash that she wants another baby and decides that Ian can stay on at the shop but his relationship with Kash is over. Lip discovers Karrens and franks affair and goes crazy. He attacks his father.

The balifs and Mr Wilson are still after Frank. And Frank seems to be more interested in spending time with his ex-wife, Monica, than dealing with his spiraling debts. However, much to Franks annoyance Norma, Monicas lesbian partner, gives Frank a good idea, to fake his own death! Meanwhile Maggie realises that Frank isnt as interested in her as she hoped. When Anthony comes around to talk about Fiona she accidentally gets Chilli in her eyes and staggers out into the Garden! The first time she has been out in five years! Tony has finally found the perfect way to get rid of Steve and get with Fiona for he has stumbled across Steves car stealing scam. The balifs arent so convinced that Frank is dead until one of them attacks Frank in his coffin, in front of the family! When Frank doesnt stir the balif finally realises that Frank is really dead, and how sick his violent outburst/attack seemed. At Franks wake Frank bursts out of the coffin and a party starts. Maggie turns up to ever

Frank takes a call while partying at Kev and Veronicas, but only much later does he pass on the message that social services are coming to discuss fostering. After a mad clean up, the social worker arrives with a child in tow. Next morning, the boy collapses at breakfast. After an anxious rush to hospital, it is found that he is suffering from nothing more life-threatening than the digestion of last nights leftover hash cake.

Plans are afoot for Steve and Fionas upcoming wedding. They pay a visit to the local vicar who eventually agrees to let them marry in the church but only after Steve agrees to pay a lot of money. Then disaster strikes when his car is stolen outside the church. Steve begins to panic and calls Tony. However, unknown to Steve Tony has actually stolen it for a joke but decides to look inside the car and finds a lot of money and drugs. Veronica becomes convinces her mother is going crazy when she continues to talk to her dog. Marty packs her off on a mystery cruise and then takes the dog to have an operation to loose its voice! Steve persaudes Tony to hand over the car. Steve drops the car off with some drug dealers but Tony and Stan turn up. Things turn nasty when a gun is pulled and then fired. One of the drug dealers is killed and the other one escapes but is quickly captured. A warrant is issued for Steves arrest and he has to flee the estate.

Lip is sleeping with Mandy while she pretends to be Ians girlfriend to hide the fact that hes gay. However, after Mandy falls pregnant with Lips baby everyone thinks Ians the dad and the Maguires welcome him to the family - with the threat of castration if he doesnt marry her. Fiona gets mugged on her way home from a drunken night out.

After walking out of her job at the nursery, Fiona confesses to Veronica that she is pregnant by Craig and hasnt told him. Frank falls foul of two shifty accident claims salesmen after being hit in the mouth by Kashs shop door. Kash and Yvonne cannot afford to pay out and are forced to close the shop.

The local elections are underway and Kash is running to be Chatsworths councillor against dirty-dealing Bernie Creme. However, it turns out that Bernie is just a racist who exposes himself to the entire pub and loses all his supporters. Lillians husband is involved in a tragic accident which, at first, appears to be caused by Tony and Stans Police van. But it later turns out that moments before he was hit by the van he was shot in the head. And it seems he was a junkie, according to the Police. Lillian is dashed off down the Police station to be interviewed about her late husband while Carol realises who shot him-Carl! Tony and Stan quickly figure out it was Carl as well due to CCTV footage. The family (bar Fiona who doesnt know) rallies behind Carl and just about manage to get him off the hook. Frank meanwhile decides to take the deadmans indentiy to get his benifits and then tries to kill his pet dog through various methods.

When five year-old Liam denounces religion at his RC Primary School and is subject to a home-visit by his teacher and the local priest, sister Debbie has to think fast. But shaving his head and pretending that he is dying of cancer is NOT one of Debbies better ideas. In fact, by the time the rest of the Gallagher clan realise whats going on and try to set the record straight, the news has leaked out into the wider community and Debbies lie lands the family in true Gallagher-style catastrophe. Could things get any worse for Debbie?

Mandy goes into labour after a run in with a masked robber inside the corner shop. Lip desperately wants to visit his new daughter, but will Mandys parents allow the visit? And if not, just what will it take for Lip to prove himself to them...?

On the day that Kev should be happily celebrating his 35th birthday, his mother throws herself from her balcony. To add to his woes, he sees his ex-wife Roxy, whos recently out of prison and far from reformed, at the funeral. Fatherhood has had a positive effect on Lip and Mandy.

Debbie has a new best friend who is everything she wants to be and has the boys falling at her feet. Suddenly Debbie realises what other girls her own age have been getting up to and what shes been missing out on while left holding the fort at home. Sue disappears leaving Marty to deal with the debt collectors in the only way he knows how.

The Gallaghers return for a fourth series, and its Lips 18th birthday but not all is going to be clean sailing as there’s a few surprises ready to hit him. First the Maguires expect him to do something for them. But the biggest shock of all is his long-lost mother Monica turning up out of the blue with a bombshell that could turn their lives upside down.

Monica manages to seduce Frank and sink her claws back in, but he dare not tell Sheila that he and Monica have been sleeping together. Sheila proves to be a frightening adversary when scorned and Frank could be in real danger. But neither Sheila nor Monica want to share him and he has to decide on which wife he wants. But who will he choose?

Debbies glad to have her dad back at home, but Monicas not happy with all the attention Frank is giving her and tells her its time she found herself a boyfriend. Also Ian catches the eye of someone he least expected.

Explosions across the estate spark fears that Chatsworth is a terrorist target. But it has the Maguires worried that theyre under threat from folk a little closer to home when Patrick finds the family semtex missing. Meanwhile when Frank reveals to Monica she was never his first choice over Sheila, Monica vents her anger by turning to Norma for gifts and goodies.

An emergency visit to the hospital results in Frank receiving devastating news, prompting him to embark on an orgy of drink and drug-fuelled mayhem, which culminates in a bizarre, drug-induced encounter with his younger self. Elsewhere, Lillian comes up with a surprising way to make money, and Lips shady past catches up with him and leads to a no-holds-barred fight in The Jockey, with shocking consequences.

Monica seeks to make up for lost years with her children after failing a pregnancy test. Paddy is livid after the Jockey is robbed before Mimis surprise birthday party, leaving Karen with the responsibility of arranging the bash from scratch. Stan becomes smitten when his pen-pan from the Ukraine pays a visit, but Carrie suspects that the charming foreigner has an ulterior motive.

With the local council doling out money to the new young-mayor, Debbie sees a chance to buy hens and potatoes and give Chatsworth free egg and chips. Meanwhile, Shane falls for his perfect woman and it looks like shes fallen for him but when she takes him back to her place, the spare room at Lillians; Shanes in for a bit of a surprise. Also, Yvonne has trouble with some yobs in the shop and things get a bit heated has she finally met her natch? And,when Stan runs down an old lady, he confides to Tom and Carrie that he should be wearing spectacles. To save his job, Carrie takes the rap, but when the old lady decides to sue, it might be Carrie who is going to get fired.

When there is a gas leak at the Gallaghers along comes a sexy fireman named Sean. He gets the attention of Ian and Mandy but which one of them will win the race to get the Sean into bed? Also, Carl finds himself in a risky situation.

Monica has an unexpected visitor, her mother Joan, who no ones seen for twenty years. Suddenly all Monicas childhood insecurities come flooding back. But Joan has a secret, shes got Alzheimers disease and has a very important task for Monica but, she cant remember what it is. When Stan confesses to Yvonne that hes got a soft spot for her he gets a little more than he bargained for, in the stock room, up against the shelves and behind the frozen goods. Yvonne is a woman with physical needs but does she want this to go any further because, Stan certainly does. When Paddy and Mimi take a holiday, Shane and Mickey decide to throw a party. The only problem is, theyve no cash to buy booze and drugs and when they enlist Liam to help them with a money making business venture, they soon find themselves outsmarted.

When Paddy is caught on camera for an armed robbery and could face 20 years inside, Mimi begs him to call his brother, Noel. Hes the only one who can help. But Paddy has a dark history with his sibling and would rather go to jail than ever set eyes on him again. As the reality of his situation dawns, he realises he has no choice. The Gallaghers find themselves three grand in debt to Mimi after Frank inhales a box of her drugs, and it seems that Ian is the only one who can bail the family out. But when his business venture fails, Ian finds he has nowhere to turn. In an act of desperation, he steals money from the till at the Jockey but things quickly spiral out of control. The status quo gets altered in the police house when Carrie becomes a sergeant. Tom is peeved that Carrie is exploiting her new position, but a chance comment leads him to discover a dark secret in Carries past, which means he can regain the upper hand...

Mandy looks set for an upturn in her love life when shes persuaded to go on a blind date by Karen, Jamie and Ian. It seems shes struck gold and is onto a keeper, until her first night of sex and drugs turns into a nightmare. Finding themselves with a corpse on their hands, Karen and Mandy have to work out how to get rid of the evidence before theyre charged with murder. Its a long night for the girls as they drag a heavy wheelie bin around the estate...

While enjoying another secret rendezvous, Debbie and Tom are forced to come to the aid of an assaulted woman, but things go horribly wrong when Tom gets arrested on suspicion of being the attacker. Only Debbie can supply his alibi, but not without putting both of them in a compromising position. Theres a gruesome showdown between Shane and Paddy over Shanes girl, leaving Mimi torn between her love for her husband and the love she feels for her son. When Norma wakes up in a strangers jogging bottoms after a night on the tiles, she sets off on a wild goose chase to find out whoever it was she slept with.

Ian is attacked and left shaken and confused as to what he could have done to provoke it. When the stranger strikes again, Ian is left hospitalised and theres more bad news when he regains consciousness: hes got amnesia. Suddenly hes an alien amongst his own family and friends, and even his own sexuality is a mystery. Meanwhile its Debbies 16th birthday. Tom decides its time to go public with their relationship, but Debbie has doubts about whether their relationship was ever really serious. Kelly has bad news for Shane about her pregnancy; Frank and Monica are faced with an impossible challenge when they hear the voice of newborn baby Stella: but do they want to know what she has to say about her parents and Chatsworth? And Ians amnesia brings him a whole new perspective on his life, leaving him questioning if Chatsworth is the place for him after all.

Frank is not happy when he finds out that he has been a victim of identity fraud. He finds that he is eligible for jury service after his criminal record is wiped clean. Shane and Micky scam some local tourists but Carrie is soon on their case.

Karens relationship with Jamie is put under strain when she suffers a miscarriage, unaware she was pregnant to begin with, and matters are made worse by the Maguires extreme reaction. Liam wins a modelling competition that Debbie entered him in, Tom takes his prank war with Stan too far, and Carl gets into trouble with the female residents of the Chatsworth estate

Ian drives a car back to the United Kingdom following his travels overseas unaware there is something hidden in it. With her wedding anniversary just around the corner and a party planned, Mimi becomes even more worried about Paddys absence.

Nobody is sure if Shane will ever be the same again after he is left partially paralysed by the accident, while Mimi and Kelly clash over who will help aid his recovery. After the departure of Monica, Norma contemplates her own future on the estate and a figure from the past offers her the chance of a fresh start. Elsewhere, Jamie settles back in with the Maguires and alarm bells ring for Karen when she suspects all is not right in Mandy and Joes relationship

Jamie beats Joe up after he discovers that he has been hitting Mandy. Mimi decides to take the blame for the attack to save her son from being sent back to prison. Paddys secret comes out.

The Gallagher unit is rocked when an unexpected visit from the social services catches them off guard and the family fall apart. In the aftermath Debbie unleashes her fury on Frank, which propels him on an almighty bender, but can Frank realise the solution to their problems wont be found at the bottom of a pint glass, before its too late? Every teenage boys fantasy becomes reality for Chesney when he is introduced to a married housewife who pops his cherry and he quickly falls head over heels.

After Debbie throws him out for the night, Frank ends up in a confessional booth where he hears a neighbours shocking confession. Frank finds himself drawn into what is going on.

Its Franks 50th and Liam has the dubious honour of sharing the auspicious day with him on his 11th birthday. Uncharacteristically, Frank snubs the chance of a party, and instead opts to dwell in his own lonely loveless existence until... Libby, a local librarian falls into his life. His passion reignited, a whirlwind romance ensues - but will Libbys mother Patty (a full-time wheelchair user), bibliophile activists and riot police stand in the way of Frank holding onto his new love? Meanwhile, Liams inherited the dirty nappies, rubber gloves and responsibility of the Gallagher household. Nin, Liams great grandmother, offers to move in and help ease his burden, but a selfish Frank rejects her. Liam is infuriated. Unable to cope herself, Nin is spurred into homicidal action and in turn teaches Liam a priceless lesson in surviving as a Gallagher.

Karens obsessive drive to prove herself more than just a mum has Jamie worried. With the help of a trampoline and a battalion of baton twirling majorettes her body is in perfect shape but her mind is in danger of unravelling, leaving the Maguires to pick up the pieces. Liams pursuit of his first true love is threatened when he becomes tangled in a web of his own lies. His desperate attempts to conceal his Chatsworth life are shattered when Frank is summoned to the school. Maxines life is thrown into turmoil when she is presented with an urgent choice. At the time she needs Carl most she finds him following in Franks footsteps at the bottom of a pint glass. She turns to Ian for support. Elsewhere on Chatsworth, Yvonne is in debt and out of her depth when Paddy comes collecting. The Karibs concoct a plan leaving the shop under new management, Paddy enraged and Chesney starting a new independent life. Meanwhile, Mickey finds a plumber to help him with his neglected pipework.

Maxine is desperate to make a good impression at her parents party so cajoles Ian into pretending to be her boyfriend. He reluctantly agrees, but their act unearths deep feelings that take everyone by surprise. Meanwhile, Carl realises what hes lost by splitting up with Maxine so he is determined to win her back. But Carl soon finds love and hate are two sides of the same coin when Micky reveals a painful secret. At the Jockey, Mimi does her best to conceal Karens illness after she returns from the psychiatric unit. While Karen settles back into Chatsworth life, Jamie struggles to cope with the reality of living with mental illness. Escaping for a night out, Jamie meets Michelle, a Madame of a thriving male Escort Agency who plans to seduce him into a murky but lucrative new job.

Franks romantic interest, Libby, returns and her time away has only increased her ardour. Armed with just a mobile library she is determined to bring knowledge to the people and rekindle her romance. Libbys romantic delusion is only punctured when she witnesses the real Frank, leaving her Elizabeth Bennett without the Mr Darcy she craved. But overwhelmed by his desire, Frank strains every sinew to win her back using an unfamiliar weapon, honesty. Jamie focuses all his energies into giving his Madam, Michelle, whatever she wants in order to pay off Karens debts. But his unusual behaviour rattles Karens delicate disposition and raises Paddys suspicions and when Michelle makes it clear she wants more than Jamie can give, the pressure mounts. Risking the fury of a woman scorned, but with everything he cares for at stake, Jamie has no choice but to find a way out.

Carl and Chesneys attempt to outrun their troubles make them realise the grass isnt always greener. Stranded on a Welsh farm they are offered sanctuary by a mysterious woman, Hazel. But things soon turn sour when news reaches them that they are now the prime suspects for Boneheads murder. Back home, Liam and Maxine seem to be the only ones concerned by their disappearance which forces Ian to confront Jimmy, the real murderer, in order to establish the truth. Elsewhere, Mickey and Liam have been picked by the council to make a local community film in the hope it will inspire the residents of Chatsworth now that their estate has been identified as the most run down in Britain.

Liam befriends World War Two veteran, Reggie, to help him with a school project. Troubled and lonely without his sister and fed up with Libbys well-intentioned interference at home, Liam finds solace in his friendship with the old man. But when Libby spies on them, she jumps to the all the wrong conclusions - leading to a tragic confrontation between the Gallaghers and Reggie. Maxine is shocked when her brother, Bruce, turns up with a black eye claiming a homophobic attack by their dad, but her loyalties are tested when she confronts their father and discovers the real story. Bruces arrival as an openly gay man on Chatsworth agitates the locals and he quickly outstays his welcome at Ians house, but he charms his way into Mimis heart and the Jockey, leaving Mickey teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, Karen is put out when Joe appears to have moved on by taking control of his life and attending anger management classes.

Kelly takes guardianship of her 15 year-old half sister Tonya who is homeless and needs help to get her baby boy out of care. In a meeting with Tonyas social worker Julie, its agreed that custody will only be considered if Tonya proves she is responsible by looking after a simulation baby. But its not long before the unruly teen leaves Micky holding the plastic baby, forcing him to make a painful decision. Elsewhere, Libby witnesses the results of an apparent miracle from a visit to a French grotto and organises a pilgrimage for Patty. Petrified and elated at the thought of liberation from her mother, she persuades Frank to escort Patty while she waits anxiously at home. The unlikely travelling companions end up sharing a room in a convent where Frank becomes the improbable focus of attention.

During his birthday celebration Joe receives the tragic news of his fathers death. The painful realisation that life is too short fuels his determination to start a new life with Karen. Although Karen is uncertain, Joe manages to convinces her of their future together away from Chatsworth. Trying to come clean to Jamie, Karens confession is derailed when he reveals his own grubby secrets. Emotional deadlock forces Joe into a course of action with far-reaching consequences for all of them. Elsewhere, Bruce gets a chance to shine as caretaker/manager for the Jockey football team, but when he arranges a gay five-a-side football tournament Chesney is not willing to come out with the other lads. And while Ian plays with the boys, Maxine explores her artistic side as a life model.

Libby and Frank are supposed to be getting married, but this is put on hold when Frank disappears on his stag night. Mimi tries to find out the identity of the father of her new baby Cilla.

Shane finds security work at the local school and helps a boy being bullied by his twin. Frank is still incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital, unknown to Libby, who tries to move on with her life.

After weeks of suffering at the hands of his own mental incarceration Frank is almost fully intact of his marbles and is plots his escape. Libby meanwhile has had the dramatic news that Franks divorce is about to be nullified and they could lose the family home in 24 hours. The solution is for Frank and Libby to get married and the clock is ticking...

Sita calls the terrorist line in order to teach Chesney a lesson. Shane and Kelly get more than they bargained for when a womans sexual fantasy, kidnapping, ruins their business.

Mimi seems to be suffering with insomnia, however her condition deteriorates when she believes that she may have dementia.

Libby gets her mother a nurse to look after her when shes at work, all doesnt go to plan when Libbys mother mis-treated. Lillian reveals that she has signed over the house to her newly adopted daughter, Bonnie. Bonnie tells Lillian about her life growing up and then commits suicide.

Following his sexual encounter with Letitias headmistress, Miss Heller, Frank has had his final chance with Libby, who seems taken with the mysterious Martin. Shanes theft of Tilly Puckers wheelchair further strains relations between the Maguire brothers, coming to a head in a showdown with Tillys minders.

Avril is busy keeping secrets from her family; with no job and no money, but always a gift to hand, something doesnt quite add up. Mimi has designs on fit jogger Neil, but hes unsure of her advances - because he only wants sex. Mimi is keen to spice up her sex life, but Karen raises concerns about Neils calorific role-play. When 12-year-old Bean tries to shoplift, Chesney phones her dad, Gorky, who is Chesneys delivery driver, but Chesney soon becomes concerned for Beans welfare and decides to try and rescue her. And the law finally catches up with Avril when a bailiff arrives; she breaks down and confesses leaving Jackson gobsmacked. Will he and Letitia promise to support her and help pay back all the money she owes?

A new gang has rolled into Chatsworth with an unlikely mission - to save the souls of the community.

Aidans bad behaviour ends up seeing him in court. Patty ends up having to decide the outcome. Cillas abduction sees Mimi being forced to face her past, as she reasserts herself has head of the Maguire family. Marty and Mickey start to get intimate as they help each other decorate their new flat.

Billy needs to start pulling his weight and Mimi decides to test his manhood. Rays skill with numbers ends up being noticed by Micky who plans a trip to the casino. Kelly ends up receiving some shocking news during rehearsal for the local play.

The dysfunction Gallagher family returns, but all is not well on the Chatsworth Estate. Half of Franks neighbours are evicted from their homes as part of Operation New Start, a multi-agency crackdown on the estates benefits culture. Jamie and Karen become the reluctant leaders of the resistance when the evictees turn to them for help, but while things look bleak for everyone else, Jacksons future appears brighter than ever.

Mimi and Billy decide to have an open marriage. Patty and Lillians funeral mourning brings them some unwanted attention. Kelly cant grieve and and ends up losing control.

Somebody from Jamies past arrives on the estate, looking for a favour to be returned. D.S. Brooks, is currently suspended pending some serious charges and Jamie doesnt know if he can go through with what he wants and the safety of his family ends up being in the balance. Aidan skips school after he is haunted with nightmares about his doing nothing to stop Frasier attacking his school teacher. After Frasier turns his attention to Letitia, Aidan ends up feeling like he has no choice but to act. Micky has to deal with a life-changing decision after a debt collection goes badly wrong.

Everyone is really worried about Kelly. Marty is still grieving about the loss of the baby, Kelly is punishing herself physically and mentally and is spiralling out of control. Karen ends up making a bet with Dom. Avril becomes worried after she sees her colleague Calum dispensing incorrect medication at the chemist.

When Chesney arrives home from hospital, he finds his cousin Toof waiting there for him. After he reveals his plan to close the shop and take Chesney back to Bradford, Chesney refuses to agree to it. Chesney decides that it is time for him to strike out on his own and live life to the full.

Jamie is scared that Karen may uncover the truth about what happened with Gloria. Ruby wants to be accepted as part of the Maguire family while Aidan is fed up with being treated like the idiot child.

Frank is enjoying his new job at World of Burgers. Wesley is jealous of his influence though and comes up with a scheme to oust him in order to achieve his longed-for promotion. Karen uses some alternative parenting methods to deal with Connors destructive hobby. Mimi adopts this new approach with Cilla after hearing a few home truths. Shanes search for a missing cat leads to a new experiment.

Billy discovers a used pregnancy test after Mimi, Karen and Gloria spend the night boozing. He turns to Jamie for advice, and both of them set out to discover whos the daddy.

Marty makes a life-changing decision and finds the nerve to propose to Kelly. Over the moon, she accepts.

Dom receives a disturbing text from an ex-girlfriend, who appears to be in desperation, so he turns to Frank for help. Meanwhile, Lillian discovers her girls have been servicing a judge.

Its a big day for Mimi Maguire - its her first wedding anniversary to Billy and theyre going to renew their vows. Determined to make a fresh start, Mimi sets about throwing away memories of her past life with Paddy, but she alienates a furious Ruby with her comments about her dad.

As a member of the PTA, Mimi demands respect. But when the teachers threaten to quit over the return of a notorious troublemaker and Mimis quick to dole out advice, Headmaster Banbury couldnt care less. When Mimi hears that the school will be failed by School Inspector Edward Clayhill, she decides to save the day. But not without the help of the Chatsworth residents. Meanwhile, Jamie tries to contact his half-brother Kassi, but after the punch-up in the Jockey, Kassi wont pick up the phone. When Kassi fails to show for a drink, Jamies forced to recognise that maybe having a new brother isnt going to work. Elsewhere, Frank discovers an unexpected perk of being janitor at the school: 24-hour access. Quick to take advantage, Frank invites the Gastric Bandits for an after-hours drug-fuelled romp, whilst Gloria and Dom continue to hide their sordid affair. But how long can they keep their disgraced secret?

Jamies illusion of his brothers perfect life is shattered when the police raid Kassis home and haul him to the station. Kassi wont tell Jamie whats going on, but asks Jamie to help find him and his family a place on the Chatsworth during the investigation. So the Blanco family: Kassi, his wife Esther and their four feral children move in next door to the Maguires. Excited by their recent underhand windfall, Kelly and Marty decide to buy a house, but suspicions are aroused about their dirty money, and all hell breaks loose. Shane plays a game of cat and mouse with Sergeant Randall - a shag would suffice but Shane now wants more, and Randall likes to play by her own rules.

Aiden is once again in trouble with the law. Sentenced to community service, Aiden is forced to care for an OAP called Stanton. But his life is thrown into turmoil when Stanton dies whilst he was supposed to be looking after him. Meanwhile, Esther is struggled to keep her family together without Kassi. But when she reaches breaking point, Frank comes to her rescue and teaches her that life as a single-parent isnt bad. Elsewhere, Dom is convinced he is guilty of murder.

Frank is shocked when he boards a bus - only to be reunited with his eldest son, Lip, and grandaughter Katie. However, it is not a pleasent reunion between father and son as it soon becomes clear that Lip is living in the area. But doesnt want Katie to be associated with his alcoholic father or Chatsworth.

Billy is fed up of being the village idiot and decides its time to earn the respect of Mimi and his peers by applying for a security salesman job. But with no experience and qualifications its not that easy. Things start to unravel when Billy pretends hes secured the job and sinks to new levels in his quest for respect. Esther is shocked to discover that Thalias black eye is a result of her daughter being a bully. Determined to make Thalia show more compassion for her schoolmates and set a good example, Esther sets about apologising to various Chatsworth residents, but they are far from impressed. Meanwhile, Lillian takes pity on a neglected Stella and invites her to spend time in her house. A brothel is no place for a young child though, especially when she gives Lillians valued workers nits.

It seems Chatsworth may never be the same again when Mimi announces her plans to retire and move to Wilmslow to dedicate her life to charity.

After spending months in jail, Frank returns to Chatsworth hoping for a welcome home party. However, he discovers Monica has took up residency at the Gallaghers - and is expecting his tenth child, and the return of a few faces from his past heralds the end of an era. Meanwhile, its business as usual at Chescos, as an old face re-instates herself.