Shameless: Series Eight

Paul Abbott's multi award-winning drama series returns with an extended run of 22 new episodes, plus 2011 will see Shameless celebrating its 100th episode.

The eighth series kicks off with a Chatsworth Estate party, and it's not just any party - it's Frank's stag night. He's getting married to the love of his life, his romantic narcoleptic librarian third bride-to-be, Libby. Then, as the clock strikes midnight, Frank disappears. The mystery of Frank's whereabouts is a veritable magical mystery tour into the previously unexplored outer-limits of Frank's drink and drug-addled mind.

With Frank missing, a dark cloud spoils the party spirit when a previous Mrs Gallagher returns. Yes Monica is back and set on laying claim to her family.

Meanwhile at the Maguires, Mimi is back in the nest with her surprise new baby Cilla, with whom Micky discovers his talent as a surrogate father - but the question remains, who's the Daddy?

Nestled in between the Gallaghers and the Maguires is a new family: home-brewing fun and firey housewife Avril Powell and mild-mannered, until he's had a drink, trainee teacher Jackson Powell, plus their chronically, irretrievably thick, but gorgeous teenage daughter Letitia.

Ride the emotional rollercoaster that is Shameless.