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A list of characters appearing in Shameless.

The original show[]

The Gallaghers[]

Frank Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

Abusive Parents: His relationship with Neville, his father, was not great, to say the least.

Adventure In Comaland: Frank goes through a few of these. In particular, after falling off his stool and cracking his skull open, he enters an alternate reality where he stumbles through life as a major celebrity, with Ian as his alpha male, heterosexual PR agent and proud son.

The Alcoholic/Alcoholic Parent: Frank's main defining trait in the series.

Brilliant but Lazy: Shows some knowledge of literature and can be quite articulate at times.

Cool Old Guy: He has the odd moment.

Consummate Liar: Frank, after barely surviving his No-Holds-Barred Beatdown from Lip that he earned from shagging Karen.

Sheila: "Why, Frank? Why would he do this to you?!"

Frank: "Beacuse he's a bloody psycho! I told him straight, nice and reasonable..."You'll get your twenty quid when me Giro comes!" Next thing I know he's beating me to death!"

Deadpan Snarker:

Dirty Coward:

Faking the Dead: How Frank escaped creditors in series 1.

Heterosexual Life-Partners: Kev Ball was the closest thing to this in earlier episodes.

Kavorka Man: Frequently bags women all over Chatsworth despite looking like he's homeless. At one point, he was shacked up with Sheila Jackson while also sleeping with her daughter Karen.

The Load: How his kids and most of the Chatsworth Estate view him.

Manipulative Bastard:

Momma's Boy: Implied to have been this when he was younger, before his mother's death when Frank was twelve.

Never My Fault:

Parents as People:

Pet the Dog: Has his soft side and a few heroic moments, such as saving Liam from being taken into care in series 2 and and talking Tom O'Leary from committing suicide in series 6.

The Unfavourite: Subverted. He was mentioned as being beloved by his deceased mother, but Neville Gallagher, Frank's proud, workaholic, trade unionist father, positively depises his lazy, unemployed, alcoholic, drug addict son.

Villain Protagonist:

Would Hurt a Child: Headbutts his then-fifteen year old son Ian in series 1. Later headbutts an eleven year old Liam in series 7, though he showed more remorse on that occasion.

Fiona Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-2

Cool Big Sis: Supportive of all her siblings.

Beware the Nice Ones: Has a hell of a temper. Notably, she visciously punched Steve after finding out he sent Frank to France to teach him a lesson.

Deadpan Snarker: Has her moments.

Girl Next Door:

Only Sane Woman:

Mama Bear: To her five younger siblings.

Parental Substitute.

Promotion to Parent: The firstborn of an alcoholic waster of a father and a flighty mother.

Put on a Bus: Leaves Chatsworth in series 2.

The Bus Came Back: Returns in the Finale of series 11.

The Woobie:

Philip 'Lip' Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-5

Affectionate Nickname: To the point that Carl had to ask "who's Phil" when Lip's girlfriend from university came to visit in series 5.

Aloof Big Brother: Usually toward Carl.

Chick Magnet: Often bags attractive rich girls, but truly loves lower class, unemployed, teenaged mother Mandy Maguire.

Jerkass: Has his moments.

Older Than They Look: In series 4, Lip found out he was nineteen on what was supposed to be his 18th birthday. Frank said he and Monica did not register his birth for a whole year. Lip was quite furious.

The Smart Guy: Was this in earlier episodes.

Put on a Bus: Leaves Chatsworth in series 5.

The Bus Came Back: Appears twice in series 11.

Ian Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-7

No Bisexuals: Averted twice. First by one-off character Anna Sampson in series 4. Later with Maxine Donnelly in series 7.

Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: All of the Gallagher kids go through this, but Ian's case is definitely the most overt. Being one of the oldest Gallagher children and yet lacking the clear escape routes that Fiona and Lip found (i.e. university and a nice middle-class boyfriend to follow), Ian is the one to stay on the estate the longest and constantly question whether life in Chatsworth was all there is out there.

Straight Gay: Was really a normal teenager for much of the run of the series, decidely so as being open about his sexuality in a rough estate like Chatsworth would have been akin to painting a target on his back.

Put on a Bus: Disappears from Chatsworth in series 7.

The Unfavourite: As far as his father Frank is concerned. To the point Frank headbutted Ian after he was himself assaulted.

Carl Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-9

A Date with Rosie Palms: A source of irritation for his older brothers, who shared the same bedroom with him in early episodes.

Annoying Younger Sibling: Lip and Ian see him as this.

Book Dumb: Carl is aware of his lack of academic ability and wasn't fooled by his family's false encouragement after viewing his mediocre exam results.

Butt Monkey: Frequently disrespected by everyone. Including Frank, his older brothers and even his younger siblings.

Calling The Old Man Out: Does this to Frank in later episodes.

Mr. Fanservice: As he got older.

No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Gives one to Ian in series 7 after learning from Mickey Maguire that his brother had sex with Maxine Donnelly.

Reason You Suck Speech: Gives one to Lip in series 4, when he mocks Carl who thinks he had gotten Meena Karib pregnant.

Put on a Bus: The last of his siblings to leave the Gallagher household in series 9.

The Bus Came Back: Appears in the finale of Series 11.

Wide-Eyed Idealist: As much as he can be on an housing estate like Chatsworth.

Debbie Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-6

Cool Big Sis: To Liam.

Evil Genius: Has plenty of moments.

Guile Hero:

Hollywood Atheist:

Little Miss Snarker:

Parental Substitute: To Liam and Stella, until she left home to join the army after series 6.

Promotion to Parent: The second Gallagher child to experience this trope after Fiona leaves (despite having three older brothers still living at home).

Put on a Bus: Leaves Chatsworth after series 6.

The Schemer:

The Scrounger: Frank calls her "the queen of getting by on the cheap".

Took a Level in Jerkass: After holding the house together for years after Fiona leaves, she suddenly decides she wants to be a 'real' teenager and turns into a tempermental, mouthy brat.

Wise Beyond Her Years: Came to be responsible for running the Gallagher household (and looking after Frank) after Fiona leaves at the end of series 2.

Liam Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-8

Badass Bookworm: Mostly hinted. Highly intelligent and seen on occasion wearing a karate uniform. Once knocked his father Frank to the ground with a headbutt. And this was just after he turned eleven years old.

The Cutie: While a toddler in earlier episodes.

The Chessmaster: Has shown shades of this. Blackmailed both Shane and Mickey into giving him all the profit for the cars he stole, even though they set him up to retrieve cars which were hard to come by. Liam also manipulates Joe Pritchard into cancelling his debt by threatening to commit suicide, with Frank, Carl and Ian bearing witness.

Child Prodigy: Frequently implied in earlier episodes until it was outright confirmed in series 6.

Deadpan Snarker: As he got older.

Evil Genius: Was often Debbie's sidekick in this, but showed a strong tendency to go solo. Best demonstrated when he stole cars for money, and showed a level of expertise which put Shane and Mickey Maguire to shame.

Hidden Depths: Originally just a toddler, but became arguably the smartest Gallagher through the duration of the series. Also demonstrates musical talent on many occasions.

Hollywood Atheist: Largely subverted.

Littlest Cancer Patient: In series 3, Debbie tricked Liam's teachers into thinking he had cancer to prevent his getting expelled from his RC primary school. Not one of her better ideas.

Name's the Same: Unfortunately named after Oasis frontman, according to Frank's CV in series 10 (Channel 4 website). Also lampshaded twice by Billy Wilson in series 1 and Lillian Tyler in series 3.

Promotion to Parent: The third Gallagher child to experience this trope after Fiona and Debbie.

Pyro Maniac: Went through this phase between series 4-5, until he accidently lit his sleeve on fire setting up a barbeque for Monica.

Put on a Bus: Leaves Chatsworth to live with Monica in series 8.

Wise Beyond His Years: With only Frank and Carl to help look after baby Stella after Debbie left, Liam had to become this.

Stella Gallagher[]

Seasons 6-8

The Cutie: Basically her role in the series.

Monica Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-3, 4-6, 8

Abusive Parents: Specifically Monica's mother Joan.

Bi The Way: Was married to Frank for at least twenty years, and was in a relationship with Norma Starkey for six years before spontaneously moving back in with her family.

Freudian Excuse: Was treated like shit by her own mother, Joan, throughout her formative years. Worse yet, was the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of 'Dennis', Joan's boyfriend.

It's All About Me.

Lipstick Lesbian:

Jerkass: Has many moments. The worst example may have been the episode in series 7 when she tricked her family into believing that Debbie had died fighting in Afghanistan as part of her plan to worm her way back into her lives.

Parents as People:

Your Cheating Heart: Monica does this on occasion.

The Maguires[]

Paddy Maguire[]

Seasons 2-7

All Devouring Blackhole Loan Sharks:

Ax Crazy:

Badass:

Badass Beard:

Bald of Evil: Partway through series 6.

Break the Haughty: The whole Maureen plot in series 6.

Even Evil has Standards:

Genius Bruiser:

Genre Savvy:

Honour Among Thieves:

Large Ham:

Magnificent Bastard:

Papa Wolf:

Tall, Dark and Handsome:

Thicker Than Water:

The Irish Mob:

The Stoic:

Villainous Breakdown: After Maureen turns him into a heroin addict.

"Well Done. Son" Guy: Was implied to have been like this with his father in series 6.

Your Cheating Heart: With Maureen Tudor. It resulted in the breakdown of his marriage and the death of his daughter, Mandy.

Mimi Maguire later Tutton[]

Seasons 2-

Abusive Parents: Particularly towards her sons, Shane and Mickey.

Fat Bitch: Sensitive subject with Mimi ("you use the fucking F-word [fat] in my presence?!?"). However, she loses weight in later episodes.

Kavorka Woman:

Really Gets Around: After she splits from Paddy.

Team Mom: Was Paddy's partner in their criminal empire. And continued to control it after their break-up.

Weight Woe: Once in Series 5.

Jamie Maguire[]

Seasons 4-

A Man Is Not a Virgin: Averted. After ten years in prison (since his adolescence), Karen was the first woman he had sex with.

Genius Bruiser: The smartest of the Maguire sons.

Genre Savvy:

Magnificent Bastard:

Reformed Criminal: At least on the surface.

The Stoic: Usually has the coolest head in his family.

Took a Level in Badass: More like he came out of retirement in series 6 after his mother Mimi went to prison and his father Paddy became addicted to heroin. Jamie had to take over the reins of the family business, as neither of his brothers were equal to the task.

Wife Basher-Basher: Beats Joe Pritchard to a pulp for beating his sister Mandy.

Shane Maguire[]

Seasons 2-

Anti-Hero: His relationship with Kelly Ball from series 5 onward matures him and he evolves into this.

The Bully: His original characterization.

Butt Monkey: Was this in earlier episodes. Later evolves into an Anti-Hero.

Dumb Muscle: How his parents view him.

Parental Substitute:

Took a Level in Badass:

Mickey Maguire[]

Seasons 4-9

Armoured Closet Gay: Early on, at least.

Butt Monkey: How the rest of his family treat him.

Dumb Muscle: At first, but develops massively over the course of the series.

Gayngster:

Pink Is for Sissies: Attracts a lot of flak for driving a pink ("it's fuschia") limo.

"Well Done, Son" Guy: Really craves his parent's favour.

Wide-Eyed Idealist:

Mandy Maguire[]

Seasons 1-6

Action Girl: Growing up with six brothers as part of a family of violent criminals, she can fight as well as the rest of them.

Berserk Button. To anyone who would dare to take away her daughter, Katie.

*Mandy once beat up a girlfriend of Lip's from university (whom she already hated) when she told Mandy that "I could be partly responsible for bringing up your daughter!"

But We Used a Condom:

Killed Off for Real: At the end of series 6.

Mama Bear: To Katie.

Extreme Doormat: In her relationship with Joe Pritchard.

Karen Maguire nee Jackson[]

Seasons 1-

Cloudcuckoolander: Subverted. She goes off the rails for a while in series 7, as shes coping with the guilt of her ongoing affair with Joe Pritchard and the loss of her friend Mandy.

Ms. Fanservice:

Really Gets Around: Particularly before her marriage to Jamie Maguire

Your Cheating Heart:

Kelly Maguire nee Ball[]

Seasons 2-

Deadpan Snarker:

Hooker With a Heart of Gold:

Parental Substitute.

Donny Maguire[]

Seasons 1-4

Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Used to be a prominent enforcer of the Maguire family in earlier episodes, but never received in character development before disappearing in series 4.

Dumb Muscle:

Flat Character: Never received any development by the writers.

Current cast[]

Jackson Powell[]

Seasons 8-

Avril Powell[]

Seasons 8-

Letitia Powell[]

Seasons 8-

Book Dumb: Was secretly sent to a private girl's school by her mother and had Liam Gallagher help her with her homework.

Marty Fisher[]

Seasons 1-4, 8-

Berserk Button: When guys try to pull his mother, Carol.

Freudian Excuse:

Hollywood Tourettes:

Man Child: Bordering on Psychopathic Man Child.

Momma's Boy:

Put on a Bus: Leaves Chatsworth with a pregnant Sue and their adoptive Romanian baby in series 4.

The Bus Came Back: Returns to Chatsworth in the latter part of series 8.

Pyro Maniac:

Chesney Karib[]

Seasons 4-

Asian Store Owner: Inherits his mother's shop after Joe leaves Chatsworth.

Gender Bender: Once went around the estate dressed in a birka after getting into deep water with the Chatsworth council.

Patty Croker[]

Seasons 7-

Deadpan Snarker:

Ice Queen:

Jerkass:

Oireland:

Aidan Croker[]

Seasons 8-

Delinquent:

Momma's Boy: Was heartbroken to find out that his drug addict mother blamed him for the state of her life.

Lillian Taylor[]

Seasons 1-

Absent-Minded Professor: Runs a successful brothel in a run-down housing estate, yet seems only to be dimly aware of what goes on around her.

Band of Brothels: Becomes a madame after renting a room to Kelly Ball.

Cloudcuckoolander:

Comically Missing the Point: Often.

Obliviously Evil: Shades of this. Is once seen consorting with arms-dealers. She unashamedly describes how abusive she was to her son, Rodney, and once mentioned how she would press a pillow over his face to stop his cries when he was an infant.

Billy Tutton[]

Seasons 7, 8-

The Ace: Only on the football field.

Butt Monkey: How his 'stepsons' treat him.

Dawson Casting: Supposed to be a fourteen year old during the character's first appearance in series 7. The actor had previously appeared in a small role in series 4, looking no younger than 16-17 years old.

Likes Older Women: Fathered Cilla, Mimi's latest child and married her at the end of series 8.

The Load: How his in-laws see him.

Man Child: Mocked for this to Mimi by Patty Croker and Lillian Tyler.

Gloria Meak[]

Seasons 9-

Dominic Meak[]

Seasons 9-

Ruby Hepburn[]

Seasons 9-

It's All About Me:

Miss Fanservice:

Past characters[]

Steve McBride[]

Seasons 1-2

Freudian Excuse: Hinted at.

Gentleman Thief: Steals cars.

Guile Hero:

Handsome Lech: Comes across as one at first glace.

Kick the Dog: Sent a drunken Frank to France as revenge for assaulting Ian Gallagher.

Knight in Shining Armor: To Fiona Gallagher.

Nice Guy: Mostly.

Smart Guy: Highly educated and comes from a family of doctors. Steven himself dropped out of medical school after a couple of years.

Kev Ball[]

Seasons 1-4, 8

Carpet of Virility:

Book Dumb: Uneducated barman, but pretty streetwise.

Happily Married: To Veronica. Though technically averted due to not being divorced from his first wife.

The Lancer: To Steve at times.

Mr. Fanservice:

Never Learned to Read:

Oops I Forgot I Was Married: Never got a divorce from Roxy Ball, his first wife.

Put on a Bus:

The Bus Came Back: Appears in series 8 and the finale of series 11.

Why Did it Have to Be Snakes?: Fears flying.

Veronica Ball[]

Seasons 1-4

Abusive Parents: Somewhat subverted. Her mother, Carol Fisher, had never treated her with much respect or attention.

Beta Couple: With Kev

Buxom is Better: Has her admirers in cyberspace.

Cool Big Sis: Has this sort of relationship with her twenty-one year old friend Fiona.

Deadpan Snarker:

Freudian Excuse: Her often selfish, attention-seeking mother.

Happily Married: To Kev. Although technically, Kev was never divorced from his first wife, Roxy Ball.

Hello, Nurse: Plays the part. Whether its when she's applying first aid or when dressed as one when working as a stripper at businessmen's parties.

The Lad-ette: Drinks like a fish, smokes like a chimney and swears like a sailor.

Mama Bear: Not an actual mother, but still...

The Medic: Only really worked as a cleaner at the hospital in one of her old jobs, but learnt some skills while on the job.

Put on a Bus: At the beginning of series 4.

Carol Fisher[]

Seasons 1-4

Bus Crash: In series 8, Carol was mentioned by her son Marty to have died after her last appearance in Chatsworth.

It's All About Me:

Parents as People:

Put on a Bus: Carol is mentioned to have left Chatsworth in series 5 after stealing two months takings from the till.

Really Gets Around: In her sixties, and she was still sleeping with guys 20-40 years younger than herself.

Shelia Jackson[]

Seasons 1-4

Beware the Nice Ones:

Cloudcuckoolander:

Dark and Troubled Past:

Parents as People:

Kash Karib[]

Seasons 1-4, 6

Asian Store Owner: Subverted. The store was actually Yvonne's from before their marriage.

Faking the Dead: Was compelled by Yvonne into doing this to escape creditors and to leave Chatsworth.

Straight Gay: To hide it from both his religious family and the rough estate of Chatsworth.

Whatever Happened to the Mouse?:

Yvonne Karib[]

Seasons 1-7

Badass: Unafraid of either thugs, or even armed soldiers.

The Beard: To Kash. She even stays with him after his affair with Ian comes out in order to have another child.

Berserk Button: Don't mess with her shop!

Tom O'Leary[]

Seasons 4-6

Casanova Wannabe: Toward Carrie Rogers.

Naive Newcomer: In his very first appearance on the estate.

Joe Pritchard[]

Seasons 6-7

Chessmaster:

Domestic Abuser: His relationship with Mandy Maguire.

Genre Savvy: Uses Karen's unspoken crush on him against her to prevent her from telling Jamie what he's doing to Mandy.

Manipulative Bastard:

Smug Snake:

Norma Starkey[]

Seasons 1-3, 4-6

Badass: Can hold her own in against men in a fight, and often puts Frank in his place.

Butch Lesbian:

Dark and Troubled Past:

Extreme Doormat: Becomes this after Monica, the love of her life, moves back to Chatsworth. It didn't get her anywhere.

Tomboy and Girly Girl: Tomboy to Monica's Girly Girl. Lampshaded once in series 4.

Stan Waterman[]

Seasons 1-7

Bald of Awesome:

Only Sane Man: Compared with his colleagues in the police force.

Nice Guy:

Reasonable Authority Figure:

Libby Croker[]

Seasons 7-8

Beware the Nice Ones:

Wide-Eyed Idealist:

Maxine Donnelly[]

Seasons 6-7

Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Never seen or mentioned again after her last appearance in series 7.

Freudian Excuse: Her disapproving dad, Cameron Donnelly.

Girl Next Door: Down-to-earth girl who Carl and later Ian fall for.

Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Meets the Gallaghers through Carl, but is actually more of one to Debbie. She comes to Debbie at a time in her life when she's deciding that she shouldn't be doing Frank and Monica's jobs as parents for them and should be out partying and enjoying herself. When Maxine arrives on the scene, Debbie begins shoplifting, drinking and pulling guys an almost daily activity.

"Well Done, Daughter" Girl: Implied.

Bruce Donnelly[]

Season 7

Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Like his sister. See above.

Straight Gay: Though, he's open about it.

Carrie Rogers[]

Seasons 4-6

Et Tu, Brute?: Before transferring to Norfolk, she betrays Tom O'Leary to her superiors for his hijinks as being the reason behind Stan Waterman's early retirement in series 6.

Knight Templar:

Manipulative Bitch:

Police Brutality: Her approach to law enforcement.

Craig Garland[]

Seasons 2-3

Bitch in Sheep's Clothing:

Deadpan Snarker:

It's All About Me.

Romantic False Lead:

Tall, Dark and Handsome:

Danny[]

Season 6

Woobie:

Jez[]

Seasons 1-4

Deadpan Snarker:

Seeta Desai[]

Season 8

Meena Karib[]

Seasons 4-7

Bratty Teenage Daughter: To Yvonne.

Really Gets Around:

Tony[]

Seasons 1-3

Affectionate Nickname: The Gallagher's give him the nickname 'helmet'.

Crazy Jealous Guy: Just can't handle Steve and Fiona's relationship.

Dogged Nice Guy: Loses his virginity to Fiona on a one night stand and takes it as a sign that they should be together, spending all of series 1 and 2 trying to awkwardly pursue her.

Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: His attempts at ruining Steve and Fiona's relationship and make her take notice of him instead sends Steve on the run and later drives her away from the estate permanently.

Sue Garland[]

Seasons 2-4

Faking the Dead: Apparently faked her death, and that of her children, after breaking up with Marty.

Manipulative Bitch:

Retail Therapy:


The American remake series[]

The Gallaghers[]

Frank Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

Fiona Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

  • Hot Mom: Granted that she isn't the mother of the Gallagher, but for the most part, she does keep them together like a real mother... and she's hot.
  • Only Sane Woman

Philip 'Lip' Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

Ian Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

Carl Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

Debbie Gallagher[]

Seasons 1

  • Wise Beyond Their Years: Her maturity and responsibility are a running gag. She even gets a stress rash at one point from running a daycare at the house. At one point in the first season she says to Carl, "You're 9, you need to start pulling your weight."

Liam Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

Peggy Gallagher[]

Season 2

Monica Gallagher[]

Seasons 1-

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