The WORST episodes of Shameless

Every episode of Shameless ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Shameless!

The lives and relationships of a group of siblings and their estranged father Frank Gallagher on a rough Manchester estate.

Last Updated: 3/15/2024Network: Channel 4Status: Ended
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The Big Day
star
6.68
187 votes

#1 - The Big Day

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/25/2005

Preparations for Fiona and Steve's wedding are underway in the Gallagher household. In the days leading up to the wedding, Steve falls in with a group of ruthless criminals, convinced that this job will set him and the rest of the Gallaghers up for life. Things turn nasty when a vengeful Tony begins operating against Steve, and a deadly showdown at a warehouse sparks off a chain of events that changes life for the Gallaghers forever. Meanwhile, Ian recruits Mandy to be his "fake girlfriend" after Frank nearly rumbles his big secret. Carol goes on a cruise, leaving Marty in charge of her beloved dog.

Directors: Dearbhla Walsh
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:Apple TV
Maguire Meltdown
star
6.92
145 votes

#2 - Maguire Meltdown

Season 8 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/8/2011

After sleepless nights with Cilla, Mimi is starting to feel bad and believes that she is going mad, as one of her relatives did, and that the house is haunted. Finally she believes that Kelly and Shane are trying to kill her and locks them out of the house though she recovers after seeing a vision of Mandy, who tells her what to do. Kelly is suspicious of the power new girl Bonnie exerts over Lillian in the brothel, and Avril and Jackson's continuing efforts to spice up their sex life leads daughter Letitia to believe that her father is having an affair.

Directors: Andy McDonnell
Watch Now:Apple TV
The P Factor
star
7.14
77 votes

#3 - The P Factor

Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/7/2013

Patreesha thinks she is the latest British music export to the States when her new jazz musician boyfriend Louis promises her a lucrative singing career across the pond. But when Louis is outed as a con-man and Patreesha's dreams become nightmares, Avril goes to extreme lengths to help get her sister out of the trouble she has put herself in. Meanwhile, a misunderstanding with Mimi leads to Frank becoming an outcast amogst the Chatsworth community.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Wedding of Disaster
star
7.17
179 votes

#4 - Wedding of Disaster

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/14/2011

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 Frank's 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...

Directors: Lawrence Till
Writer: Ed McCardie
Watch Now:Apple TV
Eric
star
7.18
242 votes

#5 - Eric

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/11/2005

Frank takes a call at Kev and Veronica's house during their anniversary party, but only much later does he pass on the message: Social Services are coming tomorrow to discuss fostering. Kev and Veronica are shocked when they receive a child, Eric, for a trial week of foster care. Kev discovers Eric is being bullied by girls and, with Frank's assistance, he accidentally makes the situation a lot worse. Desperate to be a "good dad", Kev toughens Eric up with a series of boxing lessons - an act he may live to regret. Meanwhile, Steve makes the mistake of stealing the car of a police inspector, and it falls on Tony to get him out of trouble. Carol's latest romance with a Spanish toyboy leaves Marty on the warpath, leaving Fiona fearful that he will return to his old ways and endanger all their lives.

Directors: David Evans
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:Apple TV
Secret Relations
star
7.20
138 votes

#6 - Secret Relations

Season 7 - Episode 14 - Aired 4/20/2010

After months of separation Patrick and Mimi amicably agree to a quickie divorce, but they get a nasty shock when it's revealed their marriage was never legal. Mimi flies into accusations and recriminations holding Patrick to blame. She then hatches a plan to secretly marry and divorce legitimately in order to save the souls of their children who were born out of wedlock.

Risky Business
star
7.20
83 votes

#7 - Risky Business

Season 11 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/26/2013

Chesney's having a rough day at work. His chillers have broken, but on the hunt for replacements he meets Remona, a feisty Muslim pharmacist. Within no time he decides to refit Chesco, add a chemist and give Remona the job of running it. But has he acted too rashly? When Avril loses her job, Patreesha insists that she goes to work at the car wash she owns with her husband, Bernard. But Patreesha is in for a shock when she investigates their business further. Elsewhere, Kassi, Shane and Jamie are suited and booted for a big night on the town, but things don't go according to plan.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Liamday
star
7.22
232 votes

#8 - Liamday

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/2006

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 Debbie's better ideas. In fact, by the time the rest of the Gallagher clan realise what's going on and try to set the record straight, the news has leaked out into the wider community and Debbie's lie lands the family in true Gallagher-style catastrophe. Could things get any worse for Debbie?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Sister, Sister
star
7.23
207 votes

#9 - Sister, Sister

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/1/2005

Kev's sister, Kelly (Sally Carman), arrives in Chatsworth on the run from her ex-boyfriend, an aggressive junkie. She is desperate to retrieve her things from his flat, so Kev and Frank decide to step in and help her. However, Veronica soon discovers everything is not what it seems - and Kelly may be hiding a dark addiction herself. Meanwhile, Fiona is suffering from morning sickness, so Craig is planning a surprise trip to Wales to relax. Craig's wife, Sue (Gillian Kearney), is jealous of his new relationship and seeks solace in Marty. But when Sue breaks up with Marty, it leads him on a downward spiral which threatens to land him back in prison, forcing Debbie to take drastic actions. Elsewhere, tragedy strikes for Craig when he discovers his father has died.

Directors: Dearbhla Walsh
Watch Now:Apple TV
Money In Mind
star
7.23
81 votes

#10 - Money In Mind

Season 11 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/12/2013

Kelly agrees to help save Lillian's savings from police survelliance. But when she discovers how much Lillian has, she is forced to decide what she values more: Money or Lillian's friendship? Meanwhile, Banbury is forced to ask Mimi for help when a problem occurs at the school. Elsewhere, Patreesha plans a housewarming party for Avril which suffers problems surrounding the theme.

Directors: Daikin Marsh
Watch Now:Apple TV
From Chatsworth To Cuba
star
7.28
207 votes

#11 - From Chatsworth To Cuba

Season 7 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/23/2010

Paddy's plans to salsa into the sunset with his new love D'een are scuppered when Mimi forces him to guarantee the financial security of the family with one last job - targeting the drug money of notorious psychopath Roscoe. Torn between a new life with D'reen and his family responsibilities, Patrick calls upon his sons for help. Meanwhile, Liam is suffocating under an avalanche of household debts and the fallout from trying to gamble his way out of trouble. Looked upon as a massive disappointment by Frank, and with no options left, he is driven to desperate measures. And Jamie is literally flat-out trying to keep his family afloat while Karen is coming apart at the seams.

Watch Now:Apple TV
No-One's Perfect
star
7.28
82 votes

#12 - No-One's Perfect

Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/19/2013

Jamie's illusion of his brother's perfect life is shattered when the police raid Kassi's home and haul him to the station. Kassi won't tell Jamie what's 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. Shane is treading a fine line - what will the Maguires say when they find out?

Watch Now:Apple TV
Together In Heaven
star
7.28
142 votes

#13 - Together In Heaven

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/1/2011

Mickey and Shane think of a way to make some extra money. Their final idea was to make a child pornography site which contained no nude images and took the credit card details of those who subscribed. Their view on the matter was that they were doing a good thing by using the website as a deterant, however the police didn't see it that way.

Directors: Paul Walker
Writer: Phil Charles
Watch Now:Apple TV
Loving Wife
star
7.28
120 votes

#14 - Loving Wife

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/17/2009

Monica feels unwanted when Frank rejects her advances, and attends a hypnotist's show at the Jockey in the hope of regaining her sex appeal. Carl's new job leads to an intimate encounter, but after discovering he has an STI, he sets out to track down all his previous partners. Meanwhile, Paddy sets out to catch the people who desecrated Fergal's grave and Mickey's love life hits a stumbling block

Watch Now:Apple TV
Grandad
star
7.29
282 votes

#15 - Grandad

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/4/2005

Neville Gallagher (John Woodvine), Frank's estranged father, arrives in Chatsworth to meet his new grandchildren. While the rest of the family welcome him with open arms, Frank finds his world turned upside down, as he is forced to relive painful memories from his childhood. Meanwhile, Karen returns to Chatsworth and gets herself a job at The Jockey and soon instigates a feud with Veronica by getting too close to Kev. Elsewhere, the Gallagher house has been split in two, with Fiona and Steve having bought the house next door.

Directors: David Evans
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:Apple TV
One Year On
star
7.30
81 votes

#16 - One Year On

Season 10 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/1/2012

It's a big day for Mimi Maguire - it's her first wedding anniversary to Billy and they're 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.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang
star
7.30
73 votes

#17 - Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang

Season 11 - Episode 13 - Aired 5/21/2013

Things are looking up for Frank: Derilee has left her husband and joined him at the Gallaghers, becoming a surrogate mum for Stella and his job is going well. However, things are set to change forever when a gunman runs riot on the estate - It's Derilee's husband Baxter and his target is Frank. As police swarm the estate, Frank, Derilee and Stella are held hostage, and if that wasn't enough for the feckless Gallagher to handle: ex-wife Monica is back! Meanwhile, Lillian has a new boyfriend, whilst Mimi's fued with the Blanco family reaches a climax.

The Golden Empire
star
7.30
86 votes

#18 - The Golden Empire

Season 11 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/26/2013

It's a grand occasion as the residents of Chatsworth celebrate being awarded an Olympic ring from London 2012. The Maguires toast the expansion of their empire: Mimi's hijacked control of the local school via the PTA and Shane's setting up a new business venture. Business is booming, but the family is thrown into turmoil when Jamie makes a shocking discovery about his family tree and withdraws from the firm. Can Mimi persuade Jamie to return as head of the family before all is lost or will a shocking secret tear Chatsworth's leading family apart? Meanwhile, Frank finds himself climbing the employment ladder as janitor of 'St Mimi's School', conveniently funding his new leisure activity - the Gastric Bandits, a prostitute double act with Sherrilee and Derrilee, who light up his life.

Directors: Paul Walker
Watch Now:Apple TV
Against The Odds
star
7.31
268 votes

#19 - Against The Odds

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/22/2005

After being hit in the mouth by Kash's shop door, Frank falls foul of two shifty accident claims salesmen, who persuade him to sue the Karibs. Kash and Yvonne cannot afford to pay out Frank's claims and are forced to close the shop, which enrages the Chatsworth community, who turn against Frank and Sheila. But Frank soon discovers saving the shop and the community will lead him into further trouble. Meanwhile, Fiona discovers she is pregnant, and with money at an all-time low at the Gallaghers, Fiona wonders whether she should keep it. Faced with a huge decision, Fiona tracks down Craig Garland (Chris Coghill), the father, only to discover that he is married.

Directors: David Evans
Writer: John Griffin
Watch Now:Apple TV
Great Rivalry
star
7.32
82 votes

#20 - Great Rivalry

Season 10 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/31/2012

When a new gang hit Chatsworth, The Maguires fear for their future on the estate, and it falls on Jamie to protect his family from their new enemies. however, one of the Maguires closest friends is giving the gang inside infomation. But who? Meanwhile, Frank and Dom clash over the number of conquests they've made on the estate.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Death and Erasures
star
7.34
82 votes

#21 - Death and Erasures

Season 11 - Episode 6 - Aired 4/2/2013

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 isn't bad. Elsewhere, Dom is convinced he is guilty of murder. But whose murder?

Directors: Gordon Anderson
Writer: Jack Lothian
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sibling Rivalry
star
7.35
144 votes

#22 - Sibling Rivalry

Season 8 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/1/2011

Mimi's transsexual sister turns up, but isn't all she appears to be. The Maguires are still at each others throats, and Chesney is in danger as he and Jackson join the British Alliance Party, and manage to rub them up the wrong way.

Directors: Paul Walker
Watch Now:Apple TV
Takeover
star
7.36
141 votes

#23 - Takeover

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/22/2011

Libby gets her mother a nurse to look after her when she's at work, all doesn't go to plan when Libby's 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.

Directors: Lawrence Till
Writer: Ian Kershaw
Watch Now:Apple TV
Grandaddy Gallagher
star
7.36
80 votes

#24 - Grandaddy Gallagher

Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/16/2013

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 doesn't want Katie to be associated with his alcoholic father or Chatsworth.

Directors: David Threlfall
Watch Now:Apple TV
Domesticated Specialist
star
7.40
78 votes

#25 - Domesticated Specialist

Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/23/2013

A robbery at Chesney's shop reunites Remona with her estranged father, Barry. But she is not willing to rekindle their relationship. However, Chesney begins warming to her father and plots to reunite them. Meanwhile, Frank thinks he's hit the jackpot when he finds a stash of drugs at Esther's. Elsewhere, Shane is pushed to breaking point as Randall becomes obsessed with him.

Watch Now:Apple TV