The BEST episodes written by Paul Abbott

True Romance (2)
star
9.39
27 votes

#1 - True Romance (2)

Cracker - Season 3 - Episode 7

Fitz is asking DCI Wise to replace him with Irene as the killer may stop killing if she realises she is not getting the shrink's undivided attention. Irene agrees to change, but finds the nature of the job, and the pictures of her dead students too much to stomach and goes missing.

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True Romance (1)
star
9.39
27 votes

#2 - True Romance (1)

Cracker - Season 3 - Episode 6

Fitz privately advises a patient who seems to be having problems with her husband. Fitz's advice, for which he charges her £50, leads her to conclude that she should leave him.

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Best Boys (1)
star
9.00
27 votes

#3 - Best Boys (1)

Cracker - Season 3 - Episode 4

Bill Nash smiles at Stuart Grady, and, in those few seconds, changes the course of their lives and inadvertently turns them both to murder. Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Judith finally rebels.

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Best Boys (2)
star
9.00
27 votes

#4 - Best Boys (2)

Cracker - Season 3 - Episode 5

Fitz is pitched against Grady and Nash, whose relationship is now spinning dangerously out of control.

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Frank in the Frame
star
8.58
72 votes

#5 - Frank in the Frame

Shameless - Season 8 - Episode 18

The landmark 100th episode. Micky gives Mimi an ultimatum: either the new boiler goes or he does. And there's uproar in The Jockey when Frank pockets Cynthia's scratch card.

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Episode 6
star
8.43
185 votes

#6 - Episode 6

State of Play - Season 1 - Episode 6

Cameron tells Yvonne Shaps that he has sacked Cal making him a freelance journalist and that Cal has the copyright to the story if she does not give them more money for the story Cal will go to another paper. Yvonne gives them the money. Foy gives them an e-mail linking Sonia with U-Ex Oil and Warner-Scloss. Stephen tells Cal he will resign from the Energy Select Committee and help get him a story that will link George Fergus to Sonia's murder. During an interview Collins talks about Sonia meeting Paul Canning from Warner-Scloss at the Trocadero everyday. Cal realises that this is information that Collins should not know and that there may now be a link to Stephen and Sonia's hitman.

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The Wedding
star
8.42
123 votes

#7 - The Wedding

Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 8

Frank and Sheila's wedding day looms, but there's a surprise in store for Frank when Sheila reveals what really happened to her ex-husband Sheldon.

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Baby
star
8.32
223 votes

#8 - Baby

Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 3

After being knocked to the ground during a purse robbery at the shop, a heavily pregnant Mandy Maguire gives birth to Lip's daughter. But the Maguires won't let him anywhere near them.

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Dead (2)
star
8.15
353 votes

#9 - Dead (2)

Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 7

Frank is only worrying about himself as usual, and things are not looking good. The housing office is on to him, his debts are piling up and the bailiffs are still on the doorstep.

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Episode 2
star
8.08
108 votes

#10 - Episode 2

State of Play - Season 1 - Episode 2

Spin-doctor Andrew Wilson has a letter which shows Stephen Collins was about to leave his wife Anne and move in with Sonia Baker - so Collins has been lying to Cal. The Collinses give a press conference, and Anne says she knew about Sonia. Cal's team wants to know who leaked their story to a rival paper. Journalist Dan leads them to Dominic Foy. Meanwhile, Stella's flat is raided by the man who shot at the courier who witnessed Stagg's murder. Then Anne and Cal begin an affair. The newspaper finally hands the stolen briefcase over to the police, but Cal refuses to say where he got it and is arrested.

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In with the Maguire's
star
8.07
231 votes

#11 - In with the Maguire's

Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 6

The Gallagher clan can't believe it when Carl starts to bring money into the household. But his mini-enterprise soon attracts the attention of the police.

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We're Going to the Moon
star
8.05
586 votes

#12 - We're Going to the Moon

Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 2

Frank is nowhere to be seen, which is a bit odd as it's giro day. The family panic when a body is found in the canal, but Frank turns up in Calais, with no passport and no clue how he got there.

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Episode 3
star
8.03
105 votes

#13 - Episode 3

State of Play - Season 1 - Episode 3

Cal is released on bail. In order to get a decoy for Della, Cal arranges to get a story to the press about his release. Cal has now become a target for the hit man and needs police protection. DCI Bell questions Stephen Collins and suggest that Sonia Baker was blackmailing him and had threatened to make their affair public knowledge. Both Bell and The Herald want to interview Dominic Foy, especially when they discover he has had a past relationship with Sonia Baker.

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Killing with Kindness (2)
star
7.98
53 votes

#14 - Killing with Kindness (2)

Touching Evil - Season 1 - Episode 4

Burgess confesses to the murders but it is only to protect Dr Walker, whom he believes is the real killer, and on release commits suicide. Creegan is convinced that all the victims were brought to the brink of death and then resuscitated to tell the perpetrator what life on the other side is like. Using his own near death experience he flushes out the murderer who threatens to kill more patients if Creegan fails to satisfy. He must prevent this from happening.

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True Love
star
7.98
203 votes

#15 - True Love

Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 10

It's the local elections, and Kash is running for Chatsworth's councillor, against dirty-dealing Bernie Creme. Meanwhile, Frank tries to persuade Lillian to cash in on her misfortune.

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Nana Gallagher Had an Affair
star
7.92
3799 votes

#16 - Nana Gallagher Had an Affair

Shameless (US) - Season 1 - Episode 10

The children's paternity is put into question and Frank needs Carl's help.

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Episode 5
star
7.90
159 votes

#17 - Episode 5

State of Play - Season 1 - Episode 5

Della manages to get Dominic Foy back into the hotel for another interview. Stephen Collins is listening to the interview next door and speaking through a concealed microphone tells Della what questions to ask. When he discovers that Sonia was pregnant and Foy adds that Collins didn't care about her he forces his way into Foy's room and phtsically attacks him. Foy is taken to hospital. Greer tells Cal that George Fergus convinced her to employ Sonia Baker, even though Sonia had less qualifications than the other applicants. Cameron now has a story, but is 'gagged' by U-Ex oil and Westminster, he prints this fact in short headlines. As a result The Herald brings in another editor to edit 'the headlines' . Cameron has a document witnessed by Della and tells Cal that the copyright to the final story will be his.

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Sleepwalking
star
7.90
2121 votes

#18 - Sleepwalking

Shameless (US) - Season 8 - Episode 12

Fiona taps into her roots to get the homeless family out of her apartment; Ian hides from the authorities; Lip makes a difficult decision; Carl wants to return to school; Frank wants to take advantage of Liam's friend.

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But at Last Came a Knock
star
7.90
3777 votes

#19 - But at Last Came a Knock

Shameless (US) - Season 1 - Episode 9

Monica comes back when Frank needs her to sign documents and decides to take Liam with her. Meanwhile, Steve and Fiona move together.

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Abduction
star
7.86
467 votes

#20 - Abduction

Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 4

When a small child goes missing from a children's party on the Chatsworth estate, Frank turns the crowd into a lynch mob.

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Pilot
star
7.83
5918 votes

#21 - Pilot

Shameless (US) - Season 1 - Episode 1

Drunken father Frank is of no use to his dysfunctional family; Fiona meets a handsome stranger when her purse is stolen; Lip is shocked to discover his brother Ian is gay and tries to hook him up with a willing neighbor.

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Dark Friends
star
7.82
259 votes

#22 - Dark Friends

Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 2

Lip finds a new friend when he starts as a porter at a hotel, but he turns out to be decidedly dodgy. Elsewhere, Kev's sister starts lodging at Sheila and Frank's.

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Episode 1
star
7.74
137 votes

#23 - Episode 1

State of Play - Season 1 - Episode 1

Teenager Kelvin Stagg is shot dead in a London street. Then politician Stephen Collins breaks down when he hears his assistant Sonia Baker has been killed by falling under a train. A newspaper editor asks his journalist Cal McCaffrey (Stephen's former campaign manager) to look for a connection between the two deaths, and McCaffrey finds the dead teenager had stolen a silver metallic briefcase. McCaffrey traces the briefcase and in it he finds pictures of Stephen and Sonia - and a gun.

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Monica Comes Home (1)
star
7.72
357 votes

#24 - Monica Comes Home (1)

Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 6

Frank stuns the family by turning up in the morning to get his post when it's not even Giro day. It soon transpires that he's hatching a plan to get his hands on maintenance from his ex-wife.

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Act Your Age
star
7.71
201 votes

#25 - Act Your Age

Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 7

When Debbie makes friends with a popular girl her own age, she realises what she's been missing out on and goes on strike. Meanwhile, Frank becomes a medical guinea pig.

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Benefit Fraud
star
7.70
202 votes

#26 - Benefit Fraud

Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 4

When Carol discovers that her best friend Lillian had an affair with her husband back in the seventies, she takes revenge by reporting Lillian to the DSS.

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Frank the Plank
star
7.69
4900 votes

#27 - Frank the Plank

Shameless (US) - Season 1 - Episode 2

Frank has a drunken run-in with Karen's father and takes it out on Ian. The family starts a manhunt when Frank is nowhere to be found on disability check day.

Meet the Gallaghers
star
7.58
1035 votes

#28 - Meet the Gallaghers

Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 1

Having her handbag stolen proves to be a blessing in disguise for Fiona when handsome stranger Steve comes to her rescue. Lip discovers Ian is gay and decides he should pay a visit to Karen Jackson.

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Episode 4
star
7.57
155 votes

#29 - Episode 4

State of Play - Season 1 - Episode 4

Foy is questioned by the news team at a hotel and his interview is recorded by Syd in the next room, who later discovers personally that Foy is gay. Cal declares his love for Anne. Cameron Foster persuades Stephen Collins not to tell the tabloid press about Anne and Cal's affair. Foy has been paid by Warner Schloss who are lobbyists for U-EX Oil. Was Sonia a spy for the company? Meanwhile Stephen discovers he has had a weekend away with Sonia for which their expenses were also paid by Warner- Schloss.

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Deadly Web (2)
star
7.55
51 votes

#30 - Deadly Web (2)

Touching Evil - Season 1 - Episode 6

When a local student is reported missing and is later found dead Creegan and the OSC's investigations lead them to a group of sixth-formers who are addicted to 'Amathus'. The pattern of the killings seems to echo the manner in which Justine Barber, a prostitute, killed seven pimps fifteen years earlier,for which she is now serving a life sentence. Creegan discovers that the 'Amathus' web-master Leonard Stoker, is obsessed with Justine and arranges for her to be released from prison to help him trap Stoker - though he also has to stop his colleague D.S. Kreitman from ...

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Grandad
star
7.28
284 votes

#31 - Grandad

Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 1

Frank's dad Neville turns up at Sheila's to see his new grandchildren, the latest additions to the Gallagher clan.

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Killing with Kindness (1)
star
7.23
57 votes

#32 - Killing with Kindness (1)

Touching Evil - Season 1 - Episode 3

Three patients in an Intensive Care Unit die after being injected with digoxin, a drug that had not been prescribed. Each had a faint tattoo on their arm reading 'Let Me Go', implying voluntary euthanasia was involved, though one of the tattoos actually read 'Let Me go Back.' The chief suspects are Dr Elizabeth Walker, an advocate of euthanasia and Carl Burgess, an obsessive ward orderly who behaves oddly.

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Eric
star
7.18
244 votes

#33 - Eric

Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 2

Everyone's partying round at Kev and Veronica's when Frank takes a call. Hours later, he remembers to mention that social services are on their way - and it's a mad dash to clean up.

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Murder in the Meat Factory
star
7.14
121 votes

#34 - Murder in the Meat Factory

Wolfe - Season 1 - Episode 1

Wolfe and his team are called to a meat processing plant where a worker has been ripped to pieces by one of the deboning machines. They uncover a web of connections that leave them questioning whether the incident was an accident at all.

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Through the Clouds (1)
star
6.86
81 votes

#35 - Through the Clouds (1)

Touching Evil - Season 1 - Episode 1

DI Dave Creegan is shot and, whilst unconscious, has a near-death experience that leaves him with the ability to sense criminals upon recovery. Joining the Organized and Serial Crime Unit with inspector Susan Taylor, Creegan learns from his friend Cyril, a self-proclaimed psychic, that two recently abducted boys have been murdered 'in the clouds'. In both cases, a daffodil has been left at the scene of the abduction, a fact reminiscent of similar crimes in Stuttgart some years earlier. A car at the last crime scene is traced to pharmaceutical chemist professor Ronald ...

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Through the Clouds (2)
star
6.77
65 votes

#36 - Through the Clouds (2)

Touching Evil - Season 1 - Episode 2

Although Hinks is released Creegan is convinced of his guilt and arranges another interview wherein he gives Hinks a nose-bleed. He uses the tissue that was used to clean up the blood and shows it to Hinks' dog, who then leads him to an abandoned building and the three boys abducted by Hinks. Creegan goes to Hinks' house to kill him but on arrival gets a surprise.

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The Big Day
star
6.68
188 votes

#37 - The Big Day

Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 4

Wedding preparations are well under way in the Gallagher house for the impending nuptials of Fiona and Steve. But when Steve's car goes missing, he's desperate to get it back.

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14 February 1990
star
0.00
0 votes

#38 - 14 February 1990

Coronation Street - Season 31 - Episode 20

Mavis receives a Valentine's card. Mavis is shocked when Derek tells here he didn't send the card. Victor is embarrassed to discover Derek knows he sent the card to Mavis. Mike advertises for workers, he takes Josie on, but Gail is annoyed by the way Mike has taken over the café flat. Des and Steph go on their honeymoon to Majorca. Martin get a job as a porter in Weatherfield General and Felicity Khan tells Rita she is worried about Jenny's state of mind.

16 May 1990
star
0.00
0 votes

#39 - 16 May 1990

Coronation Street - Season 31 - Episode 59

Deirdre tells Tracy, Ken will not be coming back. She receives a letter from an Estate Agent asking her to sell No1. Liz lets Jack sit on the bike. To get the bike out of his system, jack is allowed to ride the bike. Vera insists on joining him. The police stop them for doing 40mph down a one way street and the bike is not takes, insured or has any number plates. Jenny rows with Flick about keeping the house tidy and Martin thinks Gail should marry him. Nigel tells the Gilroy's the refurbishment's are to start next week.

10 December 1990
star
0.00
0 votes

#40 - 10 December 1990

Coronation Street - Season 31 - Episode 147

Des spends the night on the Webster's sofa, to teach Steph a lesson. Steph refuses to give up the job so Des packs and leaves for the night. Mike worries about what Ivy will say to the workers. Ivy assures Mike she won't tell anyone. However, Mike is embarrassed when Jackie mentions their affair in front of his secretary Amanda. Jackie tells Mike she's not going to share him with Alma, but he tells her he runs his own life. Don pays Marie's gas bill whenthe board tries to cut her off. Marie tells Don she will sleep with him if hewants, but he tells her he doesn't want anything from her.

19 December 1990
star
0.00
0 votes

#41 - 19 December 1990

Coronation Street - Season 31 - Episode 151

Victor considers closing the Weatherfield branch, he blamed Derek for not making enough profit. Derek swears to bring in new custom. Gail rows with Sally about Kevin inciting Martin to drink, but when it comes to making amends, Sally refuses. Kevin and Martin get Sally and Gail together. They make up but Kevin is annoyed when Sally calls him bossy. Jackie breaks down and accuses Mike of only sleeping with her to gain control of the factory. Jackie plans to offer Mike money to leave the factory. Mike and Jackie declare their love for each other. Mike tells her he'll sort Alma out before Christmas. Curly is horrified that the Taylor's have written to his parents thanking them for having Kimberley for Christmas and Alec forces Jack to work Liz's Christmas shift.

4 February 1991
star
0.00
0 votes

#42 - 4 February 1991

Coronation Street - Season 32 - Episode 15

The employees react to the news that Curly is in charge. Curly refuse Kim's transfer. He tells her she can resign if she wants a change that much. Raquel makes it clear she's interested in Curly. Brendan talks to Vera about Rita's connection in the fix. Brendan interviews Rita about the trolley race and she refuses to talk to him. Alma calling herself Mrs Halliwell makes arrangements to view Jackie's house. Alma tortures herself by looking round the house. Later Jackie discovers that the duvet has been cut and slashed.

27 February 1991
star
0.00
0 votes

#43 - 27 February 1991

Coronation Street - Season 32 - Episode 25

It's grand-opening day for the charity shop, and Percy is industriously offending everybody in sight. Phil and Alec have rather different concepts of the proposed club, and Bet doesn't like the idea at all - until Phil tells her she'd be the star attraction and nominal owner! Robert tells Jenny he's going to leave his wife. Rita gets the idea Robert is planning to move in with Jenny and, as Jenny's landlady, puts her foot down. Jenny responds in kind. Jack asks Betty to stop by and talk to Vera, who is very depressed, but when she arrives Vera seems quite cheerful. Then Joss walks in the back door.

5 June 1991
star
0.00
0 votes

#44 - 5 June 1991

Coronation Street - Season 32 - Episode 67

Gail is furious that Audrey wants to sack Ivy and the Duckworth's spend a fortune on wallpaper. Steve discovers people are laughing about his infatuation with Steph. Liz tries to comfort Steve but he is deeply hurt that Steph doesn't like him. Steph tries to tell Steve she wants to be his friend, but the refuses to admit he fancied her, and returns the scarf. Alf is furious to discover Audrey has been shopping at Bettabuy and tells her that is she won't work,he won't give her anymore money. Des is annoyed when Kevin tells him his new boat motor is rubbish. Meanwhile Mike and Jackie view a house and decide to buy it.

4th March 1994
star
0.00
0 votes

#45 - 4th March 1994

Coronation Street - Season 35 - Episode 27

Vera is embarressed to find that Raquel has moved in with Des after making remarks to him about her past lovers. Steve is horrified when Mike gives him a £1,200 rates bill, telling him that under their contract he is responsible for payment. Tanya tells Alex that their relationship is no longer special and he's beginning to treat her like he does his wife. Emily and Bernard book their holiday with adjoining rooms. Vera blames Ivy for her not getting the job at Bettabuy but Ivy tells her it was her own fault. Liz tells Mike that he's pathetic for trying to ruin Steve. Maureen can't find Maud anywhere and grows frantic. Des and Raquel agree to wipe the slate clean and forget the past. Maureen is furious to find Maud drinking in the Rovers, having spent the day with Martin and Percy in Blackpool. Des and Raquel throw a party to cement their relationship and Curly and Des make up their differences. Jim warns Mike that he won't stand by and see Steve being pushed around. Sally spreads the gossip that Emily and Bernard are going away on a dirty weekend together. Tanya is pleased when Alex cancels an overnight meeting to be with her.