The BEST episodes written by Paul Abbott
#3 - Frank In The Frame
Shameless - Season 8 - Episode 18
There's uproar in The Jockey when Frank pockets Cynthia's scratch card. And when Cynthia is assaulted, Frank becomes the prime suspect. Carl kicks off against the accusers, but Kelly shows Carl CCTV footage of Frank near the crime scene. Frank remembers nothing but scratch marks on his chest tell a different story. While Frank hands himself in, a distressed Carl seeks to prove his dad's innocence and phones Kev Ball, who returns to the Chatsworth like a knight in shining armour. New video footage jogs Frank's memory, but puts him in a stickier situation. Can a deal be made with gangster Growbag Macready? Frank's fate rests in his hands. Meanwhile, Mickey moves into the Jockey after a disagreement with Mimi, and Marty's presence continues to cause trouble between Shane and Kelly.
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#4 - 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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#6 - The Wedding
Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 8
In preparation for her wedding to Frank, Sheila commissions the building of a conservatory in her back yard - but she suddenly remembers her first husband is buried under the patio. Veronica's last stab at IVF on the NHS fails, so she hatches a macabre plan to raise cash for private treatment.
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#7 - 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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#8 - Baby
Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 3
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 Mandy's parents allow the visit? And if not, just what will it take for Lip to prove himself to them...?
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#9 - Dead (Part 2 of 2)
Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 7
Monica and Norma are ruling the roost at the Gallagher household after Fiona moves in with Steve, but none of the Gallagher kids are happy by their mother's return. Frank is desperate to make contact with his estranged wife, but first, he must deal with his growing debts, two debt collectors watching his every move, the threat of homelessness for his entire family, and Monica's aggressive girlfriend, Norma. However, it's his new rival Norma who comes up with the perfect solution: fake his own death so his debts die with him, but Monica and Norma may have an ulterior motive for offering to help. Meanwhile, Sheila tries to overcome her agoraphobia with Debbie's help, whilst harbouring a life-changing secret, and it seems Steve's days as a free man are numbered when a jealous Tony discovers the source of his fortune.
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#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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#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 involves growing cannabis for the Maguires and the police are quick to bust him. Lip is jealous when Mandy gets a new boyfriend and he later discovers that she was the brains behind Carl's business.
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#12 - We're Going to The Moon
Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 2
After Karen's father Eddie attacks Frank in The Jockey, Frank returns home and attacks his son, Ian, and Fiona's boyfriend, Steve. Certain he's got a family he doesn't deserve, a vengeful Steve kidnaps a drunken Frank and dumps him in France without telling anyone. While Frank lands himself in trouble with the French authorities, a body is found in the canal at home, and everyone assumes it is Frank. Will the feckless patriarch ever make it home? And how will Fiona react when she discovers what Steve has done? Meanwhile, Karen's agoraphobic mother, Sheila Jackson (Maggie O'Neill), finds a new man, Kev (Dean Lennox Kelly) and Veronica Ball (Maxine Peake) fall out over money, and a local copper PC Tony (Anthony Flanagan) has fallen in love with Fiona.
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#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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#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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#15 - True Love
Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 10
Fiona's life is turned upside down when Steve returns to Chatsworth, on the run, to persuade her to flee to Amsterdam with him, but she is torn whether to leave her family and Chatsworth forever, not to mention the father of her baby, Craig. Meanwhile, when Lillian Tyler's (Alice Barry) husband, Brendan, is killed, Frank sees a way to make some money and also manages to win him and Sheila the trip of a lifetime. However, he is forced to look after Lillian's irritating dog, Sadie, who proves to be quite indestructible. Elsewhere, Carl makes a shocking confession during a Gallagher family bust-up: he killed Lillian's husband Brendan. Can the Gallaghers cover up Carl's shocking crime?
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#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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#17 - 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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#18 - 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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#19 - 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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#20 - Abduction
Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 4
Debbie Gallagher (Rebecca Ryan) takes a young child, Jody, from his birthday party and dresses him up as a girl. With Frank's assistance, the Chatsworth residents join forces en masse in order to find Jody. The Gallaghers are horrified by Debbie's actions and now face the impossible task of returning the child home without incriminating themselves. Meanwhile, Karen is on a mission to seduce her mother's boyfriend - who is also her boyfriend's father, whilst Veronica has got a new hairstyle.
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#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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#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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#24 - Monica Comes Home (Part 1 of 2)
Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 6
Bailiffs reclaim old debts from Frank, and, as usual, his children are forced to pay the price. If that isn't enough, Mr. Wilson (Clive Russell), a housing officer with a personal vendetta against Frank, is threatening to take the family home. Frank, however, is busy trying to get money out of his ex-wife, Monica Gallagher (Annabelle Apsion). With Kev's assistance, Frank manages to fool Monica, but he makes the mistake of letting her know he is after her. The pair are chased back to Chatsworth by Monica and her lesbian lover, Norma Starkey (Dystin Johnson), leading to a rollercoaster of emotions within the fractured family. Meanwhile, Tony's love for Fiona reaches new depths when he asks her to marry him.
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#25 - Act Your Age
Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 7
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 she's 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.
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#26 - Benefit Fraud
Shameless - Season 3 - Episode 4
When Carol discovers her best friend Lillian had an affair with her husband back in the seventies, she takes revenge by reporting her to the DSS for benefit fraud. Frank Gallagher, who has been posing as Lillian's dead husband and claiming his benefits, comes under suspicion.
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#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.
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#28 - Meet The Gallaghers
Shameless - Season 1 - Episode 1
When Fiona Gallagher's (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 Jackson's (Rebecca Atkinson) father, Eddie (Steve Pemberton), leaves home after catching her in a compromising position.
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#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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#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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#31 - Grandad
Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 1
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.
#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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#33 - Eric
Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 2
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.
#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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#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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#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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#37 - The Big Day
Shameless - Season 2 - Episode 4
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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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.