David Threlfall: Frank Gallagher was a great mess

David Threlfall, 59, played 21st-century TV icon Frank Gallagher in Shameless. Now his career is a mixture of sleuthing, submarines - and a fez...

It felt like a breath of fresh air when it burst onto our screens in 2004, but as it girds its loins for a final hurrah, the rambunctious drama feels as stale as Frank Gallagher's rasping breath after a heavy night.

Any warmth for the characters departed long ago and we're just left with a queasy mix of filthy laughs and stabs at poignancy. There's both in the storyline of Jamie Maguire (Aaron McCusker) discovering that Paddy wasn't his father.

The details of the revelation aren't suitable for the pages of Radio Times, but as Jamie struggles with identity issues, he becomes a fixed point amid the usual screaming vortex of lusty abandon.

Shameless Frank's Gallagher a big fan of Queen

Shameless scrounger Frank Gallagher will kick off the Channel 4 show's final series by comparing himself to the Queen.

Frank Gallagher finally gets a job in new Shameless

Shameless character Frank Gallagher is breaking the habit of nine series - by getting a job.

Frank Gallagher's CV

Workshy layabout Frank Gallagher will stun viewers of the new series of hit drama Shameless... by finally getting a job. Programme-makers have released a copy of his CV as a teaser for the 10th series.

Frank Gallagher's drinking with a turtle

Shameless character Frank Gallagher has a pint-sized new drinking buddy - Terry the terrapin.

Frank Gallagher's homeless New Year

It's going to be a homeless and Shameless New Year for Frank Gallagher and the residents of the Chatsworth estate...

Shameless: Why Frank Gallagher must die

It's time to drop the axe on the dumb, selfish Frank - a walking punchline that stopped being funny long ago.

We still love Frank Gallagher

David Threlfall plays alcoholic Frank as well as being an executive producer and directing a number of episodes. Sipping chicken soup in his lunch break on set, he agrees that Shameless is very much a series for our recession-hit times.