shameless

Kelli Hollis, who played Yvonne Karib in the Channel 4 show, has opened up about her time on the iconic comedy drama and how she recently re-watched it for the first time in years

Two decades have passed since gritty comedy drama Shameless first graced our television screens – and one of the programme’s stars has recently revisited it for the first time in years.

The Channel 4 series ran for nearly ten years and was based on the fictional Chatsworth council estate in Manchester, where Frank Gallagher and his enormous family caused chaos at every turn.

Kelli Hollis, who also appeared in Emmerdale, memorably portrayed Yvonne Karib, a character who operated the neighbourhood shop and gave work to Frank’s son Ian, who subsequently began an affair with her spouse.

Speaking with the Manchester Evening News, Kelli, 49, revealed that she recently turned to Shameless for some evening viewing – and wasn’t let down.

“Shameless,” she remarked with affection. “I actually watched the first episode fully for the first time in years the other day. Everyone always asks me about Shameless and I watched the first episode which was interesting. You forget how good it is!”

Commending the programme created by Paul Abbott, she added: “When you say Shameless you think nudity, bad language, drugs and Frank Gallagher (played by David Threlfall) is the iconic character.

“But I think rewatching it, it is so beautiful when I think of some of the scenes. It is so well put together and it is actually a lot deeper than what people think. When you go back and watch it, you think, oh God yeah, it is actually really human in that respect.

“It is not just telling scandalous stories from a council estate. There is so much more to it so I really enjoyed watching it the other day.”

Shameless, now available on Netflix, aired its final episode in 2013 after an impressive run of 11 seasons and 139 episodes. Its popularity even sparked a US version – a successful series that ran from 2011 until 2021.

Despite the years, many fans still approach Kelli, a native of Beeston, Leeds, with questions about the show, and many recite memorable lines from Frank Gallagher, affectionately known as “Frankisms”.

One of his legendary quotes was: “People say the children are the future, teach them well and let them lead the way. But after you’ve had eight of your own, you realise that’s a load of ********. Darwin had the right idea; just leave the ****** to fend for themselves.”

Another gem included: “Son when you have them, little babies, you love them. Even if they’re real mingers. I mean when Ian was born he looked like David Gest.”

Kelli returned to the UK in November after spending over two years in Thailand. She reflected on Shameless following a powerful interview about her father, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

BBC’s powerful new drama Unforgivable has one renowned Shameless star among its leading star-studded cast but fans will simply not recognise him

Shameless actor David Threlfall couldn’t look further away from his former alter-ego Frank Gallagher even if he tried, in BBC‘s new drama feature, Unforgivable.

The dark story plot follows a harrowing tale that centres around child grooming and sexual abuse and shines a light on how a heinous crime can ripple through an entire family, with the Mitchells at the heart of the 90-minute long feature.

David, 71, who is best known for his alcoholic, chain-smoking days as Frank on the popular working-class comedy sitcom, has ditched his iconic long dark locks to star in the role of Anna Mitchell’s father.

Anna, is a mother of two children and her brother Joe is the perpetrator – who had been behind bars serving a two year prison sentence for his despicable crimes.

Joe is now to be released from jail and undertake rehabilitation which takes further toll on Anna, who is played by award-winning actress, Anna Friel, as she attempts to deal with the aftermath and emotional strain.

David plays the angry dad of Anna, after learning she’d been to visit her brother Joe, despite his chilling crimes. His character in Unforgivable appears to be worlds away from his former head-of-the-clan character Frank on Shameless.

In the brand new production, the esteemed actor is totally unrecognisable, boasting short gray hair and a neatly trimmed matching beard.

Another distinctive observation that’ll no doubt throw fans off of his Frank Gallagher scent, is that he is also presented as a well kept man, sporting a black tie and blazer with a crisp white shirt – nothing like his oversized green parka-style coat from a past on-screen life.

Previously, David’s appearance and accent have also proved to be a talking point among baffled fans with the actor bearing no real-life resemblance to his character at all.

He played Frank so well, that viewers were unable to get past that he may not be anything like him off-screen.

Shameless aired on Channel 4 for eleven series and 139 episodes from 2004 until 2013 and was adapted in the US, where it ran between 2011 and 2021.

Speaking about his pursuits away from television, David previously shared with the Mirror that he is a family man at heart, sharing two children with his accomplished actor wife, Brana Bajic.

Underscoring the disparity between himself and his fictional counterpart, he told the publication 2010: “I can’t imagine getting up in the morning and taking a drink. My body doesn’t take more than four pints. I was doing a scene yesterday where he was drinking cough medicine. He’s lost.”

Unforgivable will air on BBC Two at 9pm this Thursday and will be available on BBC iPlayer from the same day.