Filming begins on next 'Shameless'

Several new cast members have been announced for Shameless as filming on the new series gets underway in Machester.

The fourth series - airing on Channel 4 from January - will begin with the introduction of two new coppers: the "witty, smart and sexy" Carrie (Amanda Ryan) and "fresh-faced" colleague Tom (Michael Legge).

Returning cast members include David Threlfall as Frank, Annabelle Apsion as Monica, Dystin Johnson as Norma, Maggie O’Neill as Sheila, Jody Latham as Lip, Gerard Kearns as Ian, Elliott Tittensor as Carl, Rebecca Ryan as Debbie, Marjorie Yates as Carol and Chris Bisson as Cash.

"As a returning series grows so does the challenge to expand stories and develop new characters," said Francis Hopkinson, senior commissioning editor for drama at C4. "And thanks to the exceptional writing skills of Paul Abbott and his team, this series will see new faces on the estate as well as all the usual outrageous behaviour from the Gallaghers."