Shameless 'relevant' to economic crisis

Shameless star David Threlfall has admitted that the series is so popular because it is "relevant" to the current state of the country.

The actor, who plays Frank Gallagher on the Channel 4 show, claims that the British public can identify with the fictional Gallagher family.

"Frank's plight is very pertinent. The kind of schemes Frank gets up to can be found everywhere these days. He always manages to scrape by somehow or other," he told The Mirror.

"What could be more relevant in the current climate? Ironically the financial crisis means that people might stay in more to watch how Frank tries to get out of it."

Threlfall added that the current economic climate could make even more people identify with the show's lead character.

"In this downturn, as he always does, Frank sets himself up as the spokesman for the common man and takes on the mantle of what needs to be said."

The sixth series of Shameless, which premiered on Tuesday night, drew an audience of over 3 million, according to early figures.