(2004 – 2009, UK)

Creator: Paul Abbott
Cast: David Threlfall, Gerard Kearns, Elliot Tittensor, Rebecca Ryan, Samantha Siddall, Jody Latham, Rebecca Ryan

6 Seasons (66 Episodes)

The comedy-drama Shameless provides a compelling look into the underbelly of British society. The central family, the Gallaghers, live in Chatworth Estate, Manchester. One of these British slumps where nobody has money, petty criminal enterprises are standard practice and the quality of life is mainly the result of partying, drugs and family bonding.

The show was created and, at least initially, mainly written by Paul Abbott, who is also the series’ Executive Producer. Much of the show is based on Abbott’s own experiences growing up in a similar situation to the Gallaghers in Burnley.

Family patriarch Frank Gallagher is a professional drinker and e-popper, who spends all of his days in local pub ‘The Jockey’. Despite his overall unconscious state, he frequently shares his philosophical outlook on life with the viewer. ‘Make poverty history, cheaper drugs now’, is one of his typical statements.

Frank’s kids (six in total) are used to living on a shoestring budget, as they grow up in this no future environment. This situation has shaped them into very effective problem solvers. This combined with their greatest virtue, their warm loyalty towards each other, helps them to cope with the everyday challenges, often involving the authorities, that they have to face.

The humor in Shameless is very well done, provided you don’t mind crudeness and profanity. Also the drama touches the viewer in the heart. This is mainly due to the strong cast. Some situations may feel unbelievable, but the characters never do. Their strong bonding, opposed to the more distant relations in the higher classes of society, even makes it tempting to join the this ‘unlucky’ bunch at times.

The first three seasons are just great. After that, the series loses quite a few important characters that are replaced by the Maguires, a family of lowlifes. This harms the series in a major way. The acting capabilities of the actors portraying the Maguires are very limited, making their far fetched story-lines hard to swallow. Luckily David Threlfall’s memorable performance as Frank saves the series from sinking to mediocrity.

(1997 – 2003, UK)

Creator: Mike Bullen
Cast: James Nesbitt, Helen Baxendale, Robert Bathurst, Hermione Norris, John Thomson, Fay Ripley, Jacey Sallés, Kimberley Joseph

5 Seasons (35 Episodes)

The British comedy-drama Cold Feet follows the lives and times of three young couples in Manchester. Both their ages and the times they live in, make it hard for them to commit to any one person. Adam (James Nesbitt) is the typical bachelor who just can’t stick in a relationship. Until he meets the attractive Rachel that is. They start a relationship in the pilot which will prove a challenging enterprise in the five seasons that follow.

Adam’s best friend Pete is married to the inglamorous Jenny. They are past the early ‘in love’ stage and face another challenge: their first child. Through Pete and Jenny, Adam and Rachel meet another young couple, the more upper-class David and Karen Marsden. The three couples deal with all the typical relationship problems; cheating, cold feet, honesty, commitment and sometimes separation. The themes are treated in a light and comical way, but a little drama is thrown in as well. Especially in the later seasons.

What is impressive about the series is that the writers work around the same subjects, but no episode ever feels repetitive. Every minute of Cold Feet feels fresh and inspired. They do an equally outstanding job in developing the very recognizable characters. Who doesn’t know an Adam? Always funny and charming, but in a relationship constantly on the brink of either cheating or running off. Or a Rachel: pretty and a tad demanding, but irresistible for Adam beyond any doubt. In fact all three couples are perfectly cast, forming matches that feel absolutely natural.

As the series progresses the characters go through thick and thin together and for the viewer it will become harder and harder to say goodbye to them. Only towards the end of the series, the writers slip up a bit. A dramatic event occurs which, although it’s part of life, changes the tone of the series and makes it a bit more soapy. Nevertheless, this is a magnificent feel-good series that you are likely to get hooked on after viewing the amazing pilot episode.

The acting deserves mention as well. Especially Nesbitt and Norris stand out. Nesbitt is the biggest provider of laughs through marvelous comic timing, while Norris gives the most balanced performance showing a wide spectrum of emotions throughout the course of the series. Neither actors won awards for their roles, but the series did win a number of awards for writing and best TV comedy. Cold Feet is great because it perfectly captures the spirit of the nineties and one of the major problems of that age: sticking in relationships.