Where is shameless filmed in manchester

Over the years, Shameless has employed thousands of people ranging from cast and crew, to chaperones, writers, set builders, painters and those involved in design, production, security and transport. In addition to the economic impact, Shameless has also been crucial to the careers of many British screen stars including: James McAvoy, Anne-Marie Duff and Maxine Peake, not to mention a talented team of now high profile writers and directors.

Their relationships with officials from local councils, Police, and Highways, along with their advice and local contacts made shooting in the North West a fantastic experience.

Large numbers of filming days generate millions of pounds of inward investment into the local economy. Created by award-winning writer Paul Abbott and starring David Threlfall at its heart playing the feckless anti-hero Frank Gallagher, the first four series of Shameless were shot on location in Gorton, Manchester with their then studio facility based at an empty warehouse in Salford.

For the start of series 5, the whole Chatsworth estate was recreated on the back lot of their new studio facility in Wythenshawe. It is a very close knit community on the set of Shameless with production and cast working so closely for so long. Lilian is a great character to play, because she is so naive.

You can go to any city in the country and find a dysfunctional family like the Gallaghers. The production offices will double up as the fictional Chatsworth estate's police station.

There were suggestions the move was prompted by incidents during filming - such as the notorious occasion on bonfire night when a firework was thrown extremely close to the cast members.

Paul Abbott, who created Shameless, said there would hopefully not be any dilution by increasing the number of episodes in the fifth series. He said he was really proud of the scripts, and it remained a fun and anarchic comedy. The imperative has to be that we make Shameless better and better," he said. In [programmes such as] Holby, The Bill and Casualty, stories are stretched out. You seem to be getting four hours of drama in 22 episodes. We can't afford to do that.

John Griffin, the series producer, said: "Primarily, the reason for the move was we are now going to be making 16 hours instead of eight. It is a lot more television and it is a more efficient way of making it in a controlled environment. It is not because of security, it is because it is a much more controlled environment and we don't have to take two dozen caravans with us to West Gorton. But our team of artists added yoghurt to the roofs, which encourages moss to grow, and they sprayed specks of brown paint over everything to age it.

Unfortunately, my car was parked too near and got covered in brown paint, but I was able to get rid of it. Grass seeds were planted between the cracks in the paving slabs and amid the cement in the brick walls to build up the weed count and make it look unkempt. Satellite dishes are attached to the sides of the houses and there is a vandalised phone box. In previous series, filming was regularly interrupted by police helicopters circling overhead.

Liza Marshall, Channel 4's commissioning editor for drama, described Shameless as "hugely important and anarchic.