While both shows follow the story of the dysfunctional Gallagher family, the Shameless US vs UK versions of the show had a lot of differences throughout their respective runs. Starting in 2004, the UK Shameless followed the lower-class Gallaghers led by their useless and troublesome patriarch, Frank. Years later, the US Shameless began with Oscar nominee William H. Macy stepping into the role of Frank with the series premiering on Showtime.

Both series had long and acclaimed runs with large ensembles and wild stories of the families' misadventures. However, viewers who have watched both series will know there were a lot of ways the two series were distinct. The remake was able to stand on its own while the original had aspects that could not be improved upon. From the character arcs to the key storylines to the tone of the series, the Shameless US and UK versions created two fascinating takes on the Gallagher family.

18 The US Shameless Had A Higher Budget And Production Value

The Larger US Market Allowed For A Bigger Scale

While neither series was a big blockbuster epic like some series on television now, the US Shameless benefited by airing on Showtime which offered a greater budget than the original series ever had. That means they could afford to elaborate on some of the aspects of the show, and create more of a spectacle. Of course, as is with American popular culture more than British, there are significantly different product placement and marketing involved that alter the financial situation.

Both shows have used an elaborate set to create the Gallagher households, but the US Shameless does feature a significant amount of on-location shooting. For example, Patsy's is a real business. The general quality of the cameras and equipment used is better in the US version too. Generally speaking, the US Shameless was also targeting much higher viewing figures than its UK counterpart, which was made as a quirky-yet-endearing drama trying to cultivate a smaller-yet-dedicated viewership.

17 The UK Shameless Is A More Dated Series

The Show Reflects A Very Specific Time Period

The UK version of Shameless began airing in the early 2000s while the US series didn’t begin its adaptation for another seven years. Though the two weren’t really that far apart in time, they have very different looks and feels, making the UK series feel dated when comparing the two.

Something as simple as the cell phone a character uses or the look of the bar makes the show feel as though it is in a much earlier era than its US adaptation. Part of that might be down to the US version not coming to an end until 2021, bringing it much closer to the modern day. It’s easier to see the current state of the world there than it is in a show that featured a family navigating unemployment and social dynamics in 2004.

16 The US Shameless Is Less Of A Dark Comedy

The Shows Prompt The Debate Of What Makes A Comedy

Today, there is a debate raging about whether or not a show like The Bear, which relies on high-anxiety scenes and dramatic flashbacks to tell its story, is truly a comedy. The same debate has been had about both versions of Shameless. In the UK, Shameless was often referenced as a sitcom, though it was labeled as a drama. In the US, when Shameless earned award show recognition, it was as a comedy, just like The Bear.

In the UK, Shameless was often referenced as a sitcom, though it was labeled as a drama. In the US, when Shameless earned award show recognition, it was as a comedy, just like The Bear.

Both versions of Shameless feature biting wit and funny mishaps, but they appear, at their hearts, to be dramatic tellings of the Gallaghers and the people around them. If anything, they would be considered dark comedies by their audiences. The US version of Shameless, however, is closer to dramatic territory and the UK version is closer to the comedic, with a slightly lighter tone than the US version despite the drama of the show’s storylines.

15 The Socioeconomic Status Of The Gallaghers Are Different

Both Gallagher Families Are Meant To Be Poor

In both versions of the show, the Gallagher family is clearly meant to be at the lowest end of the socioeconomic spectrum. How each series approaches that, however, is very different. In the UK’s original Shameless series, the family is ed by welfare from the government. They might have circumstances that set them back, but for the most part in the series, the Gallagher family lack ambition to get themselves out of their circumstances unless they are actively moving on and leaving the family behind.

This is not true in the US version of Shameless. There, the family doesn’t get any help, but instead has to claw their way into opportunities and jobs, only to struggle on a daily basis to pay any bills or have any semblance of comfort. Fiona in particular nearly burns herself out trying to her entire family however she can.

14 The US Shameless Is The Most Highly Acclaimed Version Of The Series

The US Series Was Nominated For 85 Awards During Its Run

While both versions of Shameless were well received by critics and their respective audiences, the US series has the distinction of receiving both more nominations and more awards when it comes to recognition within the television industry.

The US series was nominated for 85 awards over the course of its run, while the UK series was nominated for 48. Of course, the UK series does have the distinction of being nominated on a more international scale than the US version. While the US series saw its award nominations from the United States, the UK series saw nominations from the award circuit in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It also received an International Emmy nomination for Drama Series in 2004.

Interestingly, the UK version, despite often being viewed as funnier, sees its award nominations in drama categories, while the US version, often seen as the darker of the two shows, is nominated in the comedy categories.

Throughout the runs of the shows, the UK series ended up picking up 11 wins from those nominations, including a BAFTA for Best Drama in 2005. The US series, on the other hand, picked up 16 wins from those nominations, including three Screen Actors Guild Awards for William H. Macy.

13 The Acting Is Better In The US Shameless (But Shameless UK Has Its Highlights)

The US Shameless Earned Considerable Awards Attention

When it came to the role of Frank, David Threlfall received a lot of acclaim, but William H. Macy plays him with a significantly more villainous edge, earning six Emmy nominations in the role. While Frank might actually be more likable in the UK version of the show, Macy makes it impossible to look away from him.

Macy also starred as Dudley Frank in Wild Hogs (2007)

There are some other significant actors cast in the US version, including Emmy Rossum as Fiona, breakout star Jeremy Allen White, Cameron Monaghan as Ian, and Joan Cusack as recurring character Sheila Jackson who won an Emmy for her performance. However, the UK Shameless does have some stage merit as well. In the first season of the UK version, Steve is played by James McAvoy, who would go on to have a huge career in Hollywood with roles in the X-Men prequels and Split.

12 The UK Shameless Had Slightly More Longevity

Other Countries Have Also Done Their Own Remakes

Though many UK shows tend to go for shorter runs compared to their US remakes, such as with The Office, this is a rare example of a UK original having a higher episode count. The show ran from 2004 to 2013, producing 11 seasons and 139 episodes in total. Meanwhile, the US Shameless also ran for 11 seasons, running from 2011 to 2021. However, it only produced 134 episodes, just five shy of the UK Shameless.

To credit each version, both shows have received many awards and high viewership ratings. There have also been other international adaptations of the show based on the original UK series, including one in Turkey called Bizim Hikaye, one in Pakistan called Hamari Kahani, and a Russian version called Besstydniki.

11 The Neighbors Are Different (But Central In Both)

The UK Shameless Has Two Different Families As ing Characters

Kev and Vee exist in both versions, but leave the UK Shameless after the fourth season. At that time in that version, the Maguire family became more central characters. The US Shameless version of them, the Milkovich family, doesn’t exactly have the same type of dynamic, even though Ian and Mickey are romantically involved for some time. They remain side characters for the rest of the series, with little to no involvement in the most recent seasons (aside from Ian’s departing moments when he arrives in prison).

Kevin and Veronica in the US Shameless are much more prominent and helpful toward the Gallaghers, with Veronica being Fiona's best friend in both versions and Kev being more friendly with Frank in the UK Shameless. The couples in both versions do want children, with the UK Shameless couple trying to buy a Romanian orphan and getting busted for it. Their marriage in the UK Shameless seems a lot shakier, with Kev's ex-wife Roxy returning and wreaking havoc on their relationship.

10 There's Less Censorship And More Mature Content In Shameless UK

The Tone Of The Show Offers Different Context To The Subject Matter

Both versions of Shameless are known for their no-holds-barred take on the Gallaghers’ lives, including nudity, drug use, swearing, and more. However, the UK Shameless pushes the line just a little bit more toward mature content. For example, Ian’s sex scenes feel more censored in the US Shameless, but this isn’t entirely the show’s fault. The actor who plays Ian (Cameron Monaghan) in the US version was underage at the time they were filming some of these scenes.

But this isn’t entirely the show’s fault. The actor who plays Ian (Cameron Monaghan) in the US version was underage at the time they were filming some of these scenes.

There also seems to be much more full-frontal male nudity in the UK Shameless than there is in the US series. This is unsurprising though, given that British censors were notably laxer about nudity on the small screen than their US counterparts in the 2000s. The difference is also partly down to intent, with the UK version of Shameless deliberately going for shock factor much more often thanks to leaning more into the comedy side of dramedy than the Shameless US version.

9 The US And UK Shameless Have Different Romance Plots

Ian And Mickey's Relationship Is The Most Notable Change

A lot of the romantic relationships between the characters play out differently when looking at Shameless UK vs US. In the UK Shameless, Ian ends up marrying a woman after his affair with Mickey ends, while in the US Shameless Ian and Mickey get married in the season 10 finale. Another major difference is that Monica and Frank have a seventh child, Stella, in the UK Shameless. In the US series, Monica dies in season seven with just six children behind. After that, Frank goes through a slew of new romantic interests, all of which seem to die or leave.

All in all, since the relationships each character has in Shameless are tied into the plot by definition, this is perhaps the area with the most notable level of difference. By the end of the UK and US versions of Shameless, each had their own unique plot threads and narrative arcs, and both had exclusive characters that didn't appear in the other version. As such, there are many Shameless that don't happen anywhere in the UK version of the story, and vice versa.