The programme charts the lives of the dysfunctional Gallagher family, comprising the father, Frank Gallagher and his six children: Fiona Gallagher (absent since series 3), Lip Gallagher, Ian Gallagher, Carl Gallagher, Debbie Gallagher and Liam Gallagher. Other characters featured in earlier series included Fiona's boyfriend Steve, a middle-class car thief (absent since series 3); Kev Ball and Veronica Fisher (both absent as from series 4), the Gallagher's neighbours; Kash Karib, the owner of the local shop, and his wife Yvonne Karib; agoraphobia Sheila Gallagher (absent as from series 4) and her daughter Karen; the policemen Tony and Stan, along with various regular background characters. The cast was expanded for the series 2, with Carol and Marty Fisher, Veronica's mother and brother, becoming regular characters after guest roles in the first series.

The Gallagher family reside on the fictional Chatsworth Estate, a council estate in Stretford, Greater Manchester, although is actually filmed on location in Gorton, East Manchester. The scenes in the local pub, The Jockey, are filmed on a set in Salford (a city which makes up the western side of Greater Manchester), although the exterior shots are of a real pub named The Wellington which is located in West Gorton, on Gorton Lane. Also in close proximity are other landmarks including Yvonne's shop and the residential tower blocks.

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