Showtime renews Shameless for 10th season with former cast-member returning

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

I'm several seasons behind on Shameless, Showtime's long-running drama/comedy series, and it seems as though I'll have even more to catch up on should I choose to return in future. During the Television Critics Association winter press-tour, Showtime announced that they would be renewing Shameless for a 10th season, officially making it the longest-running Showtime series ever.

"The Gallaghers are a force of nature, and they are coming back," said Gary Levine, president of entertainment for Showtime Networks. "Shameless with its ever-growing fan base, is like no other show on television. We are thrilled it will live on with its unique blend of love and larceny on Showtime." Not only will the series be returning for a 10th season, but it will also be bringing a former cast-member back into the fold. Cameron Monaghan played Ian Gallagher since the very beginning of Shameless, but last October he announced that he would be leaving the series behind in an Instagram post.

I have been a series regular on this show for roughly ten years. I was the tender age of fifteen when we shot the pilot, and I came of age in so many ways, both legally and personally. I was very lucky to mature and grow with this show. Experiencing so many firsts, maturing as an actor, a professional, and a human. In the process gaining friends, family, and the best coworkers a very lucky actor could ask for, and for this I can be nothing but gracious. All good things come to an end. An old cliche, but one that rings true with a sincerity and clarity especially in moments like these. Everything ends.

Monaghan ended his post by saying, "Goodbye, Ian Clayton Gallagher. We’ll meet again?" It seems that we'll be saying hello again a little sooner than anticipated. The last we saw of Ian, he had been sentenced to several years in prison, but it wasn't all bad as he was able to reunite with his lost love, Mickey (Noel Fisher). In addition to Cameron Monaghan, the tenth season will include William H. Macy, Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkosky, Emma Kenney, and Christian Isaiah. As we know, Emmy Rossum is set to exit the series at the end of the current season. Production on the 10th season will begin later this year. As for whether it will be the final season, CBS' chief creative officer David Nevins said "we have not decided that yet."