10 US Remakes Of British TV Shows Which Were Actually Pretty Good

At first glance, an American remake of Shameless seems like an exercise in futility. The setting of the original, a Manchester council estate, is very specific and highly British, and while the show indulged in wildness and wackiness, at its core was an attempt at serious class commentary - to lose that would be a major disservice to the original.

The US Shameless ensured it maintained the same focus on those often underrepresented on TV, or whose socio-economic situation can be used as a figure of fun. Frank Gallagher here is no less of a tragic figure, even if the American version is somewhat brighter and peppier. His substance issues, and his disconnect from his family, are dealt with seriously from the off.

It also boasts a top class cast, with the always great William H Macy in the lead role. Its secret weapon is Emmy Rossum, consistently award-worthy as put-upon daughter Fiona. The dramedy is a well worn genre by this point, but few shows have combined real laughs with serious commentary like Shameless.