Channel 4's Shameless to end in 2013

Channel 4 has announced award-winning drama Shameless is to end following its 11th series in 2013.

Creator Paul Abbott said: "Its 10th anniversary seems a fitting time to shut the book on Shameless. We've had an absolute ball making this stuff up for a living. We've given back in spades and got away with absolute murder, on behalf of such a fantastically outspoken audience."

Shameless, which began in 2004, charts the lives of feckless anti-hero Frank Gallagher (David Threlfall) and all the colourful characters living on the Chatsworth Estate.

Over the years, it has been key to the careers of many British screen stars including James McAvoy, Anne-Marie Duff and Maxine Peake.

The news that Shameless has come to the end of the line won't come as too much of a surprise as cast changes and lower ratings have impacted on the last few series.

Some on Twitter insisted this decision should've been taken a while ago.

@LukeCustardtv said: "Loved the first 4 series but gave up after all the main characters left. Should've ended 3 years ago."

@TheTellyRocket tweeted: "Shameless is to end. Paul Abbott has "called time" on it. Just announced. Well played #shameless."

Shameless attracted over 3m viewers at its peak; the current 10th series debuted in September to an overnight average of around 1.6m.

At the end of series 11, a staggering 139 episodes will have been screened on Channel 4. However, it will not be the end of Channel 4's association with Paul Abbott as brand new drama projects are said to be in development.