Shameless is based on the family of "roaring drunk" Frank Gallagher

A fourth series about the anarchic Gallagher family will be shown in January, with a fifth also confirmed.

Producers are also searching for a site where a permanent set would be built, in the same way that Coronation Street has its own fixed studio area.

But they have yet to agree on a location, a Channel 4 spokeswoman said.

The programme was created by award-winning writer Paul Abbott, and is based around Frank Gallagher, the head of the family, and his six children.

Played by David Threlfall, the character is described as being "roaring drunk, colourful, angry and self-pitying" in the show's publicity material.

'Under discussion'

"They're working on the fourth series at the moment," the spokeswoman told the BBC News website.

"The fifth series is definitely in the pipeline, and it's under discussion as whether we'll increase it to more than eight episodes.

"The production team are looking around Manchester at new studio space but they haven't found anywhere or signed on the dotted line."