Season 4 - Episode Guide

It's Lip's 18th birthday and there are a few surprises in store for him and the rest of the Gallagher family. First, the Maguires move in next door in an attempt to drive a wedge between Mandy and Lip. And, second, mum Monica returns, claiming she is back for good and only Carl welcomes her back with open arms. Annoyed by her estranged mother's sudden return, Debbie calls upon Norma, Monica's lover, for help. Meanwhile, Sue, Kev, Veronica, and Marty plot to buy a Romanian baby. However, Kev and Veronica end up behind bars, while Marty becomes a fugitive. Elsewhere, Sheila is away on a cookery course, and Frank drunkenly burns down her kitchen and ends up in hospital. Once released, he is shocked by the changes that have occurred back on the estate and finds himself in a tricky situation when Monica makes it clear why she has returned. And Stan has a new sidekick - Irish youngster PC Tom O'Leary (Michael Legge).

Frank is desperate to keep the fact that he's still married to estranged wife Monica from Sheila, and Monica isn't making it easy for him as she continues to sexually pursue him. But Sheila can see that she has competition for Frank and conspires with Debbie to reunite Monica and Norma. But is Monica still a lesbian, and will she give up her fight for Frank and her kids? Meanwhile, Jamie Maguire (Aaron McCusker) is released from prison after serving ten years for murder. Rejecting his family's offer of a "big job," Jamie is determined to stay on the straight and narrow, getting himself a job and a room at The Jockey. But he soon comes into conflict with Karen. And Stan Waterman (Warren Donnelly) and Tom investigate the theft of a racehorse, while Carol and Lillian launch a "Free Kev and Veronica" petition, with little success.

Monica has finally managed to seduce Frank, but he dare not tell Sheila that he and Monica have been sleeping together despite his promises to his wife. Sheila proves to be a frightening adversary when scorned, and Frank could be in danger. Neither Sheila nor Monica is willing to share him, so Frank must decide which wife he wants; the future of his family depends upon his decision. Meanwhile, tragedy strikes the Maguires when Jamie's past crimes lead to the brutal murder of one of his brothers, sending Paddy and Shane on the path of revenge against the family's rival. Can Jamie prevent a turf war? Elsewhere, there's a tough new PC on the beat in Chatsworth, Carrie Rogers (Amanda Ryan), and she takes an instant dislike to most of the residents.

Ian gets more than he bargained for when he gets involved with Anna, a girl on the run from Paddy. Offering to help Anna escape Chatsworth, Ian begins to develop feelings for her, and they end up in bed together. Lip, Mandy, and even Frank get caught in the crossfire when Paddy discovers his enemies lie close to home. As his plan proceeds, Ian is faced with a big decision: will he leave Chatsworth with his new love? Meanwhile, Kash looks set to throw away everything Yvonne has worked for, and when even she turns against him, he is forced to take drastic measures to bury his debts. Elsewhere, Mimi is convinced that she is cursed after another member of the Maguire family is murdered, while Jamie and Karen try to outdo each other in the fun run.

After being kicked out of Sheila's by an estate agent, Frank is forced to move back in with his kids, and Debbie couldn't be happier to have her dad back home. Monica, however, isn't happy with the attention Frank is giving his daughter and tells Debbie it's time she found a boyfriend, so Debbie starts dating a Catholic boy called Luke, only for Frank to ruin her new romance and, eventually, his close relationship with his daughter. Meanwhile, Jamie proposes to Karen, who immediately accepts. This causes tension within the Maguire family, especially with Mimi, who sets out to prove that Karen is nothing more than a tart. Bringing Karen along on a robbery job, Mimi lures her into a trap with a security man. But Karen finds an ally in another Maguire child. Elsewhere, Ian begins an affair with the most unlikely of people – the homophobic Mickey Maguire (Ciarán Griffiths). But the affair gets out of control when Mickey falls in love with Ian and risks revealing his sexuality to Paddy.