Paul Oldham

The housing office is on to Frank, his debts are piling up, and the bailiffs are still on his doorstep. However, Frank has an ingenious plan and with the help of Norma, his ex-wife's lover, and a group of her lesbian friends, he stages his own death, lies in state in a coffin in the Gallaghers' front room and hosts his own drunken wake at the Jockey.

Frank stuns the family by turning up in the morning to get his post even though it's not even Giro day. When a mountain of unpaid bills and some very scary-looking bailiffs turn up at the house, the family discover that Frank is hatching a plan to get his hands on maintenance from his ex-wife Monica, even though he's not living with his kids either.

The Gallagher unit is rocked when an unexpected visit from the social services catches them off guard and soon the family falls apart. In the aftermath, Debbie unleashes her fury on Frank, which propels him on an almighty bender, but can Frank realise the solution to their problems won't be found at the bottom of a pint glass before it's too late?