Anne-Marie Duff to appear in Shameless finale

Anne-Marie Duff with James McAvoy (Frazer Harrison/Getty)

Acclaimed actress Anne-Marie Duff is to make a return to Channel 4's Shameless for the show's last episode.

The 42-year-old left the programme eight years ago during the second series, a little over a year after the hit comedy drama launched.

She is now filming the final edition which is set on Manchester's fictional Chatsworth estate.

Duff - who is married to her former Shameless co-star James McAvoy - went on to star in dramas such as BBC1's The Virgin Queen and last year's BBC2 series Parade's End, and films which have included Nowhere Boy. She has also appeared in stage triumphs such as Cause Celebre at the Old Vic.

She is among a number of former Shameless stars who will make a return as the series bows out. Duff will reprise her role as Fiona and her brothers Lip (Jody Latham) and Carl (Elliott Tittensor) both come back to aid their dysfunctional dad Frank Gallagher (David Threlfall).

The final, 11th series of Shameless is due to be screened in the spring.

A spokeswoman for the show said: "Shameless 11 will be as celebratory, defiant and as unapologetic as ever."

PA