Cast Interviews | Jamie Maguire

"He's a bit of a softie really underneath. Well, in the last series he was a murderer but now he's developed a relationship with his wife Karen and he gets a job. He's working behind the bar and trying to be a good husband and not get involved with his immediate family.

"So although you know his character from the last series you don't really know what he's like. But it's there and he can snap at any given moment. Karen was the girl for me. I had this hard man reputation and everyone was scared of me, apart from her, and I noticed that so that made me fall for her because she was so feisty."

"Not yet, actually, and I'm hoping not. It's not that I don't like kids but I don't know if I could be dealing with it being filmed with babies!"

How do you take over The Jockey?

"Jez leaves us in the lurch, so they take it over and strike up a deal with the brewery. They water down the drinks and whatever they make they pay the brewery with it and so they let us run it without a licence. So we take over - me, her and Ian."

How is Jamie different from you? Any similarities?

"No - I haven't murdered anyone! I don't tend to get into fights. The only similarity is our age really. My family aren't a bunch of drug dealers..."

How old are you?

"28"

What's the area like that you grew up in compared with the Chatsworth Estate?

"I come from Portadown. I shouldn't really be slagging it off, but my dad moved out of the country because of the riots. It was a real mixed area. But I love Northern Ireland."

Do you have any problems with people recognising you?

"No, not at all, which surprised me but people say when the next series comes out it will happen. Not in London at all - people don't tend to come up to you and say you're famous.

"Maybe in some of the pubs round here but not compared to what most people go through. Everyone who's been in it from series one told to me once you do a second or third series then your face sticks in people's heads."

"I'm not a fighter! Well, let's hope not."

What is it about Shameless that makes it so popular?

"I think the writing's fantastic and it's like nothing you've really seen on TV. They've got really great writers, really great characters and it's got one of those cult followings."

Do you ever get any fan or hate mail?

"No, they get letters all the time and then your agent sorts through them all. It's not unusual but I keep getting letters from fellas wanting signed photos so I think I have a bit of a gay following, which is fine by me.

"But I don't get many girls coming up to me. I'm getting married next year so I've got to be on my best behaviour!"

Any storylines where you're like, 'I don't want to do this'?

"The very first day onset I had to get naked and shag a dress. It's not that I didn't want to do it, but it was my first day and for anyone that's a bit daunting..."

How does Jamie get on with Frank?

"He's always there, he's always propping up the bar and he just gets used to him always being there."

You don't get to drink real beer then?

"No, only Kaliber. Kaliber and Shandy Bass and flat Coke. Or apple juice."

Which actor is most like their character?

"I'd have to say Ciaran Griffiths who plays Mickey Maguire. He's the best in the world, he really is. He's an absolute gentleman - he's mad, good for a laugh."

As are you, Aaron. Thanks very much.

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