The New Year starts with a drugs raid on the Jockey though the resourceful punters make sure the police find nothing. After Liam claims there is no God at his Nativity play the teacher and priest visit and to canvass sympathy and keep the authorities at bay Debbie says that he has cancer. This escalates with a collection at the pub and a fund-raising Liam day - at which Liam accidentally spills the beans. However,Frank,angry that all the family bar him were in on the ruse,goes on a binge and collapses - causing a diversion. Monica pays a visit to take Liam away but he chooses to stay with his siblings and Sheila whilst Kev attempts to better himself at night school but packs it in to prevent himself succumbing to the voluptuous teacher Serena. Written by don @ minifie-1

Lip begins a job at a hotel,befriending Jack Wyatt,with whom he steals towels from the hotel to sell. Lip starts dating Jack's sister Zoe but Jack himself is bisexual and cheats on his girlfriend with Ian. When the Gallaghers are robbed of £100 and Kash's shop broken into it becomes clear that Jack is to blame and the friendship ends. Meanwhile Kelly moves in with Frank and Sheila,who discover that she is a prostitute whilst Marty starts work as a handyman. Written by don @ minifie-1

Mandy goes into labour after a run in with a masked robber inside the corner shop. Lip desperately wants to visit his new daughter, but will Mandy's parents allow the visit? And if not, just what will it take for Lip to prove himself to them. Meanwhile, Kev has a sure bet on a horse which will rake him and Veronica in a wad of cash if it wins. Trouble is the entire estate, egged on by Frank, gets to hear about the sure bet lowering the odds for Kev and Veronica. Written by Anonymous

When Carol learns that Lillian once slept with her husband thirty years ago she reports her to the Social Security for benefit fraud. Consequently the estate is invaded by investigators though the wily residents take action,Carl hiring himself out to couples claiming child benefit and Frank posing as Lillian's husband. This annoys Sheila who,after bedding Tony,gets him to track down her husband Eddie to agree for a divorce,whereupon Frank proposes to her. Carl's jealousy of Lip's girlfriend Emily leads him to tell her that Lip has been two-timing her with Mandy. Written by don @ minifie-1

Kev attends his mother's funeral following her suicide and is sought out by Roxy,the violent,alcoholic wife to whom he is still legally married and who tries to split him up with Veronica. Getting wildly drunk she pulls a knife on him but is hit on the head with a bottle by Carol. Carol herself begins dating Norman,a professed naturist who walks around the house in the nude and encourages her to do the same. However there are certain limits to Carol's sexual experimentation and being urinated on is not on the agenda so the affair ends. Written by don @ minifie-1

The Gallagher clan can't believe it when Carl starts to bring money into the household - but his mini-enterprise involves growing cannabis for the Maguires and the police are quick to bust him. Lip is jealous when Mandy gets a new boyfriend and he later discovers that she was the brains behind Carl's business. Written by Anonymous

After speaking to another girl at school Debbie feels exploited and goes on strike,though she ultimately misses being the home maker. Frank becomes a medical guinea pig - for cash of course - but the side effect of the pills he is testing means he is unable to get drunk. Marty finds out that shopaholic Sue is twelve thousand pounds in debt and a visit from Craig confirms her reckless handling of money. Carol,however,is able to present her with an offer she cannot refuse though Sue and Marty will soon be off to live in Spain. However he will return alone and under a cloud. Written by don @ minifie-1

On the eve of their wedding Sheila tells Frank she wants a conservatory in the back yard but goes berserk when the builders start digging,later confessing to Frank that she buried Sheldon,her first husband there,after he fell down stairs.However after Veronica suggests a spot of grave-robbing for the bling it becomes apparent that Sheils killed him.Having heard that Sheldon abused Sheila Frank stops her from confessing to the police and the wedding goes ahead - though Frank has a secret of his own. Veronica tells Carol of her desire for a child which will soon lead her and Kev into trouble whilst Mandy and Lip come to an arrangement over Katie, a future tragedy making it a good thing that the child has paternal support. Written by don @ minifie-1