MAGGIE O'NEILL is sometimes a little shocked by the adventures of Manchester's most infamous family, the Gallagher clan. Goodwill to all men results in an Army invasion during a very Shameless Christmas Special (Channel 4, tonight, 9pm) direct from the Chatsworth estate.

Writer Paul Abbott didn't see much peace on Earth growing up in Burnley. The acclaimed comedy drama is inspired by his own experiences.

"I don't know how Paul does it," smiles Maggie, better known as "bonkers" Sheila Jackson, the Valium-addicted lover of alcoholic Frank (David Threlfall).

"Even though it deals with a lot of taboos, is quite shocking, and contains a lot of swearing, it's all done in quite a fond way, without being sentimental. It's not just younger viewers who are fans. I've had really old people come up to me, screaming with laughter about some of the scenes."

Sheila is at the centre of the action in the 90-minute special, ahead of a ten-part second series which starts on January 4. Pregnant with twins, she provides us with a traditional Christmas birth. Frank is present at the happy event, along with the entire family.

"And somehow Countdown gets involved as well," adds Maggie.

Filmed on location in west Gorton and studio sets inside a Salford warehouse, the festive visit to Manchester features theme music, written and performed by ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr.

It begins with the arrival of a lorryload of meat, swiped by Kev (Dean Lennox Kelly) and Lip (Jody Latham). Sold for a knock-down price to pub regulars at The Jockey, full plates appear to be in store for all the estate's residents. Except the meat originally came from Porton Down, the government's biological and chemical weapons centre in Wiltshire, and is just a touch contaminated.

As armed soldiers descend, so do Veronica's (Maxine Peake) mum Carole (Marjorie Yates) and Tourette's-suffering arsonist brother Marty (Jack Deam). With nowhere to stay - Marty burned their house down - and "no room at the inn," they force themselves on Fiona (Anne-Marie Duff) and Steve (James McAvoy) for Christmas.

Agoraphobia

But there are some glad tidings. Unable to leave her home for years, Sheila overcomes her agoraphobia.

"She's out of the house, but heavily medicated and a bit more dangerous," explains Maggie.

There are darker moments ahead after the birth of the twins - Nigel and Delia - when Sheila decides to come off her medication and suffers post-natal depression, with near disastrous consequences.

Like Frank's ever-increasing brood, Maggie comes from a big family - she's one of six children.

"My dad bought the house next door because there were too many of us. He knocked a hole through the wall and it stayed like that for 10 years."

The story is mirrored in Shameless, when Frank decides to extend the Gallagher home.

"If you're from a big family, you understand that mad chaos," adds Maggie. "Sheila just wants to love and be loved. She's the sort of person I'd like to have as a friend and I feel very protective of her, because Frank is such a monster. I think it's the most enjoyable character I've played. I've also got to really love Manchester."

Maggie is still remembered by Peak Practice viewers as Dr Alex Redman, pulled over a cliff by a former lesbian lover in the last episode of the long-running ITV medical drama before it was axed. "I think I was the actress who finished off that series."

Now she's attracting a whole new wave of fans, including those who recall a classic Shameless moment she'd rather forget. It featured Sheila wielding a large sex aid in an eye-watering moment for Frank.

"It was right out there as one of the most challenging scenes I've ever done," adds Maggie, who received plenty of viewer feedback.

"I was on a train near Manchester when these lads got on and went, `Hey, it's Sheila off Shameless!' Then they started asking me where that particular item was."

The centre of attention among a carriage full of bemused passengers, she giggles: "It was a bit embarrassing. I don't want to be known for that. I'm a classically trained actress!"

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