Which version is better?

UK, the actors are better more believable, there is a lighter feel especially toward sex, the us version is a lot darker and slimey

Shameless has been one of Britains best TV shows
And as good as the US version is, you just cannot beat the original.
Plus the one and only Frank Gallagher goes to the UK.

The American one easily.
I am English, but after season 3 the UK one became almost a parody of poverty.
David Threlfall was great, but aside from he, all the best actors had left by season 4.
(Anne Marie Duff, James McAvoy, Maxine Peake).
The McGuire's schtick got old really fast, especially when Paddy left as well.

The US version, has awesome actors, William H Macy, Emmy Rossum, Joan Cusack and is darker purely because being dirt poor isnt fun a lot of the time. So it is far more realistic.

Also it has managed to keep its cast. By season 7 of Shameless UK I think most if not all of the Gallagher kids had left.

The original UK version definitely for the first 3 series at least (and especially for the first 2 of those) and possibly even the fourth.

By the 5th the series grew ever longer, most of all your favourite original characters had left. There was still Frank- but that just served to remind you even more It's best days were behind it and you grew less interested in what lay ahead.

Please, for the love of God, let Frank and the Gallagher's leave our TV screens with some dignity, I kept thinking. Whilst Channel 4 milked its popularity, they're not entirely at fault for milking the show to death. It captured not only people's hearts but the Zeitgeist.

There is one family so dear to many people in the UK; almost universally loved by all, old and young. They made us laugh, they made us genuinely shed a tear- The Trotter's: Del Boy and Rodney (Dave), Grandad, Uncle Albert. And their friends Trigger, Boycie, Mike, Denzel, Mickey Pearce. They are TV Royalty and the nation's favourite extended family

Then along came Shameless and there was something in Frank, with all the Gallagher's and residents of The Chatsworth Estate. A group that wasn't overshadowed by the Trotter's and Co. But were worthy to stand alongside them, it lasted for a while and had it been just the 4 series it, they, would have endured.

Still, the nation raises it pint of larger and downs to E's in celebration of Frank Gallagher- happily we'd go for a drink with him; even if we wouldn't trust him to look after our kids!

US definitely. Although I'm American, I love many British shows: Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders, Poirot, Monty Python, Benny Hill (dead too soon, dear man). Americans who say they can't understand the accents are stupid, and if you don't know the difference between 'pants' and 'trousers' or don't know what a 'punter' is, that's what the Internet is for.

I used to watch the British Shameless, but the actors were too ugly, and the characters were all alike. And like many actors in comedies, they played there parts like 14-year-olds pretending to be grown up, which I always find annoying.

In the US version they are not only more attractive, but play their parts more seriously. You don't get the feeling they are ridiculing the people they play. In fact, I wouldn't call the US Shameless a 'comedy' at all, which is fine. It works better as a sort of soap opera.

I've watched both versions (not all seasons) and there is some characters i love more on the UK or US version.

Cast wise:
UK has the best Frank, Steve, Debbie, Lip, Carl and Paddy's (Milocovich's) while US has the best Fiona, Ian, Kev, Sheila and Karen.

So +1 UK on cast

Location
This is hard because i grew up mostly with American sitcoms, so having a show set in Chicago feels kinda nice. I do however find the slums of Manchester more intriguing and it just fits more imo.

1+ UK on location

Genre Wise
Regarding comedy i feel the UK version is more on point, but much darker. I love the British-english slangs and the way they trash-talk eachother (u w0t mate). However, it's a bit more depressing overall than the US version and i prefer the US version overall "Genre Wise" if it makes sense.

+1 US

Which to pick

My opinion might be biased because i watched the UK version before the US. I also was so hooked on the UK version that i had to watch almost all of it back in the days. I feel nostalgic when i hear the intro of shameless Uk, and i just miss the joy i had when watching it.
So, for me i would pick UK version over the US one.

I would however recommend the US version for my friends that hasnt watched any of them though.

I find the american one a better drama, but the british one funnier.

The british frank is better too but then the part was written for him

I watched the UK one a few years ago and couldn't make it past season 2. I was enjoying it , but I decided I'd stop and watch the US version instead.

So glad I did. As horrible as this is to say, the UK cast was virtually impossible for me to look at. Besides Steve (obviously a big actor now ), the UK cast made me uncomfortable, it was pretty cringe , especially anything sexual.

I did enjoy the insulting banter more in the UK version (funnier), but overall the USA version is just a lot better. Shot better, acted better, better drama. And, uhh, the cast is attractive, which for me was more important than im proud to admit.