SHAMELESS creator Paul Abbott has started filming for his latest television series.

The Burnley-born writer, a former student at Barden High School, is currently filming scenes for police drama No Offence on location in Manchester.

The show will feature The Thick of It star Joanna Scanlan, Irish actress Elaine Cassidy and Alexandra Roach, who played a young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, as its three lead detectives.

Mr Abbott, one of eight children, grew up in the Healey Wood area of Burnley and started his career with the Burnley Writers’ Circle before landing a scriptwriting role at Coronation Street and work as a producer for Cracker in the 1990s.

No Offence will see an ‘unorthodox crack team of cops’ take on ‘drug labs, arsonists, neo-Nazis and notorious murderers’, according to Channel 4.

Mr Abbott, 54, said: “No Offence is a precinct cop drama. It’s also one of the funniest things I’ve ever been allowed to put together.

“It doesn’t look like anything else. No Offence’s cake mix is as bipolar as they get – it lurches from jet black laugh-out-loud, into fragile material on the turn of a sixpence.

“Writing three strong female leads is one thing. Writing women that men would choose as leaders has been particularly satisfying.”

The series will be produced by Mr Abbott’s own company, Abbott-Vision, and will air on Channel 4 next year.

The cast will also feature Colin Salmon, who has been in three James Bond movies, ex-Hollyoaks actor Will Mellor, and Paul Ritter, who played Eldred Worple in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

No Offence will open with a special 75 minute episode, followed by seven hour-long episodes.