shameless season 5 spoilers
"Shameless" will air its Season 5 premiere on Sunday, Jan. 11, on Showtime. Prepare for episode 1 by checking out the scoop on the new season. Pictured, from left: Cameron Monaghan as Ian Gallagher, Brandon/Brenden Sims as Liam Gallagher, Emmy Rossum as Fiona Gallagher, Jeremy Allen White as Lip Gallagher, William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher, Ethan Cutkosky as Carl Gallagher and Emma Kenney as Debbie Gallagher. Showtime

After months of keeping us on the edges of our seats, “Shameless” will finally be returning to the small screen with the premiere of its highly anticipated fifth season. And according to reports, viewers are in for one sidesplitting, heartwarming installment when Season 5 of the Showtime series airs episode 1, “Milk of the Gods,” on Sunday, Jan. 11.

But before you tune in for the first episode of the new season, check out everything you should know about the upcoming premiere. We’ve rounded up “Shameless” spoilers of all shapes and sizes, including Fiona’s (Emmy Rossum) shocking new love interests and Debbie's (Emma Kenney) drastic transformation:

1. Outrageously Funny

According to reports, Season 5 of “Shameless” is supposedly packed with stuff to leave viewers in stitches. And we have to say we'd very much welcome some comic relief, after Season 4's super ominous storyline.

“Last season was incredibly dark -- probably our darkest yet,” Rossum said during a promo video. “Things have to get better for Fiona because they got really rough last year for her with jail and drugs. She’s going to be a little more introspective, and a little slower to throw the first punch," she added during an interview with Variety Magazine.

shameless season 5 spoilers
Emmy Rossum (as Fiona, left) teases what's in store for her character when Season 5 of "Shameless" returns Jan 11. (Dermot Mulroney as Sean Pierce, right). Showtime

2. Fiona Finds A Man (Or Tries To)

Fiona will kick off the season solo. But don’t expect her to stay single for long. Four potential suitors will be vying for her heart when the new season rolls around. One of Fiona's upcoming relationships will be with her boss, Sean Pierce (Dermot Mulroney). In addition to being Fiona's employer at the diner she currently works at, Sean had also been described as a recovering addict. Fiona will fall hard for Sean, but the feeling may not be mutual – not at first, anyway.

According to Deadline, Fiona will also meet two other studs at the diner. One of them will be a bad-boy rocker named Davis (Axle Whitehead) and another will be Davis' bandmate (Steve Kazee), whose name is still unknown. Kazee's character will reportedly woo Fiona with his not-so-hardcore behavior.

And we can’t forget about the return of Jimmy/Steve, played by the adorable Justin Chatwin. Jimmy was believed dead based on the show’s shocking Season 3 finale. But in the final episode of Season 4, Jimmy/Steve rose from the dead – like the cockroach he is – donning the new persona “Jack.”

“The audience kept telling us that they didn’t know what had happened at the end [of Season 3 with the character],” John Wells, EP of the long-running series, told TVLine. When the third installment concluded, fans were supposed to assume that Jimmy’s body was cut up and thrown over the side of Estefania’s (Stephanie Fantauzzi) father’s yacht. “So we thought, ‘I don’t know, maybe we’ll take advantage of that and go with it.’”

Now Jimmy/Steve/Jack is back – and he’s looking for Fiona.

3. A Wedding On The Southside

Is it just us, or is this season the installment of love? During an interview with Variety magazine, Rossum teased that viewers should expect a wedding in the upcoming season of “Shameless.”

“One of our main characters gets married, as well, so it'll be an interesting season,” the actress revealed.

4. Debbie’s Wild Transformation

Fans are “going to freak out” when they see little Deb’s sexy Season 5 transformation, executive producer Nancy Pimental told TVLine. “She’s rarin’ to have sex,” the EP elaborated.

In fact, her desire to lose her virginity will become a full-on obsession, according to the promo video for the new season. Deb is seen competing with her brother Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) to see who can have sex first.

shameless season 5 spoilers
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher in a scene from "Shameless" Season 5, episode 1. Showtime

5. Frank (William H. Macy) Falls In Love

No, he doesn’t go all goo-goo eyes over a bottle of whiskey! According to Rossum, her TV dad will find “real love” in Season 5, which we find very hard to imagine.

6. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) And Mickey (Noel Fisher) Hit A Rough Patch

Pimental revealed some heartbreaking news during her interview with TVLine. According to the EP, Ian’s denial of his bipolar disorder will become “a big obstacle” for him and Mickey. So if you were expecting a "happily ever after" in Season 5 for these two, think again.

7. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) Returns Home

The eldest Gallagher son will find himself having a hard time fitting in when he returns to the Southside from college. According to the synopsis for episode 1, his Chicago peers will be less than enthused to welcome him back with open arms to the neighborhood.

“Shameless” Season 5 will premiere on Showtime on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 9 p.m. EST.

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