Elliott Tittensor looks worlds away from his Shameless character with bushy beard and long ponytail

He’s best known for playing Carl Gallagher in Shameless, the cult, Paul Abbott written show that ran for nine years.

But Elliott Tittensor looks world away from the character in new Silent Witness stills which show the 31-year-old actor in his latest role and sporting a bushy beard and ponytail.

The new images were published shortly before show creator Paul, 61, branded Shameless ‘a load of old poo’ in a new interview.

Worlds away: Elliott Tittensor, 31, looks world away from his Shameless character in new Silent Witness stills

In the new photo, Elliot – who plays Scott Weston on the popular drama series – can be seen leaning against prison railing while wearing a grey tracksuit.

His long hair is pulled back past his shoulders into a ponytail, and the villain looks menacingly at someone standing below him.

The latest Silent Witness series returns to BBC One on September 6 and will begin with an hour-long episode.

Meanwhile, Paul touched upon Shameless in a new interview with The Radio Times, revealing he was glad that the show ended in 2013.

Best known: Elliott is best known for playing Carl Gallagher (pictured) in Shameless, the cult, Paul Abott written show that ran for nine years

He told the magazine: ‘I’m glad they took Shameless off because they turned it into a load of old poo.’

However the famous writer had only good things to say about his new forensic crime drama, Wolfe.

Of the show – that follows bipolar Professor Wolfe Kinteh (played by actor Babou Ceesay) who is the finest crime scene investigator in the north of England – Abbot said: ‘I love cop shows but I’ve never seen a funny one. 

Show creator: The new images were published shortly before show creator Paul Abbott, 61, branded Shameless ‘a load of old poo’ in a new interview (pictured in 2014)

He told the magazine: ‘I’m glad they took Shameless off because they turned it into a load of old poo.’ 

‘The plots in Wolfe will rip your spleen out but the most satisfying thing is the glue around them: the humour of these people who work together and know each other so well.’

Abbot also spoke candidly about the process of writing Wolfe, revealing that he made the decision to stop taking medication for his bipolar disorder in order to ‘express in a responsible way [that feeling] when you positive-ise your mania’.

He added: ‘I don’t want to glorify anything because you spend half the time scared to death. But I get beautiful butterflies when I can feel myself going a little bit manic.’

Plot: Wolfe follows bipolar Professor Wolfe Kinteh (played by actor Babou Ceesay, pictured) who is the finest crime scene investigator in the north of England