From the dodgy Chatsworth estate to his own £18million company… Shameless star Jody Latham has come a long way.
Playing lovable Lip in the hit Channel 4 series, he and the Gallagher family never had two pennies to rub together.
But Jody’s world could not be more different.
He took a surprise career move after starring in Shameless and EastEnders – and now sells beauty products.
And while you wouldn’t trust the loot flogged by Lip, Jody recently secured a £9.5million deal to distribute dermal fillers for cosmetic treatments.
Yet it was his time on Shameless that led him to become a millionaire entrepreneur – through his first experience with Botox. Jody, 38, explains: “I became friends with an extra.
“Years later I saw she was giving Botox and I said, ‘Jab me up’.
“I felt so good. I thought, ‘There’s got to be an in into this industry’. I wanted to make people feel this good.”
Jody trained up to give beauty treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers.
After opening up a few clinics four years ago, he decided it would be lucrative to focus on the distribution side and set up Epitique.
And earlier this year he struck a deal with South Korean firm Jetima.
But despite the money piling up, dad-of-two Jody says he’s not flashing the cash… after learning his lesson as an actor. He says: “I live in two-bed flat and drive a modest car. I’m pumping everything back into the company.
“It’s valued at £18million. We’ll see where we are in a couple of years.
“I’ve had money before but not in my hands long enough. After series one of Shameless, I went with my first wage of £21,000 and bought an Audi convertible. I didn’t even think of rent or food.”
Running his business with five staff near his Manchester home, Jody insists he has not given up on acting.
He says: “I had a fantastic career and hope there’s more to come.”
So how would the Shameless crew react to his career change?
Jody says: “Back in the day it was only for the rich and famous.