<P> Ian Gallagher is the third oldest Gallagher sibling and is aged 15 at the beginning of the first series in 2004 . He is the son of Monica Gallagher (Annabelle Apsion) and Gary Bennett, revealed when his blood group was found to be incompatible with the rest of his siblings' . His half - brothers are Phillip "Lip" Gallagher (Jody Latham), Carl Gallagher (Elliott Tittensor), Liam Gallagher (Johnny Bennett) and Sean Bennett, and his half - sisters are Fiona Gallagher (Anne - Marie Duff), Debbie Gallagher (Rebecca Ryan), and Stella Gallagher (Nikita Brownlee). He has one niece, Katie Maguire, who is the daughter of Lip . He used to work at The Jockey as a barman but in more recent series his employment, if he has any, has not been shown . </P> <P> In the early series, Ian is depicted as closest to his brother Lip, with whom he shares a room, and is initially the only member of his family to know that he was gay . The brothers often have to look out for each other more than any of the other characters, due to being party to each other's secrets . In later series, all the family, except his adoptive father Frank Gallagher (David Threlfall), are aware of his sexuality . </P> <P> Ian often identifies as gay, having various relationships with older men throughout the first four or five series . Kash Karib (Chris Bisson) is to date his only long - term boyfriend, though he has a brief relationship with Sean Bennett, and an ongoing friendship, sometimes sexual, with Micky Maguire (Ciarán Griffiths). Because he is unaware of his parentage at the time, Ian also unknowingly sleeps with his half - brother . Ian sees Sean at their biological father's funeral and later tells the truth to Sean, who wants to keep seeing Ian, but eventually agrees that they cannot ignore their familial relationship . Beginning in the fourth series, Ian has a number of relationships with women . He repeatedly has sex with a girl he is briefly hiding in his home for her protection, but when she asks him to leave with her, he declines, knowing a relationship would not work . He has a relationship of convenience with Mandy Maguire (Samantha Siddall), to protect his secret, which nearly turns sexual when they're both at a low point, but they fumble about until Ian decides it's a bad idea . In the seventh series, Ian begins a serious relationship with Maxine Donnelly (Joanna Higson). When Maxine's brother, Bruce (Philip Hill - Pearson) asks if their being in a relationship means Ian is now "bisexual", Ian pauses, before saying he just believes he has found the right person . </P> <P> Due to Gerard Kearns' break to work on a film, Ian leaves in the first episode of the sixth series after suffering amnesia after being struck by a car . He is seen in episode two in a clip of him partying abroad and appears on webcam in later episodes . He returns in the seventh episode; this features the debut of Danny, a deaf teenager whom Ian unwittingly transports back to the UK in the boot of his car . Ian now lives in the house of Danny's deceased grandfather, which was leased to him by Danny's aunt, Pegg, in gratitude for looking after him . Danny and Pegg later move to Spain . </P>

When does liam find out the baby isnt his