▁episodes . ▁It ▁was ▁also ▁confirmed ▁that ▁the ▁Gar ve ys ▁will ▁leave ▁during ▁series ▁seven . ▁The ▁seven - part ▁sevent h ▁series ▁began ▁on ▁I TV ▁on ▁ 2 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁at ▁ 9 pm ▁and ▁finished ▁on ▁ 1 3 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁ ▁Series ▁ 8 ▁( 2 0 1 6 ) ▁ ▁A ▁ 7 - ep is ode ▁e ighth ▁series ▁was ▁ordered ▁on ▁ 6 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁All ▁episodes ▁were ▁written ▁by ▁Der ren ▁L itten . ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁it ▁was ▁announced ▁that ▁Series ▁ 8 ▁will ▁introduce ▁a ▁new ▁family , ▁the ▁D aws ons . ▁Jul ie ▁Graham , ▁Steve ▁Edge , ▁Bobby ▁Kn utt , ▁Josh ▁Bol t ▁and ▁Honor ▁K ne af sey ▁had ▁been ▁cast ▁as ▁Sher on ▁Daw son , ▁Billy ▁Daw son , ▁Edd ie ▁Daw son , ▁Rob ▁Daw son ▁and ▁J od ie ▁Daw son , ▁respectively . ▁Series ▁ 8 ▁also ▁introduced ▁Jess ica ▁Ell er by ▁and ▁Nathan ▁Bry on ▁as ▁Am ber ▁Pl att ▁and ▁Jo ey ▁Ell is . ▁Fil ming ▁began ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁and ▁ended ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 5 . ▁It ▁began ▁air ing ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁and ▁finished ▁on ▁ 2 2 ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 6 .