diff --git a/gtkfunctions.cpp b/gtkfunctions.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43672a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gtkfunctions.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#include "gtkfunctions.hpp"
+
+#include <gtkmm/liststore.h>
+#include <gtkmm/messagedialog.h>
+
+#include "tv_rename.hpp"
+
+void searchShow( Gtk::Entry *entry_show, Gtk::ComboBox *combo_possible,
+                 const Gtk::TreeModelColumn< std::string > &col_show,
+                 const Gtk::TreeModelColumn< std::string > &col_id,
+                 const std::string &language_code, Gtk::Window *parent ) {
+    // check required field is filled out
+    if ( entry_show->get_text().empty() ) {
+        Gtk::MessageDialog dialog( *parent, "Show field is empty" );
+        dialog.run();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // fill up m_combo_possible with possible tv shows
+    auto possible_shows =
+        searchShow( std::string( entry_show->get_text() ), language_code );
+
+    // if no possible shows were found, tell the user
+    if ( possible_shows.size() == 0 ) {
+        Gtk::MessageDialog dialog( *parent,
+                                   "No results found for given show name" );
+        dialog.run();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // show widgets
+    combo_possible->show();
+
+    // fill up combo box with results from thetvdb
+    auto model =
+        static_cast< Gtk::ListStore * >( combo_possible->get_model().get() );
+
+    auto row = *( model->append() );
+
+    row[col_show] = possible_shows[0].first;
+    row[col_id] = possible_shows[0].second;
+    combo_possible->set_active( row );
+
+    for ( size_t i = 1; i < possible_shows.size(); i++ ) {
+        auto row = *( model->append() );
+        row[col_show] = possible_shows[i].first;
+        row[col_id] = possible_shows[i].second;
+    }
+}
+
+void freeChildren( std::vector< Gtk::Widget * > &children ) {
+    size_t max = children.size();
+    size_t index{};
+    while ( index < max ) {
+        if ( auto *p = dynamic_cast< Gtk::Container * >( children[index] ) ) {
+            auto temp = p->get_children();
+            children.insert( children.end(), temp.begin(), temp.end() );
+            max = children.size();
+        }
+        index++;
+    }
+    for ( int i = max - 1; i >= 0; i-- ) {
+        delete children[i];
+    }
+}
diff --git a/gtkfunctions.hpp b/gtkfunctions.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27bcb04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gtkfunctions.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#ifndef GTK_FUNCTIONS_HPP
+#define GTK_FUNCTIONS_HPP
+
+#include <gtkmm/combobox.h>
+#include <gtkmm/entry.h>
+
+void searchShow( Gtk::Entry *entry_show, Gtk::ComboBox *combo_possible,
+                 const Gtk::TreeModelColumn< std::string > &col_show,
+                 const Gtk::TreeModelColumn< std::string > &col_id,
+                 const std::string &language_code, Gtk::Window *parent );
+
+void freeChildren( std::vector< Gtk::Widget * > &children );
+
+#endif