Sharon Granger
Encyclopedia
WPC/DC Sharon "Shaz" Granger is a fictional character
in BBC One
's science fiction
/police procedural
drama
, Ashes to Ashes
. The character is portrayed by Montserrat Lombard
. The character's look and style are based on Joanne Catherall
of The Human League
in 1981.
's (Philip Glenister
) Criminal Investigation Department
two years prior to the second series, acting as a uniformed aide with responsibility for administration.
During the first two series, Granger is displayed to be unfulfilled with her current tasks within CID. Along with this, Granger has demonstrated a "keen intelligence and diverse knowledge" on literature, history and the arts. She has also been referred to as an "lobotomised Essex girl
" by Gene Hunt.
Since the protagonist
's arrival in the series, Alex Drake
(Keeley Hawes
) and she have become friends.
During episode two of the third series, Granger contemplates leaving the Metropolitan Police. However, after going undercover to catch a serial killer
- during which she saves herself from an attempt on her life - and Hunt's promises to allow her into CID by Christmas, she decides to stay. On screen while considering the offer from Hunt, there was a brief musical cue of 'Life On Mars' during a close up on a spaced out Granger just after she gives her answer.
Along with this, Shaz, Ray and Chris all have visions of stars, as if looking up at the sky and hear strange voices, like that of in a pub, and described by Chris as Nelson (Tony Marshall), the publican from Life on Mars, asking him what he will have to drink.
opposite Fenchurch East Police Station. After eventually nearing Hollis, Granger tackled Hollis to the ground, and as they both fell the knife Hollis was holding penetrated her stomach. Once Alex Drake, Chris Skelton
(Marshall Lancaster
), Ray Carling
(Dean Andrews
), and Gene Hunt arrived at the scene, Drake carried out CPR
on Granger. After Drake's attempts failed, Hunt ordered Hollis to his knees and allowed Skelton and Carling to violently assault him while he was in police custody, despite the protest of Viv James (Geff Francis
).
During episode 8, Granger recovers and joins the group again.
.
After Alex persuades Gene to join the undercover operation that Chris, Shaz and Ray have organised, he radios through to Ray, Chris and Shaz just as DCI Jim Keats is going to take them away. After persuading Ray and Chris to return to him, Gene radios Shaz and informs her that "Shaz, you are now promoted to Detective Constable, effective immediately"; Granger then becomes a fully fledged Detective Constable and noticebly she is the first one to return to Gene and Alex just before the sting.
She and Chris are reunited before crossing over into 'the pub', together with Ray and Alex.
During the first episode of the third series, it is revealed that Granger and Skelton have ended their relationship, which they mend in the finale. Also in the finale, she gives Hunt a peck on the cheek before she steps into the 'Railway Arms' and Hunt refers to Skelton by telling her "you keep him out of trouble, Detective Constable Granger".
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/police procedural
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
drama
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
, Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes (TV series)
Ashes to Ashes is a British science fiction and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.The series began airing on BBC One in February 2008. A second series began broadcasting in April 2009...
. The character is portrayed by Montserrat Lombard
Montserrat Lombard
Montserrat Lombard is a British actress best known for playing WPC Sharon 'Shaz' Granger in the BBC Drama series Ashes to Ashes.Lombard was born in London. She is half Spanish and half Italian...
. The character's look and style are based on Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall
Joanne Catherall is an English singer; best known as one of the two female vocalists of the veteran English synthpop band The Human League.Born and raised in Sheffield, England...
of The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
in 1981.
Personality
The character of Sharon Granger is described as "friendly, eager and helpful" by the programme's official website. Granger joined the Gene HuntGene Hunt
DCI Gene Hunt is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama Life on Mars and its sequel, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Philip Glenister in both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, whereas in the American version he is portrayed by Harvey Keitel.The...
's (Philip Glenister
Philip Glenister
Philip Haywood Glenister is an English actor, known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in British television series Life On Mars and its sequel Ashes To Ashes.-Television and films:...
) Criminal Investigation Department
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
two years prior to the second series, acting as a uniformed aide with responsibility for administration.
During the first two series, Granger is displayed to be unfulfilled with her current tasks within CID. Along with this, Granger has demonstrated a "keen intelligence and diverse knowledge" on literature, history and the arts. She has also been referred to as an "lobotomised Essex girl
Essex girl
An Essex girl is a pejorative stereotype in the United Kingdom of a female who is said to be promiscuous and unintelligent, characteristics jocularly attributed to women from Essex. It is applied widely throughout the country and has gained popularity over time, dating from the 1980s and 1990s...
" by Gene Hunt.
Since the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
's arrival in the series, Alex Drake
Alex Drake
DI Alexandra "Alex" Drake is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Keeley Hawes and as a child by Lucy Cole.-Character history:...
(Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...
) and she have become friends.
During episode two of the third series, Granger contemplates leaving the Metropolitan Police. However, after going undercover to catch a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
- during which she saves herself from an attempt on her life - and Hunt's promises to allow her into CID by Christmas, she decides to stay. On screen while considering the offer from Hunt, there was a brief musical cue of 'Life On Mars' during a close up on a spaced out Granger just after she gives her answer.
Along with this, Shaz, Ray and Chris all have visions of stars, as if looking up at the sky and hear strange voices, like that of in a pub, and described by Chris as Nelson (Tony Marshall), the publican from Life on Mars, asking him what he will have to drink.
Stabbing
During episode 7 of the first series, Granger attempted to apprehend an armed and dangerous Gil Hollis, who shortly before had fired upon the team while they were taking cover in Luigi's trattoriaTrattoria
A trattoria is an Italian-style eating establishment, less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria. There are generally no printed menus, the service is casual, wine is sold by the decanter rather than the bottle, prices are low, and the emphasis is on a steady clientele rather...
opposite Fenchurch East Police Station. After eventually nearing Hollis, Granger tackled Hollis to the ground, and as they both fell the knife Hollis was holding penetrated her stomach. Once Alex Drake, Chris Skelton
Chris Skelton
PC/DC Christopher "Chris" Skelton is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes.- Life on Mars :...
(Marshall Lancaster
Marshall Lancaster
Marshall Lancaster is a British actor. He has appeared in many television dramas, including Coronation Street, Holby City, The Lakes and Family Affairs, but is probably best known for playing DC Chris Skelton in the BBC time-travel police dramas, Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.Lancaster is a...
), Ray Carling
Ray Carling
DC/DS/DI Raymond Milton "Ray" Carling is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Life on Mars and its spin-off Ashes to Ashes.-Life on Mars:...
(Dean Andrews
Dean Andrews
Dean Andrews is a British actor.He is most famous for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC Television drama Life on Mars...
), and Gene Hunt arrived at the scene, Drake carried out CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
on Granger. After Drake's attempts failed, Hunt ordered Hollis to his knees and allowed Skelton and Carling to violently assault him while he was in police custody, despite the protest of Viv James (Geff Francis
Geff Francis
Geoffrey "Geff" Francis, most known as Geff Francis is a Black British actor who portrayed Lynford, a hoodlum in For Queen and Country...
).
During episode 8, Granger recovers and joins the group again.
Finale
During the finale it is revealed that, in reality, Shaz is already dead. She was killed during 1995 attempting to apprehend a would-be car thief, who stabs her in the abdomen with a screwdriver, leaving her to bleed to death. The world she occupies during the series is a form of limboLimbo
In the theology of the Catholic Church, Limbo is a speculative idea about the afterlife condition of those who die in original sin without being assigned to the Hell of the damned. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other...
.
After Alex persuades Gene to join the undercover operation that Chris, Shaz and Ray have organised, he radios through to Ray, Chris and Shaz just as DCI Jim Keats is going to take them away. After persuading Ray and Chris to return to him, Gene radios Shaz and informs her that "Shaz, you are now promoted to Detective Constable, effective immediately"; Granger then becomes a fully fledged Detective Constable and noticebly she is the first one to return to Gene and Alex just before the sting.
She and Chris are reunited before crossing over into 'the pub', together with Ray and Alex.
Relationships
During the second series, Granger enters into a relationship with Chris Skelton and eventually they become engaged. Granger is also close to Alex Drake, who tells the comatose Sharon that she is her "favourite imaginary construct", because she "is so alive".During the first episode of the third series, it is revealed that Granger and Skelton have ended their relationship, which they mend in the finale. Also in the finale, she gives Hunt a peck on the cheek before she steps into the 'Railway Arms' and Hunt refers to Skelton by telling her "you keep him out of trouble, Detective Constable Granger".