Sheila Grant
Encyclopedia
Sheila Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside
played by Sue Johnston
. Sheila appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the characters departure in 1990.
, Sheila Grant, Barry Grant
Karen Grant
and Damon Grant
. The Grant family appeared in the first episode (although Karen grant was not shown on screen) and were the first to move into the new houses on Brookside Close. Prior to moving onto Brookside Close, the Grant family were from a run-down inner-city council estate, however through Bobby and Sheila's thrift had managed to move to the 'middle class' Brookside Close.
Sheila was portrayed as a devout Roman Catholic, and as such her views were often to come into conflict with husband Bobby's socialist views.
Later in an attempt to make a living Sheila establishes a non-registered employment agency, this has the unfortunate result of having friend Matty Nolan
prosecuted for benefit fraud.
and Neighbour, Pat Hancock were in the frame as potential suspects but both were cleared.
However, the downside to this was that parenthood so late in life put pressure of the Grant's marriage.
. Then in November 1987 Damon was stabbed and died on Lendal Bridge in York
. Sheila persuaded Barry not to go after revenge (something he didn't do until 2003 when Damon's murderers were released and he left the Close to track them down) but the strain this put on her caused a rift between her and Bobby. After months of tension Bobby left Sheila and left the soap in 1988.
house with Claire.
comes around with Simon, Sheila's grandson (whom Sheila thought was miscarried due to a lie from Debbie's father), Sheila, Billy and Debbie take him to the park and Sheila and Billy grow closer. On Christmas evening, Billy gives Sheila her present, some rosary beads which he had bought from the Cathedral, knowing how important her Catholic religion was to her. Billy also buys a set for Claire.
Sheila goes to confide in a priest she does not know about her failed marriage with Bobby, her reposession and meeting Debbie (whom she refers to as Damon's wife) and her grandson Simon. She does not mention Billy to him, although infers his presence. That night Sheila goes missing from Billy's house and he finds her having broken into her boarded up old home, sitting in Damon's old room remembering him and the happy times she had had in that house.
Feeling she is still married to Bobby in the eyes of the church and her growing relationship with Billy is sinful, Sheila insists of leaving, although Billy tells her that his home is her home and tells her she is more than welcome. Nonetheless Sheila is intent on leaving.
On new years eve however Sheila slips out of a party early to be with Claire. Billy follows her and the two kiss, starting a relationship between them.
. The couple married in September 1990 and left Brookside to live in Basingstoke
, Hampshire
.
is pursued by drug-dealers intent on killing him. Here she reveals to Jackie Corkhill
that she and Billy have split up.
(Bobby Grant) in 1998 when they were cast again as a married couple, Jim and Barbara Royle in BBC
sitcom The Royle Family
, from 1998 until 2000 and then again every Christmas.
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
played by Sue Johnston
Sue Johnston
Susan "Sue" Johnston, OBE is a BAFTA nominated English actress best known for playing Sheila Grant in the long-running soap opera Brookside , Grace Foley in Waking the Dead from 2000 to 2011 and Barbara Royle in the BBC comedy The Royle Family between 1998 and 2000, and again in 2006, 2008, 2009,...
. Sheila appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the characters departure in 1990.
Character
The Grant family consisted of Bobby GrantBobby Grant
Bobby Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside played by Ricky Tomlinson. Bobby appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1988...
, Sheila Grant, Barry Grant
Barry Grant
Barry Grant is a fictional character in the defunct Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by Paul Usher and was in the series from episode one in 1982 until 1995 with several sporadic guest appearances in 1997, 1998 and the final episode in 2003....
Karen Grant
Karen Grant
Karen Grant is a character in Brookside portrayed by Shelagh O'Hara from 1982 until 1987.-Grant Family:The Grant family consisted of Bobby Grant, Sheila Grant, Barry Grant, Karen Grant and Damon Grant...
and Damon Grant
Damon Grant
Damon Grant is a fictional character in the defunct British soap opera Brookside, played by Simon O'Brien. The character was part of the initial cast, appearing from episode one in 1982 until 1987...
. The Grant family appeared in the first episode (although Karen grant was not shown on screen) and were the first to move into the new houses on Brookside Close. Prior to moving onto Brookside Close, the Grant family were from a run-down inner-city council estate, however through Bobby and Sheila's thrift had managed to move to the 'middle class' Brookside Close.
Sheila was portrayed as a devout Roman Catholic, and as such her views were often to come into conflict with husband Bobby's socialist views.
Early years
After Bobby had spent his first months of Brookside Close fighting to save his job and 200 others at Fairbanks Engineering, Sheila is the one made redundant in 1983. In an attempt to occupy herself she joined Annabelle Collins' Ratepayers Association and forged an unlikely friendship with her. The two however disagree when Sheila nominated Roger Huntingdon as chairman instead of Annabelle and when they clash over what type of group it should be with Annabelle wanting it to be an apolitical group bringing issues such as hedges and refuse collection to the attention of the council while Sheila wanted to use it to campaign about the poor standard of schooling in the area and the lack of jobs for their children.Later in an attempt to make a living Sheila establishes a non-registered employment agency, this has the unfortunate result of having friend Matty Nolan
Matty Nolan
Matty Nolan is a character in Brookside portrated by Tony Scoggo between 1982 and 1992.-Friend of Bobby Grant:Matty was a longtime friend of Bobby Grant and the two worked together at Fairbanks Engineering. The two fell out in 1982 when Bobby refused to misuse his influence as shop steward to get...
prosecuted for benefit fraud.
The rape of Sheila Grant
In 1986, the most notable story line regarding Sheila was broadcast. The story was written in order to keep Sue Johnston on the soap, who had previously expressed an interest in leaving. In 1986, Sheila was raped by a casual acquaintance, following her ordeal she bathed, removing any evidence that could have incriminated her attacker. Family friend, Matty NolanMatty Nolan
Matty Nolan is a character in Brookside portrated by Tony Scoggo between 1982 and 1992.-Friend of Bobby Grant:Matty was a longtime friend of Bobby Grant and the two worked together at Fairbanks Engineering. The two fell out in 1982 when Bobby refused to misuse his influence as shop steward to get...
and Neighbour, Pat Hancock were in the frame as potential suspects but both were cleared.
Late parenthood
In 1984, Sheila, by now in her early forties, became pregnant with her and Bobby's fourth child. Their daughter Claire was born on 8 January 1985 - the very first baby to be born in the series, more than two years after its inception.However, the downside to this was that parenthood so late in life put pressure of the Grant's marriage.
Break up of the Grant family
The Grant family started to break-up in 1987, first with Karen leaving to go to university in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Then in November 1987 Damon was stabbed and died on Lendal Bridge in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Sheila persuaded Barry not to go after revenge (something he didn't do until 2003 when Damon's murderers were released and he left the Close to track them down) but the strain this put on her caused a rift between her and Bobby. After months of tension Bobby left Sheila and left the soap in 1988.
Repossesion and Relationship with Billy Corkhill
Despite Barry and Sheila's best efforts, without Bobby's wage they fall behind with the mortgage repayments and their home is repossesed. Sheila is devastated by this as the home represents everything she and Bobby had worked for, as she later confided to a priest "I know we are not supposed to value material things but it's different, it's a home". Barry lived in a Volkswagen camper van while Sheila moved into friend Billy Corkhill'sBilly Corkhill
William "Billy" Corkhill is a fictional character in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside played by John McArdle from 1985 to 1990.-Arrival:The Corkhills family arrive at No.10 in 1985 replacing the Jackson family...
house with Claire.
Christmas 1988
Sheila spends Christmas with Billy and the two get on well. Later when Debbie McGrathDebbie McGrath
For the Canadian actress see Debra McGrathDebbie McGrath is a fictional character in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by a then-14-year-old Gillian Kearney, from 1986 to 1988...
comes around with Simon, Sheila's grandson (whom Sheila thought was miscarried due to a lie from Debbie's father), Sheila, Billy and Debbie take him to the park and Sheila and Billy grow closer. On Christmas evening, Billy gives Sheila her present, some rosary beads which he had bought from the Cathedral, knowing how important her Catholic religion was to her. Billy also buys a set for Claire.
Sheila goes to confide in a priest she does not know about her failed marriage with Bobby, her reposession and meeting Debbie (whom she refers to as Damon's wife) and her grandson Simon. She does not mention Billy to him, although infers his presence. That night Sheila goes missing from Billy's house and he finds her having broken into her boarded up old home, sitting in Damon's old room remembering him and the happy times she had had in that house.
Feeling she is still married to Bobby in the eyes of the church and her growing relationship with Billy is sinful, Sheila insists of leaving, although Billy tells her that his home is her home and tells her she is more than welcome. Nonetheless Sheila is intent on leaving.
On new years eve however Sheila slips out of a party early to be with Claire. Billy follows her and the two kiss, starting a relationship between them.
Departure
After Bobby's departure, Sheila began a relationship with Billy CorkhillBilly Corkhill
William "Billy" Corkhill is a fictional character in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside played by John McArdle from 1985 to 1990.-Arrival:The Corkhills family arrive at No.10 in 1985 replacing the Jackson family...
. The couple married in September 1990 and left Brookside to live in Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.
Return
Sheila returned without Billy in the straight-to-video special Friday the 13th. She returned to attend the wedding of Lindsay Corkhill and Peter Phelan, however she became caught up in trouble when JimmyJimmy Corkhill
James 'Jimmy' Corkhill is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Dean Sullivan. He joined the series in 1986, originally arriving in a recurring basis appearing along side his on-screen brother, Billy Corkhill, he then became a regular, remaining in the...
is pursued by drug-dealers intent on killing him. Here she reveals to Jackie Corkhill
Jackie Corkhill
Jackie Corkhill is a character in Channel 4 soap Brookside played by Sue Jenkins from 1991 to 2001.-Introduction:Jackie was introduced as the long-suffering estranged wife of Jimmy Corkhill in 1991...
that she and Billy have split up.
Post Brookside
Johnston was reunited with Ricky TomlinsonRicky Tomlinson
Eric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
(Bobby Grant) in 1998 when they were cast again as a married couple, Jim and Barbara Royle in BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
sitcom The Royle Family
The Royle Family
The Royle Family is a popular, BAFTA award-winning television comedy drama produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series between 1998 and 2000, and specials from 2006 onwards...
, from 1998 until 2000 and then again every Christmas.