The wonderful TVScoop has a fab interview with Montserrat Lombard

TV Scoop: So I’ve been hearing that Ashes To Ashes is a lot darker this series…
Montserrat Lombard: It is. It really is. There are some lovely dark storylines that run through it, which will be really exciting for the viewers I hope.

Head over to TVScoop to read the rest

Shaz is still having a tough time because things haven’t really progressed for WPCs in 1982.

Montserrat explains: “It’s almost a running joke for the team that every time Gene asks Shaz to do something, she gets her hopes up that it’s going to be something good but it turns out to be ‘can you make 15 black coffees?’ or something equally unimportant.”

But it does seem there could be light at the end of the tunnel for her: “She’s really influenced by Alex and, fortunately, Alex sees her potential and gives her much more responsibility. For example, in episode two Alex makes her Romany Liaison Officer.”

CID’s cutest couple, Chris and Shaz, are still together and their relationship is as strong as ever.

“Chris has wedding bells in mind,” admits Marshall. “It’s a really big thing for him; he’s saved up to buy the ring and really just wants to make Shaz his wife.”

“And the main thing is Ray gets to be best man!” laughs Dean. “Obviously he would never admit it, but he is really happy for them and he’s maybe even a little bit jealous of what they have…”

While their relationship may not always be smooth sailing, it’s obvious how much they love each other.

Montserrat continues: “Chris isn’t the most modern of thinkers, so it’s a constant battle for Shaz to try and get him to warm to a new way of seeing things and treating women. However, he is always trying to be more open and modern and this is what she finds charming and loves about him.”

But Chris’s attempts to be a modern man are not always easy on Marshall.

“In episode one the team has been investigating a murder in a Soho strip club and Shaz is not impressed by the way that Gene, Ray and Chris treat the girls who work there,” explains Marshall. “So in an attempt to redeem himself and show he’s a modern man, Chris does a striptease for Shaz in front of the whole team!”

“I really felt for Marshall, but it was brilliant,” giggles Montserrat.

“I had a lesson with a stripper,” confesses Marshall. “She showed me a few moves, although some of it was completely spontaneous, I have no idea where it came from!”

Dean is quick to admit that Marshall did really well, but won’t be volunteering to strip himself anytime soon: “I would much rather it was him than me, but then Ray would never go in for any of that modern man rubbish so I’m safe.”

As with series one, a massive part of the second series is the wonderful Eighties fashion. This time round the wardrobe department has been able to go all out with Shaz’s costumes.

“In the second half of filming Shaz was out of uniform a lot so we really went for it with costumes,” raves Montserrat. “I had some great party dresses and big crimped hair. We also filmed the wedding dress fitting and we kept the dress new romantic rather than going for the meringue look.”

Although Montserrat was thrilled with her costumes, the Eighties look isn’t quite so good for the boys.

For Montserrat anything that got her out of CID was wonderful: “As Shaz is rarely out of the office it’s great when I finally get out with Alex and the boys. That’s when I get to wear the amazing Eighties clothes and get involved in a bit of the action!”

The Quattro’s fired up and fashion sense has been thrown out of the window as the second series of hit BBC One drama Ashes To Ashes returns!

Winner of the Best New Drama category at the 2008 TV Quick Awards, series one of Ashes To Ashes cemented its position as one of the TV highlights of 2008 after more than eight million viewers tuned in to see DI Alex Drake (Keeley Hawes) arrive with a bang in 1981.

Series two kicks off in 1982 where leg warmers are cool, fluorescent is the colour of choice, Thatcher is in her element and bullish DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) is back, policing the streets in his politically incorrect and loud-mouthed style. Sassy Alex Drake, with whom Hunt shares a fiery working relationship, is by his side, desperately trying to keep him in line.

Chris and Shaz (WPC Sharon “Shaz” Granger - Montserrat Lombard) couldn’t be happier. He’s still trying his best to be the perfect “feminist” boyfriend and wants to take his relationship to the next level, but predictably Ray continues to tease him about his romantic gestures.

Wouldn’t she be fantastic?

Let’s start the campaign now!

The ultra-perky Montserrat Lombard has previously appeared in TV shows including Love Soup, Hyperdrive and Roman’s Empire, but the actress has landed her most high profile role to date as the equally perky WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger in Ashes to Ashes. She tells Matt McAllister about big hair and on-set chuckling.

Were you a fan of Life on Mars?

Yeah, I was. It was really great, and I didn’t realise that there was going to be a spin-off, so it’s pretty exciting…I have to pinch myself when I’m at work!

How would you sum up your character Shaz?

She’s a good Catholic girl – but a New Romantic at night! She’s very strong, but can be quite silent at work – she knows she has to be as there are a lot of boys around. But she can be very opinionated.

Some people might compare her to Annie…

Shaz is quite different. She’s very modern and of the 80s.

How would you describe Shaz’s relationship with Gene, Chris and Ray?

They’re like a family, even though she sometimes gets annoyed by some of the stuff they say. Throughout the series you see them all looking out for each other. And there are a few sparks between her and Chris!

How does she cope with all the chauvinism in the office?

She bites her tongue! It wasn’t really that long ago, but just how much has changed has been incredible. You wonder how anyone stuck it out really.

How have you found the 1980s costumes?

I’m quite into it – except for the massive hair, which I think will make a comeback! But a lot of it has come back around again, so it feels almost quite modern.

The clothes really are amazing. I went into the supermarket the other day with my hair like this and everyone laughed at me! I must have looked so ridiculous. Because you just get used to walking around with huge hair!

How long did you spend filming the Blitz Club scenes?

We were filming it in a pub for about a day. Steve Strange was there performing. When he walked in, he said it was like going back in time – he couldn’t believe how well they’d done the outfits. It was crazy!

Did you spend much time listening to music from the period to prepare?

Yes, I did at first. But I find it very difficult to get into…When you see it all together it totally works, but it did really drain me when I first started hearing it. I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ It was a bit of a shock! I watched some stuff on YouTube about the Blitz Club, which was great.

What was it like working with the cast from Life on Mars?

They’re a really great bunch and fun with to work. We’re good friends. I thought they might be scary, but they’re not – they’re a real laugh, all of them. I spend all my time laughing and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m supposed to be serious now!’…People kept being sent off set for laughing!

Ashes to Ashes is currently airing on Thursday nights on BBC1.

from Dreamwatch

A planned snog between two regular characters on Ashes To Ashes was scuppered after the actors refused to lock lips.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Marshall Lancaster and Montserrat Lombard, who play DC Chris Skelton and WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger respectively, explained their reasons for adopting their stance.

“It was written in,” said Lancaster, with Lombard adding that the pair immediately “complained”.

“We said no,” reiterated Lancaster, who previously played Skelton on Life On Mars. “I must have been an idiot, but I was thinking that it’s good that you don’t always see it. Tension is a good thing. If it’s full-on snogging and this, that and the other, sometimes that’s not quite as good as a ‘Go on, go on’ sort of thing.”

“It was more romantic not doing it, wasn’t it?” suggested Lombard, who previously starred in BBC One’s Love Soup.

Of course, we know the real reason is that she is saving her kisses for me. sigh….

Background: WPC, new member of CID How would you describe Shaz?

Shaz is a very sweet, passionate girl. She has a heart of gold and really cares about the people on her team. She feels a little frustrated at times being stuck in the office, whilst the boys go out with Alex to get stuck into the action, and feels like she could do more given the chance.

Shaz is a bit of a dark horse and, throughout the series, often surprises those around her. She is a good Catholic girl, but her wild side comes out when she goes to the Blitz Club – she is a true early New Romantic and loves to experiment with clothes and make up whenever she can. Viewers will see that she is in her police uniform only when absolutely necessary!

How does Shaz fit into the team?

Shaz is a WPC, so she tends to do the clerical work in the office. She is also very much one of the boys and mucks in when she can, and definitely keeps up with their drinking, too! She is the youngest on the team but she is quietly very intelligent and shines when given the chance.

Do Alex and Shaz bond as two women in a predominately male world?

Shaz is slightly suspicious of Alex at the beginning because she can see that her introduction has put the boys’ backs up and, as Shaz is fiercely protective of her team, she is cautious. Shaz has never seen a woman behave in this way in the work place, or with men, and as she starts to warm to her realises there is potential for her to be promoted to a similar position in the future.

It takes a little while for the two to bond as sometimes Shaz gets herself into sticky situations and then feels silly when bailed out by Alex, but I think secretly she is very much in awe of her and is keen to hear her opinion on different things.

How would you describe Chris and Shaz’s relationship?

It is very up and down! Shaz really adores his sweet, sensitive side, but gets frustrated when he hides it at work and acts all macho and sexist. They are very good friends, and I think that is the loveliest thing about their relationship – Shaz can tease him and get away with it and with a little patience she thinks she might just make him a little more daring!

Did you enjoy filming at The Blitz Club?

Filming the Blitz Club scenes was unbelievable! I hardly recognised myself or Marshall! It was such an exciting time in the early Eighties with fab music and really great experimental homemade outfits.

Meeting Steve Strange, too, was so surreal! I had such a great time that day – posing, dancing and trying to keep my hair standing on end. It took ages to wash all the products out – I’m surprised anyone ever washed their hair!

Have you enjoyed being able to go back in time and try out the clothes, hair and make-up?

Definitely! I can’t quite believe how massive everything was! I was nearly knocked out the other day by one of Gene Hunt’s shoulder pads! Everyone made such an effort then and it really was all about glamour, bright colours and being bold. What’s so scary is that we have all got so used to it now. I really have to stop myself from letting it seep too much into my everyday look!

Did you do any research for the role?

I spoke to a few ladies who were in the force at the time and got lots of incredible stories from them. I can’t believe just how much they had to put up with – including the male police officers in their team purposely sending them to bogus raids that didn’t exist, whilst they were all at the real ones.

I also saw an amazing documentary on the Blitz and read as much as I could on it and the people that went there. I listened to as much early Eighties music as possible and, after a while, I really got into it. It is now regularly being played on my iPod!

I think I never really realised how difficult and dark the Eighties were and how much the UK changed in that time – it was an extraordinary decade.

Gene Hunt is back, bigger and brasher than ever before – but he’s no longer the self-styled “Sheriff of Manchester”.

Gene has transferred from the Manchester of Life On Mars to London’s Met Police where he’s about to finally meet his match with DI Alex Drake. He can’t take his eyes off her, he desperately wants her, knows he’ll never have her – and at the same time she drives him up the wall!

Having risen through the ranks of the Met in the modern world of 2008, Alex is an intelligent, independent DI and single mother who suddenly finds herself in 1981 surrounded by speedboats, city dealers, guns, brothels, well-dressed criminals and New Romantics.

The police are no longer seen as friendly coppers – they’re resented by the communities they’re trying to police. It’s the year of the Brixton Riots, the Royal Wedding and the Docklands Development, and Thatcher is here to stay.

DS Ray Carling, DC Chris Skelton and new team member WPC Sharon “Shaz” Granger (Montserrat Lombard) are on the front line helping Gene and Alex in their quest against crime.

They’ve donned Ray-Bans, bomber jackets and leather ties, and Gene’s bought himself a brand, spanking new red Audi Quattro, but their attitude is still the same – scum is scum wherever you are and they’ll get results whichever way they can.

Ashes To Ashes stars Philip Glenister, Keeley Hawes, Dean Andrews, Marshall Lancaster and Montserrat Lombard.

Love Soup Ep 2/11
Friday 11 January
9.00-9.30pm BBC ONE

Milly (Montserrat Lombard) faces a problem. She is keen to test the loyalty of her new boyfriend, Darren. Inspired by an American TV documentary, she and Cleo set up a “honey trap” to see if Darren can be tempted into a “long, hot night of animal passion” with another woman. However, as events unfold, the two girls discover something about their unwitting victim that will turn the tables on them both…

Actress:

• In Production
• 2000s

1. “Ashes to Ashes” (filming) …. WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger (8 episodes, 2008)
   - Episode #1.1 (????) TV episode …. WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger
   - Episode #1.2 (????) TV episode …. WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger
   - Episode #1.3 (????) TV episode …. WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger
   - Episode #1.4 (????) TV episode …. WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger
   - Episode #1.5 (????) TV episode …. WPC Sharon ‘Shaz’ Granger
   (3 more)
2. “Hyperdrive” …. Lavya (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
   - Artefact (2007) TV episode …. Lavya
   - Hello, Queppu (2006) TV episode …. Lavya
3. English Language (with English Subtitles) (2007) …. Backing Vox & Tambourine
4. “Midsomer Murders” …. Philomena Bell (1 episode, 2007)
   - A Picture of Innocence (2007) TV episode …. Philomena Bell
5. “Roman’s Empire” …. Nikki (6 episodes, 2007)
   - Episode #1.6 (2007) TV episode …. Nikki
   - Episode #1.5 (2007) TV episode …. Nikki
   - Episode #1.4 (2007) TV episode …. Nikki
   - Episode #1.3 (2007) TV episode …. Nikki
   - Episode #1.2 (2007) TV episode …. Nikki
   (1 more)
6. “Saxondale” …. Stevie (1 episode, 2006)
   - Episode #1.4 (2006) TV episode …. Stevie
7. “No Angels” …. Natalia (2 episodes, 2006)
   - Episode #3.6 (2006) TV episode …. Natalia
   - Episode #3.7 (2006) TV episode …. Natalia
8. The Chatterley Affair (2006) (TV) …. Bernadine Wall
9. “Carrie & Barry” (1 episode, 2005)
   - Competition (2005) TV episode
10. “Love Soup” …. Milly Russell (6 episodes, 2005)
    … aka Love Soup 2 (UK: second season title)
    - War Is Heck (2005) TV episode …. Milly Russell
    - Take Five (2005) TV episode …. Milly Russell
    - They Do Not Move (2005) TV episode …. Milly Russell
    - The Reflecting Pool (2005) TV episode …. Milly Russell
    - Death and Nurses (2005) TV episode …. Milly Russell
    (1 more)
11. “Murder in Suburbia” …. Myra Coppell (1 episode, 2005)
    - Witches (2005) TV episode …. Myra Coppell
12. “Nathan Barley” …. Monika (2 episodes, 2005)
    - Episode #1.6 (2005) TV episode …. Monika
    - Episode #1.4 (2005) TV episode …. Monika
13. “Twisted Tales” …. Bella (1 episode, 2005)
    - Death Metal Chronicles (2005) TV episode …. Bella
14. Vanilla Song (2005) …. June
15. Tunnel of Love (2004) (TV) …. Natalie
16. London Sonnet (2003) …. Young lovers – girl
17. “Doctors” …. Natalia (1 episode, 2002)
    - Occupational Hazards (2002) TV episode …. Natalia