Grantly Budgen (1954 - 2013) was the longest serving Waterloo Road character until his death in Series 9 Episode 6. He was an English teacher and was good friends with colleague Tom Clarkson & Steph Haydock. He was one of the laziest teachers at the school as he often fell asleep in his classes and handed most of his duties to his colleagues; and would do anything to get out of a an unwanted situation such as pretending to have an illness. He used to have a feud with Karla Bentham after she hit him with a chair and Jack Rimmer refused to expel her from the school because she had Aspergers.
History
A relic of the English department and nearing retirement age, Grantly has had many years to perfect his cynical disenchantment with the teaching profession. He’s slightly scruffy, tired and lacks conviction about anything, especially since he failed to write the novel he’s always believed he had inside him. He’s sarcastic but is often witty with it and his asides in the staff room often prompt a giggle from his colleagues, many of whom have a soft spot for him, particularly Steph.
The only love in life is his wife, Fleur, who he adores. He has old-fashioned values and believes marriage should be forever – and after a little blip in the marriage in Series Four, Grantly and Fleur realised they couldn’t be without each other. Grantly was heartbroken when Fleur was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in Series Six and tried to care for her whilst hiding his living situation from his colleagues. When Steph returned to Waterloo Road she finally persuaded Grantly that the kindest thing he could do for Fleur was to put her in a care home.
Prone to a drink and betting on the horses, Grantly wants an easy life and thinks school is a much nicer place when the kids aren't there. In Season 8 Episode 20 Grantly is diagnosed with chronic kidney failure due to untreated high blood pressure and is told that he will need a transplant to survive as the effects are irreversible. He is also a slave to gambling, with one storyline in Series 3 almost getting him sacked, and also homeless. But nevertheless Grantly has returned fighting fit and raring to go. His lack of enthusiasm taken into account, he does sometimes show signs of affection to pupils especially Harley Taylor.
He was expecting a surprise return at Waterloo Road until about 30 minutes after his return that his kidney donor and fellow teacher Tom Clarkson falls to his death with half the school and Kyle Stack and Grantly himself looking on at this horrific scene.
Grantly is the longest serving character, being credited in all 160 episodes of the first 8 seasons. He sadly died at the end of Season 9 Episode 6 as a result of kidney failure. He appeared in photographs in Season 9 Episode 7 at his funeral and Season 10 Episode 18 in a photo with Maggie in the wreckage of her car which was crashed by Dale Jackson.
His voice can be heard at the very end of the final episode, where he says: "I turned up for a weeks cover and ended up staying 25 years." This quote was from series 5. Other characters' voices at the end of the final episode include: Vaughan Fitzgerald, Chlo Grainger, Max Tyler, Finn Sharkey, Kim Campbell, Gabriella Wark, Barry Barry, George Windsor and Carol Barry.
Residence
- 1997-2012: 3 Egerton Crescent, Rochdale
- 2012-2013: 8 Willard Road, Greenock (school house).
Quotes
- Jasmine: "Look Grantly if you've got a problem with my teaching just say!"- Grantly: "Lets just say you are to teaching to what lockjaw is to conversation."
- "Oi!" (first line)
- "Michaela, can you play gangsta rap on flute?"
- *Chris punches Max* Grantly: "Not bad for a science teacher."
- "God almighty, we'll be doing the hokey cokey next."
- "I sometimes wonder if you women keep your common sense on your handbags too."
- Kim: "Grantly, I'm surprised." Grantly: "About what?" Kim: "You're not dead!"
- "What were you gonna do Smilie? Turn em inside out? Or were you gonna go commando?"
- Grantly: "Well, last day of term! Yes! And traditionally we play games and watch videos!" Ronan & Madi: "Yes!!" Grantly: "Right, Criticism Questions from last years A-Level. 45 Minutes. No talking."
- "I was doing this job when you were making your way down a falopian tube."
- "I hate everyone, but I hate them all equally"
- "And the countdown to teen pregnancy and messy divorce starts now"
- "Brothers and sisters, I have come to join the struggle"
- "When exactly did the lunatics start taking over the asylum"
- "Better go break the habit of a lifetime and prepare a lesson."
- "Ah, welcome to the gulag. There's a shovel over there."
- "For you by Harley Taylor"(last line)
- "These are not symptoms of depression, these are symptoms of being a teacher"
- (To Chris about Steph) "She'll be taking you for a happy meal next"
- "I turned up for a week's cover and ended up staying 25 years" [2015:3:10:00:11] - the final line of the final episode.