Lola Griffin is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Sharon D. Clarke. She first appeared in the series seven episode "Patience", broadcast on 7 June 2005. Lola is characterised as a "tough" female and "wisecracking earth mother". She was introduced into the series as the ex-wife of established character Ric Griffin. Clarke has praised the character's inclusion because she is a black woman with power, which she believed was a diverse and positive depiction. When the actress left the show in 2008, writers produced a standalone episode built around her exit. When Lola learns she is being made redundant, she takes a job at another hospital. Lola left in the episode titled "Mad World", which was broadcast on 14 October 2008. In December 2018, it was announced that Clarke had agreed to reprise the role and Lola appears for one episode in January 2019.

Sharon Delores Clarke is an English actress and singer. She is a three-time Olivier Award winner, and is best known to television audiences for her role as Lola Griffin in the medical drama Holby City, and as Grace O'Brien in Doctor Who. Clarke has also played lead roles in many West End musicals, and originated the roles of the Killer Queen in We Will Rock You and Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical.