What's this shrub - please?

Closer on the leaves and, of course, I will remember as soon as you tell me!

Could it be a very unhealthy-looking choisya?

No, it's meant to look like that!

Wondering if it could be sort of periwinkle.

Sorry It just reminded (until I belatedly looked at it close-up) of a choisya that I used to have, which was always very sickly until I eventually found a spot in the garden that it liked.

Dont think so gardener.

The leaves are tinged with red!

Reminds me of Pernettya. Red or purplish berries in winter?

Is it mountain horopito? Otherwise called the pepper tree. I gave google lens a try and the picture it came up with looks exactly like your shrub.

Is is a sickly azalea?

Oh, maybe ceratostigma? Does it have blue flowers?

Skimmia?

I thought a choisya - does it have white flowers in late spring?

However, I am not sure about the purple/green leaves
They don't like full shade.

Is it a weigela?

Weigelas like full sun but are ok in semi-shade
It's not a good time to move it, March is probably the very latest time and it has become rather warm this week.

Just realised I forgot the picture of the leaves!

It's not a weigela or choisya.

Euonymous?

How big/tall is it and what's its spread? From the photo it could be a small plant yet you say its a shrub.
Have you had it long or just bought it?

The way the leaves are attached reminds me of a Pittosporum.

A little more information about it might help?

Horopito as previously suggested a medicinal herb from NZ , google it, a close match.

Is this it?

It looks exactly the same. Leaves very peppery when chewed.

If it IS Horopito, you can tell by just the smallest nibble, as it's a bit peppery as Davidhs says. Very useful too for all manner of ills.

Good picture and description here to compare:

www.nutritionalwellness.com/archives/2007/may/05_horopito.php

Kitty, are the flowers blue?

Ni, chicken they arent!

We have only had it a year and it is a shrub but the height and spread is what l am trying to establish, ExD.