Clare in the Community
Encyclopedia
Clare in the Community is a British
comic strip
in The Guardian
newspaper, written by Harry Venning. The title is a pun on care in the community
. The strip has been successfully adapted for radio on BBC Radio 4
.
Clare is a social worker with all the right jargon who likes to sort out other people's problems while ignoring her own. She is white, middle class and heterosexual - but doesn't like to be reminded of it. She is a control freak
but both her personal and professional lives are out of control.
commissioned a sitcom based on Harry Venning's comic strip. Two episodes were commissioned and a pilot episode, written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden and starring Julia Sawalha
in the title role, was produced by Tiger Aspect
. The pilot wasn't picked up for a full series and has never been broadcast.
as Clare. Repeats have also been broadcast on BBC7 (now Radio 4 Extra). Series 1 to 5 have been released on CD by BBC Audio. Series 6 was broadcast in 2010. Series 7 was recorded in August & September 2011, with broadcast scheduled from 23 September to 28 October.
The first series won the Bronze Comedy Award at the 2005 Sony Radio Awards
The series occasionally 'breaks the fourth wall', with references to (for instance) a comic strip in the Guardian's social work supplement which (the somewhat humourless) Clare doesn't understand, or an old schoolmate of Brian's named Richard Lumsden, who wanted to be an actor but was never heard of again.
Megan's daughter, Brenda, is now almost 1 year old.
, Nali (also played by Nina Conti
).
), and Brian harbours erotic fantasies about Nali.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper, written by Harry Venning. The title is a pun on care in the community
Care in the Community
Care in the Community is the British policy of deinstitutionalization, treating and caring for physically and mentally disabled people in their homes rather than in an institution...
. The strip has been successfully adapted for radio on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
.
Clare is a social worker with all the right jargon who likes to sort out other people's problems while ignoring her own. She is white, middle class and heterosexual - but doesn't like to be reminded of it. She is a control freak
Control freak
In psychology-related slang, control freak is a derogatory term for a person who attempts to dictate how everything around them is done — "a control freak. Scared to let us have differences"...
but both her personal and professional lives are out of control.
TV pilot
In 2002 ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
commissioned a sitcom based on Harry Venning's comic strip. Two episodes were commissioned and a pilot episode, written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden and starring Julia Sawalha
Julia Sawalha
Julia Sawalha is an English actress well known for her roles as Saffron Monsoon in Absolutely Fabulous, Lynda Day, editor of The Junior Gazette in Press Gang and Lydia Bennet in the 1995 television miniseries of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She also played Dorcas Lane in the BBC's costume...
in the title role, was produced by Tiger Aspect
Tiger Aspect Productions
Tiger Aspect Productions is a British television production company, particularly noted for its situation comedies. Co-founded by producer Peter Bennett-Jones, its productions have included popular hits such as The Vicar of Dibley and Mr. Bean...
. The pilot wasn't picked up for a full series and has never been broadcast.
Radio series
In 2004 a radio sitcom, co-written by David Ramsden and produced by Katie Tyrrell, was made for BBC Radio 4, starring Sally PhillipsSally Phillips
-Career:Sally Phillips was the only woman in the 1990 Oxford Revue THRASH which also starred Ed Smith. She did nine consecutive Edinburgh Festivals, appearing in shows such as Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Arthur Smith's version of Hamlet and Cluub Zarathustra with Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Richard Thomas,...
as Clare. Repeats have also been broadcast on BBC7 (now Radio 4 Extra). Series 1 to 5 have been released on CD by BBC Audio. Series 6 was broadcast in 2010. Series 7 was recorded in August & September 2011, with broadcast scheduled from 23 September to 28 October.
The first series won the Bronze Comedy Award at the 2005 Sony Radio Awards
The series occasionally 'breaks the fourth wall', with references to (for instance) a comic strip in the Guardian's social work supplement which (the somewhat humourless) Clare doesn't understand, or an old schoolmate of Brian's named Richard Lumsden, who wanted to be an actor but was never heard of again.
Cast
- Clare Barker...... Sally PhillipsSally Phillips-Career:Sally Phillips was the only woman in the 1990 Oxford Revue THRASH which also starred Ed Smith. She did nine consecutive Edinburgh Festivals, appearing in shows such as Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Arthur Smith's version of Hamlet and Cluub Zarathustra with Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Richard Thomas,...
- Megan Whardby...... Nina ContiNina ContiNina Conti is a British actress, comedian and ventriloquist. Her on-stage puppet sidekick is a depressed monkey named Monk.- Early life :...
- Helen Golightly.....Liza TarbuckLiza TarbuckLiza Tarbuck is an English actress and television and radio presenter, and daughter of comedian Jimmy Tarbuck.She trained at the National Youth Theatre and RADA graduating in 1986 alongside Clive Owen, Rebecca Pidgeon and Serena Harragin.-Acting:...
(Gemma CravenGemma CravenGemma Craven is an award-winning Irish actress.She is possibly best known for her role in the Irish TV drama The Clinic as Dr...
Series 1 - 4) - Brian Harris ...... Alex LoweAlex Lowe (actor)Alex Lowe is an English actor and comedian, who is best known as the creator and voice behind the character 'Barry from Watford' on Steve Wright's BBC Radio 2 show and Absolute Radio's Iain Lee Show-Barry from Watford:...
- Ray Bishop ...... Richard LumsdenRichard LumsdenRichard James Lumsden is a British actor, writer, composer and musician. He played Nathan in Channel 4's drama Sugar Rush and on radio he plays Ray in Clare in the Community.-Career:...
- Irene ...... Ellen ThomasEllen Thomas (actress)Ellen Thomas is an English actress who has appeared in many different television and film roles, but is perhaps best known for her recurring role in the Channel 4 Bristol-based comedy, Teachers or as Grace Olubunmi in EastEnders.-Career:...
(Series 1 - 5) - Simon Burrows...... Andrew Wincott (Series 1 - 5 and 7, Philip PopePhilip PopePhilip R. J. Pope is a British composer and actor. He was educated at Downside School and New College, Oxford.-Performer:He appeared in the Oxford Revue in Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1978 and 1979, both with Angus Deayton...
Series 6) - Nali...... Nina ContiNina ContiNina Conti is a British actress, comedian and ventriloquist. Her on-stage puppet sidekick is a depressed monkey named Monk.- Early life :...
(from Series 5) - Libby McKenzie...... Sarah KendallSarah KendallSarah Kendall is an Australian comedian from Newcastle, New South Wales, now based in London, England. She attained much success on the Australian comedy circuit since winning the Raw Comedy competition in 1998, regularly appearing on Australian television, before moving to the United Kingdom in...
(from Series 6)
Series one
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
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Series two
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
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Series three
At the start of the series, Clare and Brian have 'removed themselves from the property chain' and are staying at Simon's flat.Megan's daughter, Brenda, is now almost 1 year old.
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
|---|
Series four
Irene has been promoted to team leader which causes resentment between her and Clare. Brian and Clare have making frequent trips to the couple counsellor and have also been trying for a baby.| No. | Episode No. | Title |
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Series five
Clare and Brian now have a son, Thomas, whose care is left wholly in the hands of their east European nannyNanny
A nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
, Nali (also played by Nina Conti
Nina Conti
Nina Conti is a British actress, comedian and ventriloquist. Her on-stage puppet sidekick is a depressed monkey named Monk.- Early life :...
).
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
|---|
Series six
Clare's position at the Family Centre is now challenged by Irene's replacement, Libby, "an Aussie and a lesbo - and proud of both" (Sarah KendallSarah Kendall
Sarah Kendall is an Australian comedian from Newcastle, New South Wales, now based in London, England. She attained much success on the Australian comedy circuit since winning the Raw Comedy competition in 1998, regularly appearing on Australian television, before moving to the United Kingdom in...
), and Brian harbours erotic fantasies about Nali.
| No. | Episode No. | Title |
|---|
Series seven
Brian is eventually forgiven for his infidelity with Nali's sisters and Clare accepts his proposal of marriage, while Nali enters Conservative politics.| No. | Episode No. | Title |
|---|