Joan Alone

Joan's birthday offers Clare a really good example of why it's so important to be aware of loneliness and isolation in the community.

With added morris dancing...

Sally Phillips is Clare Barker the social worker who has all the right jargon but never a practical solution.

A control freak, Clare likes nothing better than interfering in other people's lives on both a professional and personal basis. Clare is in her thirties, white, middle class and heterosexual, all of which are occasional causes of discomfort to her.

Clare continues her struggle to control both her professional and private life. In today's Big Society there are plenty of challenges out there for an involved, caring social worker. Or even Clare.

Written by Harry Venning and David Ramsden.

Clare ...... Sally Phillips
Brian ...... Alex Lowe
Ray ...... Richard Lumsden
Libby ...... Sarah Kendall
Simon ...... Andrew Wincott
Joan ...... Sarah Thom
Mrs Singh ...... Nina Wadia
Cilla ...... Gbemisola Ikumelo
Headmistress ...... Elizabeth Bennett
Mrs Pickering ...... Nicola Ferguson

Producer: Alexandra Smith

A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in December 2016.