British Comedy Guide
Clare In The Community. Copyright: BBC
Clare In The Community

Clare In The Community

  • Radio sitcom
  • BBC Radio 4
  • 2004 - 2019
  • 73 episodes (12 series)

Social worker Clare Barker (Sally Phillips) has a tendancy to find solutions to other people's problems rather than solving her own. Also features Alex Lowe, Nina Conti, Richard Lumsden, Gemma Craven, Liza Tarbuck and more.

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Series 3, Episode 2 - Merry Christmas, Mrs Lawrence

Clare is determined to survive Christmas Day with her family.

Further details

Clare is five and three quarter years old in a Christmas flashback. Her granddad has dressed as Father Christmas only for her mother Celia to ruin the magic by telling her it is granddad in costume.

In the office, Irene is organising 'code indigo' in time for Christmas day. A scheduled phone call from Irene gives her colleagues an opportunity to leave their families and meet up for an office party. Ray and Helen pen in times, but this year Clare refuses as she is determined to see a whole family Christmas through. Though Megan is alone with Brenda, she still organises a 'code indigo' as she doesn't want to be left out.

At the Barker's house, Clare's mother Celia has already begun on the drink while cooking the dinner and starts seducing Brian in the kitchen asking him to 'scoop out her melon balls' and 'prick her Yorkshire's to see if they are rising'. Celia is doing this in order to get back at her husband Malcolm, as he has been caught having an affair with a younger woman who happens to be the same age as Clare.

Clare's sister Emma arrives at the house and is asked where her husband (Max) and two children are. She keeps making excuses until she reveals he has run away with the children and the nanny. Clare volunteers to pick up grandma from the care home - she brings her back, only to be told she has collected the wrong one! The real Grandma Barker arrives and argues with the other old lady who won't leave. Malcolm is telephoned by Alice, the younger woman he is having the affair, and tells him that she is breaking up. Celia has fainted in the kitchen and Brian is left to sort it all out because Clare has just got a call and must leave for the office because of a 'code indigo' situation.

Broadcast details

Date
Monday 25th December 2006
Time
11:30am
Channel
BBC Radio 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Sally Phillips Clare
Alex Lowe Brian
Nina Conti Megan
Richard Lumsden Ray
Gemma Craven Helen
Andrew Wincott Simon
Ellen Thomas Irene
Guest cast
Brigit Forsyth Celia Barker
Phil Davis Malcolm Barker
Christine Kavanagh Emma Barker
Gerard McDermott Grandad
Writing team
Harry Venning Writer
David Ramsden Writer
Production team
Katie Tyrrell Producer

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