Comedian, writer and actress Jo Brand returns as Kim Wilde in a spin-off from her award winning BBC series Getting On. Going Forward is a brand-new three-part comedy for BBC Four that turns the spotlight on the Cinderella of the NHS, domiciliary care, along with the patched-up domestic lives we all lead.
Holby City and Grantchester star Imogen Byron (represented by Byron's Management) and newcomer Ben Colbert, who trained at the Miskin Theatre in Dartford (pictured above) play two of her three children, with Omid Djalili as her private-hire driver husband Dave. The cast also includes Drama Centre graduate Harry Haynes (represented by AHA) and Tom Davis.
Employed by a failing outsource provider as a Care Assistant in the community, Kim receives little more than the minimum wage for a package which consists of unpaid overtime, management bullying and horrendous shifts. Her daily slog is matched only by that of her husband, Dave, a self-employed private hire driver battling long days and grumpy customers, with only the rattlings of fellow driver Terry to fill the endless hours of waiting.
Add to the above an ailing mum, three kids, a dog called Carpet, an unfinished extension and a sister Jackie with a plan to sort out all their woes at a stroke. Going Forward is a universal tale and holds a mirror to modern Britain and the sacrifices made as lives are put on hold for the sake of others. The unique series treads its own fine line between tragedy and triumph to add its own bittersweet voice to this well-trodden ground.
Three episodes. Three days. Three chances to eavesdrop on a day in the life of the Wildes.
Going Forward is written by Jo Brand, directed by Michael Cumming and produced by Geoff Atkinson for independent production companyVera. It will air on BBC Four later this year.