Today the BBC have announced the cast for Jimmy McGovern's latest BBC One drama, Care.
The 90-minute drama is written by Jimmy McGovern (Broken, The Accused, The Street) and Gillian Juckes, whose real life experiences formed the inspiration for the story.
Sheridan Smith plays Jenny, a mother-of-two raising her girls alone after the departure of her husband Dave. Her one lifeline is Mary, played by Alison Steadman, Jenny’s widowed mother whose help with childcare allows Jenny to hold down her full-time job at the supermarket.
When Mary suffers a devastating stroke and develops dementia, Jenny’s world comes crashing down and everything changes for her and her sister Claire, played by Sinead Keenan.
Finding herself torn between her own life and the wellbeing of her mother, Jenny soon discovers that another way could be possible – but she’ll have to fight for it.
Jimmy McGovern says “A great cast, a wonderful director and a superb co-writer! I'm really looking forward to making this." whilst Gillian Juckes added “It has been a great experience working with Jimmy and a wonderful opportunity to write about a subject very close to my heart.”
Controller for BBC Drama Piers Wenger says “It’s always an honour to work with Jimmy McGovern, here joining forces with Gillian Juckes on her first script for a television drama. Together they tell a truly remarkable story of one woman’s battle to get the best care for her mother. The cast, led by the wonderful Sheridan Smith, will portray this poignant story with the warmth and gravitas it deserves.”