Wanted joint passed to the audience (6)
I believe the answer is:
needed
'wanted' is the definition.
(needing is a kind of wanting)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
(Other definitions for needed that I've seen before include "Was in want of" , "Required; sounds like worked (dough)" , "Lacked something essential" , "Required, necessary" , "'Wanted, required (6)'" .)