Episode 2 Geordie Finishing School for Girls

Newcastle upon Tyne, cultural capital of the Northeast.

And famously a party city.

But it's also home to some of the most deprived areas in the whole of the UK.

-REPORTER:

-In the Northeast, we have the highest unemployment rate in the country.

A quarter of children in the Northeast live below the poverty line.

And for the past four days, it's also become home to four posh girls from down south.

We should all have jobs. I don't really want one.

Increasingly, British society is divided between the haves...

I quite like the gold Rolex.

..and the have-nots.

There were times when I hadn't money to put gas and electric on.

I've had no choice but to be on benefits.

So far at the Geordie Finishing School,

the privileged young ladies have been paired with Geordie locals.

Most rich people really are stuck up.

Cheers.

They've given up their credit cards

for ten days of living on the equivalent of the dole.

Shall we count it all together? SHOP BELL RINGS

This is different to Waitrose!

They've learnt the subtleties of the Geordie dialect...

ALL: Hoo noo broon coo.

..Geordie dress sense...

I don't really wear casual clothes.

..and the effects of drug abuse.

Never met anyone that's through what she's been through.

THEY SCREAM

Now it's time for these well-to-do young ladies to get down to work.

It's good to see them doing some hard graft, innit?

Sparkling...

But not everyone's happy...

We're getting taken to this horrendous pub.

..when the boot is on the other foot.

I feel very posh, very royal.

-It does good things for your boobs, babes.

-I look dead skinny.

They're like wow!

But there's a whole lot to learn when they enrol at the Geordie Finishing School For Girls.

Oh, no, I'm going to cry.

This programme contains some strong language.

DOGS BARK

Just outside the city centre are the areas of Byker and Walker.

Life here can be tough,

with an unemployment rate that's three times the national average.

The girls have been living in an ex-council house on this estate in Walker.

This week, they will be tested by doing tough,

sweaty and low-paid jobs in Newcastle.

Do you want washing powder?

24-year-old Fiona, from London,

has decided to get the laundry done, in case it gets messy.

SHE SCREAMS

What the fuck?!

Oh, God, that stinks!

What? Oh, God, that smells awful.

Everyone else's garden's got shit in it, we may as well just...

Hiding upstairs is 24-year-old events manager Lucy.

Someone spilt rubbish juice somewhere and I don't like sick.

I mean, I don't like it because I'm going to be sick.

I dreamed that Robert Pattinson fancied me.

20-year-old Fi Wishart is ready to lend a hand.

But whether she's helping or hindering is up for debate.

That is fucking...

Shall we not bother with the...with the stick? Do you want to hold the stick?

Taking charge is 21-year-old military-trained Steph,

who just gets stuck in.

Over the next few days, these privileged girls will be dropped in at the deep end.

They'll be doing hard graft that they wouldn't normally entertain.

When the girls first arrived they were set a strict budgeting task.

-I have 38...

-They were given the equivalent of Jobseeker's Allowance.

After deductions, they each started out with £59.

-I've got £23.38.

-£125 roughly.

-That's loads!

-£125 quid?

I think they get given quite a lot, to be honest.

-We could...

-Go swimming.

-We could easily go swimming.

-It's £2.50 to go swimming.

We could go bowling. We could go to the cinema, we could go to the theatre on this.

Although the girls seem to think they are doing well on the budget,

things are about to get tougher.

We're gonna have a drugs and alcohol session...

Guiding the Southern girls through their work experience is youth worker Huffty.

With over 20 years of knowledge, she knows how difficult life can be.

A really important point for the Southern lasses coming here

is that they're going to find out that

yes, we've got the highest unemployment rate in the country.

However, we're grafters. Geordies work hard and they want to work.

That's gonna be an eye-opener.

Huffty wants the posh girls to know what it's like

grafting for low wages in Newcastle.

So she brought in the Geordie girls to come up with a plan.

-What kind of jobs should we give them so they understand what...

-Cleaners.

-..hard graft is like?

Cleaning.

How do you think they'd manage at your chip shop, Shauna?

I think, "Oh, my nails!"

THEY LAUGH

I think they'd find it difficult.

18-year-old Shauna has lived in Byker all her life is and studying for her A Levels.

She has worked since she was 16 to get herself through her studies.

Excuse me, what kind of fruit juice would you like with your children's meal?

I need to work. I like to know I've worked for my money - it hasn't just been handed to us.

I like knowing I bought that because I worked for that.

I would love to put them in the job I'm in,

because it's 12-hour shifts, plus I've got to juggle my little boy.

What kind of jobs do you think they'd do?

Nothing.

-You don't think they work?

-No.

Too lazy to get up and go out.

As well as looking after her toddler

while her husband is fighting in Afghanistan,

Kim is also a part-time care worker.

-Go and show the babas.

-Bye.

Despite this, she's in debt and struggling to cope.

I go out and I do work to get my own income for me, and my son,

which is that bit harder. Work-wise, it's not easy, money is all right.

But, it could be better.

How do you think they'd cope on a budget in Newcastle?

Possibly, I think two or three of them will cry.

They'll be like, "Why have you sent me here?!"

Makylea wants to become a professional singer.

But, for now, she's an unemployed single mum

and is training to be a carer.

Why have you been naughty? Look at me.

I've met a few wealthy people and it really pisses me off to some great height.

'I'd love to put you in my position for a week

'and do the weekly shopping, 20 quid.'

Because sometimes it's just impossible.

What do you reckon it's like to never worry about money?

Like they would pay daft prices for stuff, like a pair of socks.

THEY LAUGH

Lyndsey had a tough childhood, drinking from the age of 13

and getting into lots of scrapes.

-When you back to school?

-She's turned things around

and is a youth worker trying to help local kids steer clear of trouble.

I think it's important work I do, because, when I was younger,

if I had someone like me walking around the estate,

and taking them on trips and asking them how they are

and not telling them off for things,

I think I would have responded better than the police telling us off.

-You're going to play football? Just here?

-Aye.

Most of my job is talking to people.

My ma says I'd talk to the lamppost if no one else was there!

The Geordie lasses settle on Shauna's chip shop

and an early morning cleaning crabs at the fish quay to give the posh girls a taste of Geordie graft.

Across town, Huffty has popped around to the posh girls' house

to let them know what their first job will be.

Do you like chips? ALL: Yes!

You're going to be going to Shauna's chip shop.

-I knew we were going to do that!

-I had such a weird feeling about that!

Monday is cleaning day in the chip shop.

-Are there any toilets?

-Of course there's toilets.

You won't clean the toilets?

-I can't, I'll retch.

-You'll retch?

-Yes.

-Why?

-I have a really weak stomach.

-Are you proper cockily?

-What's that?

You gag at everything if you're cockily. That's exactly what it means.

So if you started retching, somebody would go, "Look at the cockily bairn."

The most important thing for Lucy about working in the chip shop is what to wear.

-These are fine.

-Really?

-They are!

-Your boots?

-They are real rabbit.

-Shut up! Your boots are made of real rabbit?

-No way! No, really?

-Yeah.

Swear down, they're like rabbit-made boots?!

You're wearing bunny rabbits on your legs?

-They're fine.

-If you wear them in the chip shop, if you think about it,

there will be grease, oil, fat and there's going to be urine.

-Why do bunny rabbits...

-Why will there be wee?!

-Why do bunny rabbits...?

How do you think bunny rabbits smell with human urine all over them?

-No!

-No?

-No! I don't want to change.

-Well, keep them on.

I don't want to go any more.

Shauna's chippy is on the girl's doorstep, so no chance of missing the shift.

We're going to put one or two of you with Karen on the counter.

She'll teach you the till and then we'll have a couple of you in the back,

-with Tommy and Tommy will...

-Love being in the back with Tommy!

-Oh!

-I bet you do!

Toilets in there. So, I'll see you all soon!

Nice girls, aren't they?

I might not be saying that at the end of the night!

Joy has got reason to worry,

as squeamish Lucy's first job will certainly test her ability to hold onto her breakfast.

Right, what it is, Lucy, I'll give you gloves,

because it is a little bit dirty.

-What is that?

-This is a grease drop,

-that's basically where the crap goes down.

-No!

-Oh, yuck!

-It smells a little bit.

-Oh, my God.

-Do smells bother you?

-OK. It's fine. It's fine.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God!

-It's what you guys call cockily.

-Cockily, yes, aye.

That's me. OK. It's fine.

-Can you do it with me?

-I'll give you a hand, aye.

Or should I say you give me a hand?

SHE SCREAMS

It's all squidgy.

-So, that's all the husks of the...

-Stop, stop, stop! I don't want to...

SHE RETCHES

-Oh, God!

-It's not that bad.

-Argh!

It looks like sick, though.

Come on.

SHE GASPS

Although Lucy is struggling, Steph is racing ahead with the bread rolls.

-Quite a pace, then?

-Sorry?

-Quite a pace.

Ooh, well, I've got targets to hit.

I don't know what they are. I'm sure there are targets to hit.

Back in Wales, Steph lives and breathes targets

and thrives on the discipline of military life in the Officers' Training Corps.

The Officers' Training Corps is essentially about taking university students

who are likely to be future captains of industry,

or leaders in whatever specific field they are,

and developing people's confidence, all sorts of essential things.

For Steph, travelling to an area with the highest level of unemployment in the country

is going to pose a very different kind of challenge.

I have very little tolerance of, and patience for, people who

don't make something of their lives and who sit around waiting for life to come to them.

Because it won't and the rest of us, whether privileged or not,

have to work for a living and make something of our own lives,

and everybody should.

In the chippy, Steph is applying her positive thinking and military discipline

to making fish and chip boxes.

I'm putting paper in these boxes and folding them and I've got a target of 100 in half an hour.

Shauna, you go with Fi.

Fi and Shauna are worlds apart.

While Shauna has been working since she was 16, Fi has barely worked at all

and has certainly never cleaned a public toilet before.

And the bottom of the toilet needs doing.

-What, like down here?

-Yeah.

Oh, my God, my face is close to it.

Sparkling.

At home, Fi doesn't have to worry about getting a job.

Her parents top up her student loan with £700 a month.

I love this balcony.

She is privileged.

She's trying to do it on her own,

but...she has a lot of help.

On the work front, she's got no experience whatsoever.

She's never done a day's work in her life!

Having a job is really important.

We should all have jobs. I don't want one, but, like, who does, really?

I love working, me.

I've heard that. Apparently, if you work all the time and you don't work...

-I'd get dead bored.

-You'd get bored?

-Have you got a job now?

-No.

-Why?

-I don't have time.

-So, do you just rely on your parents for money?

-Yeah.

'I've had to work from I was 16.'

I can't keep asking me mam for money now I'm, like, 18 and keep going, "Oh, give us this, give us that."

I can't do what they do, just ask their parents if they needed money.

So I go out and work, and I enjoy working.

I worked for a week at Harvey Nichols in Dubai.

-So, how long did you last in the job? Why did you leave?

-For a week?

Because it was really boring.

It was. It was a horrible job.

That's the difference. She doesn't have to work, but then, like she's saying, she wants to work.

'So, I know where she's coming from with that. But, you know,'

she doesn't really need to work, does she?

-I didn't even get paid.

-Did you not?

-No.

-Is that cos you weren't there long enough to get paid?

-Yeah, basically.

Meanwhile, Steph, continues to excel by trying to lay out the cod fillets

as quickly as possible.

There's no real rush, anyway, you know?

With the boxes, I had a target of 100 an hour.

-No, no. Was it 100 in half an hour?

-Never!

-Yes, I was...

-And I failed.

-There's no real rush in here.

Lovely job.

With so little work experience, this is Fi's big chance to impress.

Not the floor. You can't use the floor.

-Oh, my God! I'm so sorry.

-For contamination, OK?

-I'll get you another cloth.

-Thank you.

-OK?

-Naughty!

I do that at home. Is that really bad?

-That's really bad.

-Does your mum know that you do that?

-Now she does!

-Now she does!

By the end of the shift,

the girls are serving a steady stream of locals...

-All over the chips, yeah.

-90 change.

..when some more familiar customers arrive to see how they're coping.

Can I have some mushy peas?

But it's the local men who really show an interest in the new staff.

-I know. We're a dream, aren't we?

-Wow!

-Do you want something to eat?

So, why are you in a fish shop, then?

-IN THICK ACCENT:

-I just thought cos there was cameras...

-I missed that.

-I missed that as well.

I have never been served in a chip shop by such posh people!

SHE LAUGHS

Is that everything you're having? Two fish and chips? OK.

They were very smiley, I'll give them that.

THEY LAUGH

It's good to see them doing some hard graft labour.

Ex-bad girl Lindsey

is glad the Southern girls have got a taste of hard work.

If they had to stand on their feet all day and do it every day,

I don't think they'd be so smiley.

I've got a complaint to make about the mushy peas.

I found a diamond in it!

THEY LAUGH

Definitely wasn't mine!

The shift's over. No-one's been sick.

But this Geordie favourite isn't tempting everyone.

For me, I wouldn't pick fish and chips.

Mainly because...I like lobster.

I'm kidding! SHE LAUGHS

-I'm not.

-You do like it?

-I love lobster.

For Steph, she isn't tempted to abandon her job plans just yet.

I don't think I could ever have a career in that.

While I thoroughly enjoyed what I did today, I do think that ultimately

I would need something a little bit more

sort of intellectually challenging.

SIRENS BLARE

After a hard day's work,

the girls are keen to get back safely in their house.

WHISTLE

SHE LAUGHS

-MAN:

-Hoot hoot! Chicken soup!

SHE LAUGHS

He's crazy.

Get in the house, get in the house, get in the house!

THEY LAUGH

But once inside, they get a bit of a shock.

Our electricity's gone.

-No! We've got no electricity.

-You're joking.

We haven't paid the meter or whatever it is.

Hang on, I know where the box is as well.

No-one told me that we needed electricity meters. What are they?

-Oh, my God! How long has this been off?

-Shh!

Don't open it. Keep it shut, keep it shut!

This is great. You get back from work

-and there's no fucking electricity.

-Stop whingeing!

Many households in this area use key meters,

which means that running out of electricity is a common occurrence.

No credit means no power. A novel experience for the girls.

What do I do now?

Key budget meter. Do you know what? I hate this word, "budget".

THEY LAUGH

Fiona makes an emergency call to Hufty

as it's 11pm and two of the girls have to get up at 4am in the morning

for their next round of work.

No, there's like a blue button and a white button.

Hang on. What does... Do any of those buttons say anything?

-It says "debt...6".

-We're in debt 6p.

-No, we're not in debt 6p.

-Emergency is 6p. But how do we...

-Can someone try the lights?

-Um... Yeah.

-I'm seeing if that resets it or restarts it.

We're looking for a grey button. That's a grey button.

There we go. OK. So...

-So how long's this going to last?

-It's working!

Girls, can you unplug any unnecessary appliances?

Like, if your phones don't need charging until tomorrow, or don't dry your hair tonight.

The electricity's back on,

but the girls have no idea how long it will last.

The problem is that if we don't get back before a certain time tomorrow,

that fridge will go off and all the food will be ruined.

£6 will last the night, if we're lucky.

Can we not just turn everything off, go to bed now and have just the fridge running?

-Good night.

-No, we'll bring torches.

Although £6 will last several days,

the girls decide to turn in for the night and save the juice.

ALARM CLOCK

Five hours later, and it's time to get up for work.

Hufty has selected Fi and Lucy as the two girls most in need

of more work experience.

Steph and Fiona get a nice lie-in.

It's, like, offensively early today. I'm so tired!

I smell like chip fat as well.

I feel like absolute ass.

Oh, fuck. I don't know how people do this.

Lucy!

I can't fit my jacket on cos I'm wearing so many layers.

Do you think I'll be warm enough? Oh, I don't care.

I'm going to be Mrs Complainer if not.

I've got a key...I think.

The girls are heading to the fish quay at the mouth of the River Tyne.

FIDDLE MUSIC

Once a thriving dock with almost 150 working boats,

now there are just four.

Today, they'll be working in the crab shop,

one of a handful of fishing businesses left in the harbour.

It's a tough job.

Starting at 4am and working through until late afternoon.

This is the worst...

Hufty has asked hard grafters Lyndsey and Kimberley

to join them for moral support.

-And to make sure there's no slacking.

-Hello!

SHE SCREAMS

Oh, my God!

Chopping up crabs will be a tougher test for Lucy

than anything she's faced yet.

You're going to have to be careful with them nails.

Messy, unglamorous work couldn't be further from her life in London,

where she works as an events manager,

booking well-to-do groups of people into exclusive nightclubs.

Some of my friends when they come out

will spend £450 on a bottle of champagne.

It's a big one.

I host a couple of tables, just socialising, chatting to people.

It's just... Yeah, it's pretty chilled.

At the crab shop, the shift's about to begin, and fashion here's

a million miles away from exclusive Chelsea.

Keep yourselves warm, OK? Keep a jumper on.

Everybody's hair in the hat. No fringes out, OK?

-Thank you, ladies.

-Do your ears hang out or do they go in?

We look baldy. You know what I mean? We look fucking bald!

Do you know what I mean?

Take the crab, pop it open.

-Just go for it, it's easier.

-So, that's the meat?

-What if they suddenly move?

-They won't. They're cooked, like chicken.

I don't actually eat crab, I eat sushi.

I like the idea of raw fish, but I've not really...

Aye, I wouldn't eat nowt like this raw, like a big fish.

Can we put £10 on each, please?

Meanwhile, back in Walker, Fiona is topping-up the electricity meter.

That was simple enough. Thank you very much.

That's one task she would never have to worry about back at home.

Fiona lives off the King's Road, London, with her banker boyfriend and three little friends.

They are chihuahuas. I had Bruno five years ago.

Come on, you!

She has several part-time jobs, but her main ambition is to be a singer.

# I'll let you be a fool for me... #

My dream is to have my music on radios, everywhere.

In her quest for success, Fiona is highly motivated

and she has no patience for people on benefits.

It shouldn't be so acceptable to be on benefits.

You know, if I knew anyone that was,

I'd be like, "What are you doing? Go and get a job."

Fiona is about to have her opinions put to the test.

She's off to meet her next-door neighbour in Walker.

-Hello! I'm Fiona.

-I'm Jimmy.

Nice to meet you.

Jimmy is a stay-at-home dad looking after six children whilst on benefits.

-I don't want to wake her up. So, it's just Summer here at the moment?

-Aye, the rest are at school.

-Summer's yours and...

-Dylan, Jack and Bethany.

-Dylan, Jack and Bethany are yours? Sophie and Demi are not.

-No.

-How old are you?

-36.

-No way!

-You're so young and you look after all of them?

-Yeah.

-Your girlfriend is the mum of Summer?

-Yeah.

-What's her name?

-Jane.

-Where's she?

-At work.

Surely she can't earn enough to look after all of you?

She gets family tax credit and all that.

-Does that cover rent as well for here?

-Oh, no. We get free rent.

-Cos she's working 16 hours a week.

-She does 16 hours a week?

-Yeah.

But if she does more, then you wouldn't get free rent, would you?

-No, you would have to pay your rent, aye.

-So...

And what about you?

-I've just been made redundant.

-Have you?

-Yeah.

When Summer goes to school, will you then work as well?

I'm trying to get a job now.

-You can't live off the Government all your life.

-Definitely not.

-So you've got to work.

-That's one thing I'm...

It was an interesting experience.

He was obviously a really nice guy

You're taking on all these kids that aren't yours, and you are, like, looking after your daughter,

but then the sum of the house is paid for. Four-bedroom house.

Yeah, it's...

It's a difficult situation, really.

-This is Leila.

-Hey, sweet-pea. How are you?

Steph, meanwhile, is spending time with Makylea,

who lives with her twins, Leyla and Jayden.

She was laid off three months ago.

What are the sort of financial struggles that you've had with two kids?

I'm not going to sit here and lie and say I've been perfectly fine, because I haven't.

There's been times I've broke down and I've been like, "What am I going to do?"

It's really hard to get a job in Newcastle at the moment.

I don't know anybody that's said it's so easy, because, at the minute, it is very hard.

When you're on a benefit, you get about £135 a fortnight.

I don't think anybody would understand,

unless they had to do it by themselves, what it's like on that kind of money.

It's just impossible to live off.

-Gosh.

-Has spending the morning with Makylea and her kids,

learning about the difficulties of life on the dole caused Steph to shift her opinions?

I've been hugely impressed by the behaviour of Makylea's children.

She pointed out how difficult it is to be on the dole and the things she's had to worry about,

but I think it's important that it's not comfortable.

Because if it is cushy and comfortable and there's a lot of leeway in it,

I think it would encourage people not to work.

Makylea doesn't need that kind of encouragement,

but there will be people out there who need encouragement to get off the dole.

Oh, is Teddy holding it?

Makylea tries hard to put on a brave face about raising two children

alone and job-seeking in Newcastle,

but her situation often gets her down.

Benefits is just something that I wouldn't want to be on.

There's been times when I've woke up through the night and thought, "What can I do?"

It's daft because I don't know if anybody else experiences that.

And I'm just trying to move me life in a positive direction, on a positive path.

What example am I setting for my children? Do you know what I mean?

I want them to see you've got to go out and work for things you want in life.

I want people to look at me and be like, "Look at what she's achieved."

Not, "Oh, that's that girl who's trying to have a dream

"and is going to be on benefits the rest of her life."

Because that's not going to happen.

I think you need a medal for doing this.

-What did you say you do for a living? Care worker?

-I can do that.

I can wipe people's backsides, but I cannae claw crab, I really cannot.

Two hours into their shift and out of the entire crab crew,

it's Lucy who's struggling the most.

I want to go home today. Today is a bad day.

This is disgusting.

I'm going to vomit!

I'm well suited in a fishmonger, me.

Me mam used to say, "Eat well on the fish, kid",

-because I've got a big mouth.

-That is one good thing.

Next time you're in Harrods buying crab, just remember where it came from!

While the posh girls are quite happy to call it a day,

Lyndsey seems perfectly at home.

Champion, good lass.

They've all finished, I'm doing overtime here.

Cos I'm generous like that.

For Fi, the experience has made one thing very clear.

It made me not want a job even more.

I know that's not what I'm supposed to say but I'm being serious.

Oh, my God. I literally was, like, about to burst into tears.

They gave me a job that makes me do pretty ornament things.

Apparently you have to be working there for years to be given this job

because it's a privileged job.

The girls have gained some hands-on experience,

but they haven't exactly warmed to the idea of working for a living.

Can you smell me and tell me if they need washing?

-Come here.

-I literally wanted to cry.

I'm not going to lie, you don't smell great.

Oh, your jeans stink. Take them off. You smell like fish.

-Really?

-I'll wash them now... Yeah, they stink.

-Smell me.

-It was awful.

-You do as well, you smell like fish.

I can't begin to tell you how bad it was. It was awful.

-They made us open this crab and gut them.

-Gut the crab and it was like...

Kim was, like, are these brains? They're like, "Yeah, that's the brains."

Then... I'm not joking, it looked like yellow vomit.

But Hufty wants them to realise

that many people are desperate for any kind of work.

So thanks everybody coming the day. This is...

She's brought them to meet a group of young unemployed people to learn

about the reality of life on the dole.

She wants Steph and Fiona in particular to hear more about

just how tough things can get.

Their idea of people on benefits are just spongers and don't want to go back to work,

we just choose to sit on our arse and not bother, whereas that's not always the case.

There might be a handful of people that would rather do that

but in a lot of situations, definitely not.

Would everybody in the room say there are jobs there if you want them?

-Would you, Anthony?

-Nah, definitely not. I send out three or four CVs at least each day.

When you don't get a reply, it's disheartening.

I know a few people that would give an arm and a leg to have a job,

that would love to support their kids, their family,

take them on holiday but they can't cos they're on the dole, there's nothing.

It's really hard to find a job with the kind of qualifications I've got.

17-year-old Ryan applied for a job at a burger chain.

I went to the interview and they said that I'm too overqualified.

I've got too many basic skills.

That's ridiculous.

-The rate of unemployment is so low...

-And they turn people away?

Because they're too qualified.

How did that make you feel, Ryan?

I kicked off with them. I screamed at the manager's face.

Since when do you need a good qualification or a bad one to flip a burger?

I was really shocked, actually, to hear how hard it was for Ryan to get a job.

Unreal, I was really shocked about that.

It's stopped you going for another job because of your experience of what happened in the last job.

If you keep getting knock-backs from jobs constantly, you'll just think, "If I try another one,

"I'll get another knock-back."

I've lost out in a job very, very recently.

I didn't at all feel like, "Why did you do this to me?"

I felt, "OK, there's someone out there better for that job than me."

Did you not think that you didn't feel that way,

because you do have parents that are well-off

so that if you wasn't desperate for money, your parents would give you, so you didn't feel that way?

It's the only chance to get money.

How many times have you been knocked back from a job?

A slack handful, I suppose. Maybe ten times that don't get back to me.

Cos these guys... Emma, you said, every day.

And just not hearing back.

On the internet every day, the papers.

I don't think Steph understood it whatsoever.

I think she's still got her politician head on.

She's still going to have them views, no matter what she's telled.

No matter how many people come up to her

and tell her different circumstances,

I think she's always going to have them views.

As a politician.

She hears a lot of politics and she's got her politics head on,

whereas we live it.

I mean, I know Burger King in town, they're taking on applications

but I'm not thinking about going and applying,

in case I'm too overqualified to work there as well.

For Ryan, his situation is even more serious.

He can't prove to the dole office that he's not welcome at home,

so he can't make a claim.

I'm not receiving no income

and I haven't been for about two years now.

How do you survive then?

I'll scrounge money on the Green off old people there.

Just ask them for 50p, a pound and that.

If we didn't do that, where would we be?

We've got no money, no food, nowhere to stay

and it is really hard and it does affect you in a lot of ways.

It affects you physically and mentally, it really does.

How does it affect you mentally? How does it make you feel?

Quite depressive really,

because it's like I can't get anything I actually want.

I'm just thankful I've got a roof over my head at the moment.

-You've got a wicked girlfriend too, dead positive.

-Fiancee.

-Fiancee?

-Yeah.

-Eeh, excellent.

Because I tell you what, I thought I was a positive person

-but she's a tower of strength, her.

-How old are you?

-I'm 19.

-And how old are you?

-I'm 17.

That makes me so sad.

I'm not trying to be patronising but you're 17. Like...

I mean, I'm always on my feet and that, trying to get a job.

If you didn't have the support of your mate you live with,

or from your lass, Kerri, where would he be now?

To be honest, I'd either still be on the streets or I would be dead.

Meeting Ryan has had a big effect upon most of the group.

If you were my son, I'd still have you at home.

Personally.

Steph's not voicing any change of opinion,

but Fiona is beginning to show signs of a re-think.

You know, it's so easy to just assume laziness.

You don't actually think, "Maybe this has been happening or you've been..."

I don't think for a second if you were my son I'd throw you out at 17.

I'd still want you with me.

Until I've met you, I could think that you're just lazy and can't be arsed to do anything.

And that's the truth. I feel really bad for feeling that...

For really angry without knowing the full reasons.

I mean, yes, there are people that just can't...

The truth is, Ryan and Kerri are not unusual.

In an area still affected by the decline of the shipbuilding

and mining industries, almost 26,000 18 to 24-year-olds

in the Northeast are currently claiming unemployment benefit.

It just makes my worries seem so small and so trivial and I was like, "Oh, my God."

Like, "God, I really don't have to worry, do I?"

It made me, like, "Oh, God, maybe I should stop worrying about such stupid things",

but at the same time, I don't have to worry so...why should I?

A few days ago, the girls thought living on the dole was a breeze.

But Lucy is beginning to see things a bit differently.

I've done really badly with my spending,

which isn't a surprise for me, I'm genuinely quite terrible.

I sort of owe Fiona quite a bit of money for the gas and electricity.

Apart from Steph, all of the girls are running out of money.

With less than £20 left between them,

Fiona is really feeling the pressure.

It's scary. I look in my little envelope now.

After paying the electric today, obviously I wasn't with you guys,

so I gave all my money for that.

And now I feel, "Oh, God." But I'm panicked.

It's a horrible feeling to be, like, "Shit, I have £20 left and that's it."

DOG BARKS

It's Tuesday evening and Fiona and Lucy are both skint.

So rather than go out on the town, the girls are about to experience nightlife on a budget, Byker-style.

An evening in at Shauna's house.

Armed with two bottles of budget lemonade,

the girls leave for Shauna's party.

That's right, you just stand there pretending.

And the police car comes and does you for vandalism.

SIREN BLARES

THEY CHEER

GIRLS LAUGH

WOLF WHISTLE

God, I could really do with some Cristal or something nice, yummy.

I so could though. I'm having withdrawal symptoms.

CHEERING

Shauna has invited all her friends and family around but is anxious

about what the posh girls will think of them.

As it's karaoke tonight, it's a chance for Makylea to shine.

# Does that make me crazy?

# Does that make me crazy?

# Just like me-eeee. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Woo woo woo woo!

Do yous want a drink?

-That's a large shot.

-Shot it, shot it.

Time for a traditional Geordie party game.

It's really strong.

Listen, we're having a game of word association.

Word association Geordie-style involves a special cocktail

of all the spirits you can get your hands on, including Blue WKD and Cactus Jack.

This is my Geordie drinking game. If you say anything beginning with P or S, you take a shot.

-That's not a shot.

-It's fucking half a mouthful!

-House.

-Flat.

-London.

-Town.

-Semi-detached.

-Semi's an S!

Right, now you. Now you start, think of summat.

-Sherlock.

-Sherlock, that was an S. Sherlock's an S!

Drink it!

I just can't believe how smashed everyone gets.

-ALL:

-Down it, down it, down it, down it, down it, down it,

down it, down it, down it!

This is home brew, like, I'm shitfaced.

Fuck off! Nah, I've got to drink. Look at me eyes, I'm cock-eyed.

-Drink the rest.

-I'm starting now.

No, I don't normally have house parties quite like this!

Come on, Makylea, come on!

Come on, come on. Yeah!

-High five, high five.

-I'm going to spew!

Next time, you're going to think before you say the word "spunk".

-I wasn't going to say that.

-I had a dance-off with...

They're going to see us for who I am tonight.

They've all gone in, drank and they've all actually got along with everybody.

I'm really proud of it actually. I'm quite proud of myself for tonight.

Back home the girls get a chance to reflect on the evening.

If we went to a friend's house on a Tuesday evening,

there's more of like a social thing to it,

like chatting to everyone, getting to know everyone,

than let's get f...ing hooned.

I really think Kim has it so hard.

She works in a really, I think, awful environment. I could not do...

I think I'd choose the fish market over her job.

-Even though she said...

-She's not told me what she does.

-She works in a care home?

-She looks after...care home

for drug addicts and alcoholics.

They're violent to her, really offensive and they just shit and vomit

and are just disgusting everywhere

and she has to clean all that up.

You kind of feel like she has one night off where she gets wasted

and has fun with her friends, it's like, OK.

Also, she's got to care for, you know, her family...

A week into their stay.

After shopping, paying the meter and the odd trip to Costa's,

most of the girls are practically broke.

Do not fear. We are wealthier than we think we are

because I've been collecting the money from the street

that I found. Every time I find a coin, I pick it up

and we've accumulated the princely sum of £2.13.

-Wow!

-I know.

-In the last two days?

-In the last week.

Fortunately, Huffty has arrived with another solution

to a life of poverty, albeit a controversial one.

Hello! Now...

A bag of goods available locally, at black market prices.

-Really nice.

-Police are really nice.

Christina Aguilera.

-What, perfume?

-Yes. Some nice Uggs. Ooh, some nice red wine.

Mmm, a lovely, fresh leg of lamb.

I'm all over that, I would so have that.

For... five pounds.

-He-hey!

-I say thank you.

-Yeah.

-I'm not having that, though.

If I think it could've been stolen or something, then...

If you're hungry, you don't give a shit if it's been stolen.

-But I'm not hungry, I've managed on my budget. We're not hungry.

-Yeah, of course.

If that's only going to cost a fiver, that could feed... If you've got a family...

-That could feed next door.

-No, but you encourage thieving if you do that, you shouldn't.

Of course, I get that, but if you've got a family, kids and they're crying and hungry,

you'll feed them the rack of lamb, you won't give a shit that it's stolen.

And it's not encouraging it really

because no-one really says that it's stolen.

What would you like to purchase from my items?

The lamb! I'd love the lamb.

-If we were staying here forever...

-Yeah?

..we'd definitely buy the lamb.

The leg of lamb might get the majority vote,

but for Steph it's once again brought up

a moral line that she refuses to cross.

I think it's very surprising the girls are behaving like this. It is an issue of morality.

Things are illegal for a reason and the reason is

because other people get hurt in the process.

Theft, trafficking - anything like that.

And we therefore bear responsibility

for the kind of things that go on in our society.

-£30 for four bottles of wine?

-That's not that good.

-That's not reasonable at all.

Well, I could negotiate with you.

For the girls, the black market goods have brought up some serious ethical issues.

And with tough financial times ahead,

the black market economy only looks set to grow.

For Fi, the last couple of days have made her realise

how different her life is at home.

I've never really done any, like, manual labour as a job.

And I don't think many of the other girls have either.

It's like seeing another side, isn't it?

Because with this whole thing, we've worked out that we live in like a different world

and it's not like a wrong world, it's just a different world.

Newcastle's iconic quayside,

famous for its Millennium Bridge, Gateshead Sage Music Centre

and the Tyne Bridge.

Huffty wants the girls to see the posh side of town.

In the past ten years, the Quayside has undergone a massive face-lift

with millions of pounds being spent turning once derelict wharf buildings into luxury flats,

businesses, restaurants and art galleries like the Baltic.

It's different world for the Geordie girls.

If you had to come down here, you'd have to get well dressed.

You couldn't go into one of these bars with tracksuit pants on, cos you'd get funny looks probably.

-Everybody down here used to be common as chips, didn't they?

-Aye.

-No suited and booted and posh people.

-It's been taken over by posh people.

-Yeah, it has.

You Southern lasses, does this feel like London Embankment?

Does this feel somewhere where you feel at home and relaxed?

I feel so at home and I just want to go to a nice restaurant.

-Get me a sangria.

-All I want is a T-bone steak.

-Reminds me of home.

Don't cry.

-Oh, no, I feel like that, too.

-No.

I kind of really want to go home now.

It's just as well that the Southern girls feel

so comfortable on the Quayside, because tomorrow night

Huffty will take them to a place that couldn't be further from home.

It's the end of the working week and time to let the Southern girls know what's in store tonight.

But first, Huffty has a treat for the Geordies,

an invite to a black-tie event at a local castle.

I'm going to take the Geordie lasses to a top-notch posh venue.

-Get in!

-Excellent news!

-To have a top-notch evening, hob-nobbing with posh people.

-I'm buzzing.

-As it's a very formal event, and I'm no expert in etiquette,

I'm going to ask Steph to go with you.

God, my heart's pounding.

But for the southerners, something very different is lined up.

I'm going to take the posh lasses for a traditional Geordie night out

in my favourite local pub.

-Where's that?

-It's the Butcher's.

-Ah, you're not!

-We're going to the Butcher's on Shields Road.

What about that?

I wouldn't even go to the Butcher's to go to the toilet.

-No offence, Huffty.

-It's not that bad. It's just a normal pub in Newcastle.

I'm jealous.

-Look at her!

-She's like...

Jealousy is the root of all evils, angel.

I don't care.

Take us all!

-Hey, there's nowt wrong with a good Geordie night out!

-I want eat really nice food.

-Well, you can do that when you go home.

-We'll only get one chance.

It's beans on toast for us every day, pet.

Let it shine, let it shine.

I love it.

Don't worry, Cockney bairn, you'll be alreet.

Tonight, Huffty is showing the Geordie lasses a world

of glamour, glitz and fairytale ball gowns

normally completely beyond their reach.

I'm in absolute heaven right now, I swear to God. God is looking down on me.

I just want try it. I just want to try it.

The Geordie lasses may be in heaven

but for the Southern girls, the complaining starts straight away.

Oh, my god. We're getting taken to this horrendous pub that,

apparently, all the Geordie girls said they wouldn't even go in there to use the loo.

Because it's so disgusting.

Oh! You look amazing.

-Thank you.

-I'm not joking, that is stunning.

For Kimberley, it's like all her Christmases have come at once.

Honestly, I don't know why you should try on another one. How do you feel?

-Like a princess.

-So cute.

Oh, my gosh, it makes you look lovely.

Back at the house the Southern girls have been told to dress pub style

and they're certainly less than enthusiastic.

Look at the crotch on them.

That is actually surreal. I would normally never ever wear this, ever.

Oh, wow!

Oh, my god.

-IN POSH VOICE:

-Oh well, hello there, mine's a double vodka and Red Bull.

Love it.

Babes, that's way too much sparkle. Sorry. Sorry.

You've just gone from classy to pantomime.

Sorry to say it, but I'm just letting you know.

-You should lose the tiara.

-Oh, leave my tiara alone.

Steph said it looked like I was going to the pantomime, and I think that's just a cheek.

This is the only chance I think I'll ever get

to go to something like this and wear a gown like this,

so I want to go all out. I want a tiara and everything.

This dress makes me want to do, like, posh dancing.

Slow dancing with a partner. Very much like sort of that.

For single mum Makylea, wearing a dress like this

is beyond her wildest dreams.

Don't you feel like a million dollars?

You look incredible!

I really am going to cry.

I've never done anything like this before and it's not something I'll be able to do every day

or do every other weekend, try a dress on like this.

I always dreamt of wearing a dress like this from being a little girl.

Everyone's going to laugh at us.

Sorry.

Oh, I don't want to go to this pub and drink pints.

Back at the house, the girls are still complaining

about not being invited to the castle.

I would never wear a top like this.

Only because it keeps falling down and my boobs keep popping out and we're going to like a seedy bar.

I may have to change it.

-I feel like a chav.

-That's the idea.

Oh my God, this is a once in a lifetime thing!

GIRLS SCREAM

The Geordies have been invited to the historic 14th century Lumley Castle.

Oh, my God. It's an actual castle!

This evening, there will be a formal black tie event.

Champagne, canapes and a lavish five-course dinner.

I'm Francesca.

-Hi, I'm Gaynor.

-Hi, Gaynor.

-Hiya.

Surrounded by posh people, Shauna is finding the evening a bit of a challenge.

I think Shauna feels the most uncomfortable.

She's almost got herself into a mental block, where she thinks,

"I feel stupid, so I'm not going to try."

Maybe not going to try, but she's just feeling awkward.

Because we don't usually dress like this, so it's a big change.

-Especially for Shauna. She's usually in jeans and hoodies.

-Right.

You could be anyone to them.

They don't know that, that you normally wear jeans and that.

That's why I'm not bothered.

So, you could come like this, and go, "Oooh, raaa!",

and they wouldn't know any different.

I'm right next to the Ebor races, actually. It's a great location.

If I went up to them and said, "Air, hell-air, my name's Lyndsey",

they wouldn't know, eh? They wouldn't know I was a Geordie.

The Butcher's Arms, Byker,

where Huffty is giving the girls a prep talk.

OK, so we're about to go into the Butcher's Arms on Shields Road. It's my favourite pub in Newcastle.

I feel like we're about to burgle the place.

Really don't say that in this area. OK.

So, we're going to have a really good night.

The locals are proper friendly, like all Geordies.

However, if you rip the piss out of them, you'll get a Byker teacake.

-What's that?

-You really don't want to know what a Byker teacake is.

-Can you tell us?

-It's like, you'll get a nut.

So, let's not do any of that.

If we're all just chilled, they'll be chilled with us, OK?

Right, you ready? Come on then, let's go.

MAN: Come on!

Thank you, Huffty.

Right, lasses, here's to a good night out.

ALL: Cheers!

Back at the castle,

the guests have been called to the dining room.

Can I have some white, please?

Along with their five-course meal, the Geordie girls are enjoying vintage wines from the cellar.

Straight down the hatch.

Meanwhile in the pub, it's Jaegerbomb shots all round.

Followed by Geordie skittles,

a pint-sized cocktail of spirits and orange juice.

What are the three glasses for?

You usually have one for water..

Over at the castle Kimberley is getting a lesson in table etiquette from Rupert.

One for white and one for red. Because if you're eating fish, you'll tend to be served white wine.

And if you're eating meat, especially red meat, it will be red wine.

Back in the Butchers,

the girls are getting a lesson in catch the beermat.

Hooray!

Desperate for additional entertainment, the girls start checking out local talent.

What do you think of him? Straight ahead. 12 o'clock.

-He's cute.

-There are good-looking guys in here.

I know it sounds awful, but they're just going to be from round here

and it's just completely different backgrounds.

So it's like eye candy.

At Lumley Castle, the evening is drawing to a close

with cherry Clafoutis and Amaretto fondant.

For most of the Geordie lasses, tonight has been a revelation.

They have finally got to see what life is like as a posh girl.

Tonight has been the best night a girl could ever ask for.

I'm gobsmacked, I haven't got any word that could describe the way I feel right now.

I would definitely do something like this again in the future.

Fine wines and brie. Amaretto, that was absolutely lush.

Although I didn't it all cos it was quite sickly and a bit runny, but it was really nice.

Despite her nerves, Shauna has made it through dinner

but is definitely ready for her carriage home.

I don't think I could make this a regular kind of thing, no.

I like kicking back with jammies on and a spoon of ice cream, that's me.

But for some of the Geordies, seeing the reactions of the Southern girls

when they were deprived of a fancy night out

has underlined tensions between the two groups.

I don't think dark-haired Fiona and Lucy get it at all.

Because they know that they've got a cushy home to go back to, they're not really bothered.

I would say Lucy and Fi are very spoilt. I would call them spoilt brats.

Fi and Lucy aren't learning enough.

Like, this morning they asked Steph if she wanted to go to Costa

and she said she was going to watch her budget, and she said,

"Oh, sod the budget", and I was like, "Are you for real?" I really wanted to shake her and say,

"Oh my God, give me your budget, you're not having any more money."

Next week on Geordie Finishing School for Girls...

Not in the house!

Lyndsey has had enough of the posh girls.

I couldn't live with them. I'd kill them.

Do you have any hidden talents?

Definitely not.

-BELL RINGS

-The Southern girls go speed dating with Northern boys.

Look how big he is!

Emotions reach breaking point.

I'm going out with no knickers and no bra on tonight and I've never done that before in my life.

And it's the last-blast, wild Geordie night out.

No. I'm not having fun.

I think that Fiona feels like she's in hell.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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