Episode 2 Geordie Finishing School for Girls


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Newcastle upon Tyne, cultural capital of the Northeast.

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And famously a party city.

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

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-REPORTER:

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

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

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

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

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

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I quite like the gold Rolex.

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..and the have-nots.

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

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

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So far at the Geordie Finishing School,

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the privileged young ladies have been paired with Geordie locals.

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Most rich people really are stuck up.

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Cheers.

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They've given up their credit cards

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

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Shall we count it all together? SHOP BELL RINGS

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This is different to Waitrose!

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

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ALL: Hoo noo broon coo.

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..Geordie dress sense...

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I don't really wear casual clothes.

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..and the effects of drug abuse.

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

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THEY SCREAM

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

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

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Sparkling...

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But not everyone's happy...

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We're getting taken to this horrendous pub.

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..when the boot is on the other foot.

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I feel very posh, very royal.

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-It does good things for your boobs, babes.

-I look dead skinny.

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They're like wow!

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

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Oh, no, I'm going to cry.

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This programme contains some strong language.

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DOGS BARK

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

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Life here can be tough,

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

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

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This week, they will be tested by doing tough,

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sweaty and low-paid jobs in Newcastle.

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Do you want washing powder?

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24-year-old Fiona, from London,

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

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SHE SCREAMS

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What the fuck?!

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Oh, God, that stinks!

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What? Oh, God, that smells awful.

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

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

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

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

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I dreamed that Robert Pattinson fancied me.

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

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

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That is fucking...

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

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

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who just gets stuck in.

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

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

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

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-I have 38...

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

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After deductions, they each started out with £59.

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-I've got £23.38.

-£125 roughly.

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-That's loads!

-£125 quid?

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

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-We could...

-Go swimming.

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-We could easily go swimming.

-It's £2.50 to go swimming.

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

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

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things are about to get tougher.

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

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

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

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A really important point for the Southern lasses coming here

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is that they're going to find out that

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

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

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That's gonna be an eye-opener.

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

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grafting for low wages in Newcastle.

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

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

-Cleaners.

-..hard graft is like?

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Cleaning.

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

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I think, "Oh, my nails!"

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THEY LAUGH

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I think they'd find it difficult.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Nothing.

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-You don't think they work?

-No.

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Too lazy to get up and go out.

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As well as looking after her toddler

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while her husband is fighting in Afghanistan,

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Kim is also a part-time care worker.

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-Go and show the babas.

-Bye.

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

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

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

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But, it could be better.

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

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

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

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Makylea wants to become a professional singer.

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

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and is training to be a carer.

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Why have you been naughty? Look at me.

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

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

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'and do the weekly shopping, 20 quid.'

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Because sometimes it's just impossible.

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

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

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THEY LAUGH

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

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and getting into lots of scrapes.

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-When you back to school?

-She's turned things around

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

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

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if I had someone like me walking around the estate,

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and taking them on trips and asking them how they are

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and not telling them off for things,

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

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

-Aye.

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Most of my job is talking to people.

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

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The Geordie lasses settle on Shauna's chip shop

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

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

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to let them know what their first job will be.

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Do you like chips? ALL: Yes!

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

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-I knew we were going to do that!

-I had such a weird feeling about that!

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Monday is cleaning day in the chip shop.

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-Are there any toilets?

-Of course there's toilets.

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You won't clean the toilets?

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-I can't, I'll retch.

-You'll retch?

-Yes.

-Why?

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-I have a really weak stomach.

-Are you proper cockily?

-What's that?

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

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

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

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-These are fine.

-Really?

-They are!

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-Your boots?

-They are real rabbit.

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

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-No way! No, really?

-Yeah.

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

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You're wearing bunny rabbits on your legs?

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-They're fine.

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

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

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-Why do bunny rabbits...

-Why will there be wee?!

-Why do bunny rabbits...?

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

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-No!

-No?

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-No! I don't want to change.

-Well, keep them on.

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I don't want to go any more.

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

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

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

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-with Tommy and Tommy will...

-Love being in the back with Tommy!

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-Oh!

-I bet you do!

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

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Nice girls, aren't they?

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

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Joy has got reason to worry,

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

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

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because it is a little bit dirty.

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-What is that?

-This is a grease drop,

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-that's basically where the crap goes down.

-No!

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-Oh, yuck!

-It smells a little bit.

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-Oh, my God.

-Do smells bother you?

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

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Oh, my God. Oh, my God!

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-It's what you guys call cockily.

-Cockily, yes, aye.

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

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-Can you do it with me?

-I'll give you a hand, aye.

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Or should I say you give me a hand?

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SHE SCREAMS

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It's all squidgy.

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

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

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SHE RETCHES

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-Oh, God!

-It's not that bad.

-Argh!

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It looks like sick, though.

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Come on.

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SHE GASPS

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

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-Quite a pace, then?

-Sorry?

-Quite a pace.

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

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

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Back in Wales, Steph lives and breathes targets

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

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The Officers' Training Corps is essentially about taking university students

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who are likely to be future captains of industry,

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or leaders in whatever specific field they are,

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

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

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is going to pose a very different kind of challenge.

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

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

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

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

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and everybody should.

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

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to making fish and chip boxes.

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

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Shauna, you go with Fi.

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Fi and Shauna are worlds apart.

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

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and has certainly never cleaned a public toilet before.

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And the bottom of the toilet needs doing.

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-What, like down here?

-Yeah.

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

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Sparkling.

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

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

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I love this balcony.

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She is privileged.

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She's trying to do it on her own,

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but...she has a lot of help.

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

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

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Having a job is really important.

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

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I love working, me.

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

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-I'd get dead bored.

-You'd get bored?

-Have you got a job now?

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-No.

-Why?

-I don't have time.

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

-Yeah.

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

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

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

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

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I worked for a week at Harvey Nichols in Dubai.

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

-For a week?

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Because it was really boring.

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It was. It was a horrible job.

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

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

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

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-I didn't even get paid.

-Did you not?

-No.

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

-Yeah, basically.

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

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as quickly as possible.

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

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

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

-Never!

-Yes, I was...

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-And I failed.

-There's no real rush in here.

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Lovely job.

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

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

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

-For contamination, OK?

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-I'll get you another cloth.

-Thank you.

-OK?

-Naughty!

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I do that at home. Is that really bad?

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-That's really bad.

-Does your mum know that you do that?

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-Now she does!

-Now she does!

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By the end of the shift,

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

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-All over the chips, yeah.

-90 change.

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

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Can I have some mushy peas?

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

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

-Wow!

-Do you want something to eat?

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

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-IN THICK ACCENT:

-I just thought cos there was cameras...

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-I missed that.

-I missed that as well.

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

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SHE LAUGHS

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

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

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THEY LAUGH

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

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Ex-bad girl Lindsey

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

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

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

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

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I found a diamond in it!

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THEY LAUGH

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Definitely wasn't mine!

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

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But this Geordie favourite isn't tempting everyone.

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

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Mainly because...I like lobster.

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I'm kidding! SHE LAUGHS

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-I'm not.

-You do like it?

-I love lobster.

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

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

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

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I would need something a little bit more

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sort of intellectually challenging.

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SIRENS BLARE

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After a hard day's work,

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

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WHISTLE

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SHE LAUGHS

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-MAN:

-Hoot hoot! Chicken soup!

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SHE LAUGHS

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He's crazy.

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

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THEY LAUGH

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

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Our electricity's gone.

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-No! We've got no electricity.

-You're joking.

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

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

0:18:010:18:04

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

0:18:040:18:08

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

-Shh!

0:18:080:18:11

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

0:18:110:18:14

This is great. You get back from work

0:18:140:18:16

-and there's no fucking electricity.

-Stop whingeing!

0:18:160:18:19

Many households in this area use key meters,

0:18:190:18:23

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

0:18:230:18:27

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

0:18:270:18:30

What do I do now?

0:18:300:18:32

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

0:18:320:18:36

THEY LAUGH

0:18:360:18:37

Fiona makes an emergency call to Hufty

0:18:370:18:41

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

0:18:410:18:44

for their next round of work.

0:18:440:18:46

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

0:18:460:18:50

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

0:18:500:18:53

-It says "debt...6".

-We're in debt 6p.

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

0:18:530:18:58

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

-Can someone try the lights?

0:18:580:19:03

-Um... Yeah.

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

0:19:030:19:06

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

0:19:080:19:12

There we go. OK. So...

0:19:120:19:15

-So how long's this going to last?

-It's working!

0:19:150:19:17

Girls, can you unplug any unnecessary appliances?

0:19:170:19:21

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

0:19:210:19:26

The electricity's back on,

0:19:260:19:29

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

0:19:290:19:31

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

0:19:310:19:35

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

0:19:350:19:38

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

0:19:380:19:41

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

0:19:410:19:45

-Good night.

-No, we'll bring torches.

0:19:450:19:47

Although £6 will last several days,

0:19:470:19:50

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

0:19:500:19:53

ALARM CLOCK

0:19:550:19:57

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

0:19:590:20:02

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

0:20:050:20:09

of more work experience.

0:20:090:20:11

Steph and Fiona get a nice lie-in.

0:20:130:20:16

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

0:20:160:20:21

I smell like chip fat as well.

0:20:210:20:23

I feel like absolute ass.

0:20:230:20:27

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

0:20:270:20:30

Lucy!

0:20:300:20:31

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

0:20:350:20:39

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

0:20:390:20:42

I'm going to be Mrs Complainer if not.

0:20:430:20:47

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

0:20:470:20:50

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

0:20:500:20:53

FIDDLE MUSIC

0:20:530:20:55

Once a thriving dock with almost 150 working boats,

0:20:580:21:01

now there are just four.

0:21:010:21:03

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

0:21:050:21:07

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

0:21:070:21:11

It's a tough job.

0:21:120:21:13

Starting at 4am and working through until late afternoon.

0:21:130:21:18

This is the worst...

0:21:210:21:23

Hufty has asked hard grafters Lyndsey and Kimberley

0:21:230:21:26

to join them for moral support.

0:21:260:21:28

-And to make sure there's no slacking.

-Hello!

0:21:280:21:32

SHE SCREAMS

0:21:320:21:34

Oh, my God!

0:21:340:21:36

Chopping up crabs will be a tougher test for Lucy

0:21:360:21:40

than anything she's faced yet.

0:21:400:21:42

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

0:21:420:21:45

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

0:21:450:21:49

where she works as an events manager,

0:21:490:21:51

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

0:21:510:21:55

Some of my friends when they come out

0:21:560:21:58

will spend £450 on a bottle of champagne.

0:21:580:22:02

It's a big one.

0:22:020:22:04

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

0:22:050:22:10

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

0:22:100:22:11

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

0:22:120:22:16

a million miles away from exclusive Chelsea.

0:22:160:22:19

Keep yourselves warm, OK? Keep a jumper on.

0:22:190:22:21

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

0:22:210:22:25

-Thank you, ladies.

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

0:22:250:22:28

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

0:22:280:22:34

Do you know what I mean?

0:22:340:22:35

Take the crab, pop it open.

0:22:350:22:37

-Just go for it, it's easier.

-So, that's the meat?

0:22:380:22:42

-What if they suddenly move?

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

0:22:420:22:46

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

0:22:460:22:49

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

0:22:490:22:52

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

0:22:520:22:56

Can we put £10 on each, please?

0:22:590:23:01

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

0:23:010:23:04

That was simple enough. Thank you very much.

0:23:040:23:07

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

0:23:070:23:11

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

0:23:120:23:18

They are chihuahuas. I had Bruno five years ago.

0:23:180:23:22

Come on, you!

0:23:220:23:23

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

0:23:230:23:27

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

0:23:270:23:30

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

0:23:300:23:34

In her quest for success, Fiona is highly motivated

0:23:350:23:38

and she has no patience for people on benefits.

0:23:380:23:41

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

0:23:410:23:45

You know, if I knew anyone that was,

0:23:450:23:48

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

0:23:480:23:50

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

0:23:500:23:54

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

0:23:540:23:57

-Hello! I'm Fiona.

-I'm Jimmy.

0:23:590:24:01

Nice to meet you.

0:24:010:24:03

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

0:24:030:24:08

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

-Aye, the rest are at school.

0:24:080:24:12

-Summer's yours and...

-Dylan, Jack and Bethany.

0:24:120:24:15

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

-No.

0:24:150:24:19

-How old are you?

-36.

-No way!

0:24:190:24:22

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

-Yeah.

0:24:220:24:25

-Your girlfriend is the mum of Summer?

-Yeah.

-What's her name?

-Jane.

0:24:250:24:28

-Where's she?

-At work.

0:24:280:24:30

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

0:24:300:24:33

She gets family tax credit and all that.

0:24:330:24:35

-Does that cover rent as well for here?

-Oh, no. We get free rent.

0:24:350:24:39

-Cos she's working 16 hours a week.

-She does 16 hours a week?

-Yeah.

0:24:390:24:43

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

0:24:430:24:46

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

-So...

0:24:460:24:48

And what about you?

0:24:480:24:50

-I've just been made redundant.

-Have you?

-Yeah.

0:24:500:24:52

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

0:24:520:24:55

I'm trying to get a job now.

0:24:550:24:57

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

-Definitely not.

0:24:570:25:00

-So you've got to work.

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

0:25:000:25:03

It was an interesting experience.

0:25:030:25:05

He was obviously a really nice guy

0:25:050:25:07

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

0:25:070:25:12

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

0:25:120:25:16

Yeah, it's...

0:25:160:25:18

It's a difficult situation, really.

0:25:190:25:23

-This is Leila.

-Hey, sweet-pea. How are you?

0:25:250:25:28

Steph, meanwhile, is spending time with Makylea,

0:25:280:25:31

who lives with her twins, Leyla and Jayden.

0:25:310:25:33

She was laid off three months ago.

0:25:330:25:36

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

0:25:360:25:40

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

0:25:400:25:44

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

0:25:440:25:49

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

0:25:490:25:52

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

0:25:520:25:56

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

0:25:560:26:01

I don't think anybody would understand,

0:26:010:26:04

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

0:26:040:26:08

It's just impossible to live off.

0:26:080:26:09

-Gosh.

-Has spending the morning with Makylea and her kids,

0:26:090:26:13

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

0:26:130:26:19

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

0:26:190:26:24

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

0:26:240:26:28

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

0:26:280:26:31

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

0:26:310:26:35

I think it would encourage people not to work.

0:26:350:26:37

Makylea doesn't need that kind of encouragement,

0:26:390:26:41

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

0:26:410:26:45

Oh, is Teddy holding it?

0:26:470:26:49

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

0:26:490:26:53

alone and job-seeking in Newcastle,

0:26:530:26:56

but her situation often gets her down.

0:26:560:26:59

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

0:26:590:27:03

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

0:27:040:27:08

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

0:27:080:27:11

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

0:27:130:27:17

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

0:27:170:27:20

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

0:27:200:27:24

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

0:27:240:27:28

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

0:27:280:27:31

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

0:27:310:27:35

Because that's not going to happen.

0:27:350:27:37

I think you need a medal for doing this.

0:27:390:27:42

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

-I can do that.

0:27:440:27:49

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

0:27:490:27:53

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

0:27:530:27:57

it's Lucy who's struggling the most.

0:27:570:27:59

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

0:27:590:28:03

This is disgusting.

0:28:050:28:06

I'm going to vomit!

0:28:060:28:08

I'm well suited in a fishmonger, me.

0:28:080:28:10

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

0:28:100:28:13

-because I've got a big mouth.

-That is one good thing.

0:28:130:28:16

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

0:28:160:28:21

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

0:28:210:28:24

Lyndsey seems perfectly at home.

0:28:240:28:28

Champion, good lass.

0:28:280:28:29

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

0:28:290:28:33

Cos I'm generous like that.

0:28:330:28:36

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

0:28:360:28:39

It made me not want a job even more.

0:28:390:28:42

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

0:28:420:28:46

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

0:28:470:28:50

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

0:28:500:28:55

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

0:28:550:28:59

because it's a privileged job.

0:28:590:29:00

The girls have gained some hands-on experience,

0:29:020:29:04

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

0:29:040:29:09

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

0:29:090:29:12

-Come here.

-I literally wanted to cry.

0:29:120:29:14

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

0:29:140:29:16

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

0:29:160:29:20

-Really?

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

0:29:200:29:23

-Smell me.

-It was awful.

-You do as well, you smell like fish.

0:29:230:29:28

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

0:29:280:29:32

-They made us open this crab and gut them.

-Gut the crab and it was like...

0:29:320:29:36

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

0:29:360:29:40

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

0:29:400:29:42

But Hufty wants them to realise

0:29:420:29:44

that many people are desperate for any kind of work.

0:29:440:29:48

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

0:29:480:29:52

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

0:29:520:29:55

about the reality of life on the dole.

0:29:550:29:58

She wants Steph and Fiona in particular to hear more about

0:29:590:30:02

just how tough things can get.

0:30:020:30:05

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

0:30:050:30:09

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

0:30:090:30:13

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

0:30:130:30:16

but in a lot of situations, definitely not.

0:30:160:30:18

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

0:30:180:30:23

-Would you, Anthony?

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

0:30:230:30:29

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

0:30:290:30:32

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

0:30:320:30:35

that would love to support their kids, their family,

0:30:350:30:38

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

0:30:380:30:41

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

0:30:410:30:45

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

0:30:450:30:49

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

0:30:490:30:53

I've got too many basic skills.

0:30:530:30:56

That's ridiculous.

0:30:560:30:57

-The rate of unemployment is so low...

-And they turn people away?

0:30:570:31:01

Because they're too qualified.

0:31:010:31:03

How did that make you feel, Ryan?

0:31:030:31:04

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

0:31:040:31:07

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

0:31:070:31:11

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

0:31:120:31:17

Unreal, I was really shocked about that.

0:31:170:31:19

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

0:31:190:31:25

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

0:31:250:31:29

"I'll get another knock-back."

0:31:290:31:31

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

0:31:310:31:35

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

0:31:350:31:38

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

0:31:380:31:44

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

0:31:440:31:46

because you do have parents that are well-off

0:31:460:31:48

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

0:31:480:31:53

It's the only chance to get money.

0:31:530:31:55

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

0:31:550:31:57

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

0:31:570:32:01

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

0:32:010:32:05

And just not hearing back.

0:32:050:32:06

On the internet every day, the papers.

0:32:060:32:09

I don't think Steph understood it whatsoever.

0:32:090:32:11

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

0:32:110:32:14

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

0:32:140:32:17

No matter how many people come up to her

0:32:170:32:19

and tell her different circumstances,

0:32:190:32:21

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

0:32:210:32:24

As a politician.

0:32:240:32:26

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

0:32:260:32:29

whereas we live it.

0:32:290:32:31

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

0:32:310:32:35

but I'm not thinking about going and applying,

0:32:350:32:37

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

0:32:370:32:40

For Ryan, his situation is even more serious.

0:32:420:32:45

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

0:32:450:32:48

so he can't make a claim.

0:32:480:32:50

I'm not receiving no income

0:32:500:32:51

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

0:32:510:32:54

How do you survive then?

0:32:540:32:56

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

0:32:560:32:59

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

0:32:590:33:01

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

0:33:010:33:04

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

0:33:040:33:07

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

0:33:070:33:10

It affects you physically and mentally, it really does.

0:33:100:33:14

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

0:33:140:33:16

Quite depressive really,

0:33:160:33:18

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

0:33:180:33:22

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

0:33:220:33:25

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

-Fiancee.

-Fiancee?

0:33:250:33:30

-Yeah.

-Eeh, excellent.

0:33:300:33:32

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

0:33:320:33:35

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

-How old are you?

0:33:350:33:38

-I'm 19.

-And how old are you?

-I'm 17.

0:33:380:33:42

That makes me so sad.

0:33:420:33:43

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

0:33:430:33:47

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

0:33:470:33:51

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

0:33:510:33:54

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

0:33:540:33:56

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

0:33:560:34:01

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

0:34:010:34:05

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

0:34:050:34:07

Personally.

0:34:070:34:09

Steph's not voicing any change of opinion,

0:34:090:34:11

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

0:34:110:34:15

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

0:34:150:34:18

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

0:34:180:34:23

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

0:34:230:34:26

I'd still want you with me.

0:34:260:34:28

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

0:34:280:34:33

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

0:34:330:34:40

For really angry without knowing the full reasons.

0:34:400:34:43

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

0:34:430:34:46

The truth is, Ryan and Kerri are not unusual.

0:34:460:34:49

In an area still affected by the decline of the shipbuilding

0:34:490:34:53

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

0:34:530:34:58

in the Northeast are currently claiming unemployment benefit.

0:34:580:35:01

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

0:35:060:35:12

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

0:35:120:35:14

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

0:35:140:35:18

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

0:35:180:35:23

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

0:35:230:35:28

But Lucy is beginning to see things a bit differently.

0:35:280:35:31

I've done really badly with my spending,

0:35:320:35:34

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

0:35:340:35:38

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

0:35:380:35:43

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

0:35:430:35:47

With less than £20 left between them,

0:35:470:35:50

Fiona is really feeling the pressure.

0:35:500:35:53

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

0:35:530:35:55

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

0:35:550:35:59

so I gave all my money for that.

0:35:590:36:01

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

0:36:010:36:04

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

0:36:040:36:11

DOG BARKS

0:36:110:36:12

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

0:36:130:36:17

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

0:36:170:36:24

An evening in at Shauna's house.

0:36:240:36:27

Armed with two bottles of budget lemonade,

0:36:300:36:32

the girls leave for Shauna's party.

0:36:320:36:35

That's right, you just stand there pretending.

0:36:350:36:39

And the police car comes and does you for vandalism.

0:36:390:36:43

SIREN BLARES

0:36:430:36:45

THEY CHEER

0:36:510:36:53

GIRLS LAUGH

0:36:530:36:54

WOLF WHISTLE

0:36:540:36:55

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

0:36:570:37:01

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

0:37:010:37:05

CHEERING

0:37:050:37:06

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

0:37:060:37:10

about what the posh girls will think of them.

0:37:100:37:12

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

0:37:120:37:17

# Does that make me crazy?

0:37:170:37:20

# Does that make me crazy?

0:37:200:37:24

# Just like me-eeee. #

0:37:240:37:30

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:37:300:37:33

Woo woo woo woo!

0:37:330:37:34

Do yous want a drink?

0:37:340:37:36

-That's a large shot.

-Shot it, shot it.

0:37:360:37:38

Time for a traditional Geordie party game.

0:37:380:37:41

It's really strong.

0:37:410:37:42

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

0:37:420:37:44

Word association Geordie-style involves a special cocktail

0:37:440:37:49

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

0:37:490:37:53

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

0:37:530:37:57

-That's not a shot.

-It's fucking half a mouthful!

0:37:570:38:00

-House.

-Flat.

-London.

-Town.

-Semi-detached.

-Semi's an S!

0:38:000:38:07

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

0:38:120:38:15

-Sherlock.

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

0:38:150:38:18

Drink it!

0:38:220:38:24

I just can't believe how smashed everyone gets.

0:38:260:38:29

-ALL:

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

0:38:330:38:37

down it, down it, down it!

0:38:370:38:40

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

0:38:400:38:42

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

0:38:420:38:48

-Drink the rest.

-I'm starting now.

0:38:480:38:50

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

0:38:500:38:54

Come on, Makylea, come on!

0:38:570:38:59

Come on, come on. Yeah!

0:39:010:39:04

-High five, high five.

-I'm going to spew!

0:39:040:39:08

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

0:39:080:39:11

-I wasn't going to say that.

-I had a dance-off with...

0:39:110:39:14

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

0:39:140:39:18

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

0:39:180:39:22

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

0:39:220:39:25

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

0:39:270:39:31

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

0:39:310:39:33

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

0:39:330:39:35

like chatting to everyone, getting to know everyone,

0:39:350:39:38

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

0:39:380:39:40

I really think Kim has it so hard.

0:39:400:39:42

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

0:39:420:39:48

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

0:39:480:39:51

-Even though she said...

-She's not told me what she does.

0:39:510:39:54

-She works in a care home?

-She looks after...care home

0:39:540:39:57

for drug addicts and alcoholics.

0:39:570:40:00

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

0:40:000:40:05

and are just disgusting everywhere

0:40:050:40:08

and she has to clean all that up.

0:40:080:40:09

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

0:40:090:40:14

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

0:40:140:40:16

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

0:40:160:40:21

A week into their stay.

0:40:270:40:29

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

0:40:290:40:32

most of the girls are practically broke.

0:40:320:40:35

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

0:40:350:40:38

because I've been collecting the money from the street

0:40:380:40:41

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

0:40:410:40:44

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

0:40:440:40:47

-Wow!

-I know.

-In the last two days?

-In the last week.

0:40:470:40:51

Fortunately, Huffty has arrived with another solution

0:40:510:40:55

to a life of poverty, albeit a controversial one.

0:40:550:40:58

Hello! Now...

0:40:580:41:01

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

0:41:010:41:05

-Really nice.

-Police are really nice.

0:41:050:41:07

Christina Aguilera.

0:41:070:41:08

-What, perfume?

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

0:41:080:41:16

Mmm, a lovely, fresh leg of lamb.

0:41:160:41:20

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

0:41:200:41:23

For... five pounds.

0:41:230:41:27

-He-hey!

-I say thank you.

-Yeah.

-I'm not having that, though.

0:41:270:41:31

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

0:41:310:41:34

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

0:41:340:41:37

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

-Yeah, of course.

0:41:370:41:41

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

0:41:410:41:46

-That could feed next door.

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

0:41:460:41:51

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

0:41:510:41:55

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

0:41:550:41:59

And it's not encouraging it really

0:41:590:42:01

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

0:42:010:42:03

What would you like to purchase from my items?

0:42:030:42:06

The lamb! I'd love the lamb.

0:42:060:42:07

-If we were staying here forever...

-Yeah?

0:42:070:42:10

..we'd definitely buy the lamb.

0:42:100:42:12

The leg of lamb might get the majority vote,

0:42:120:42:15

but for Steph it's once again brought up

0:42:150:42:17

a moral line that she refuses to cross.

0:42:170:42:21

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

0:42:210:42:26

Things are illegal for a reason and the reason is

0:42:260:42:29

because other people get hurt in the process.

0:42:290:42:31

Theft, trafficking - anything like that.

0:42:310:42:34

And we therefore bear responsibility

0:42:340:42:36

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

0:42:360:42:39

-£30 for four bottles of wine?

-That's not that good.

-That's not reasonable at all.

0:42:390:42:43

Well, I could negotiate with you.

0:42:430:42:45

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

0:42:470:42:52

And with tough financial times ahead,

0:42:520:42:54

the black market economy only looks set to grow.

0:42:540:42:57

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

0:42:590:43:02

how different her life is at home.

0:43:020:43:05

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

0:43:050:43:10

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

0:43:100:43:13

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

0:43:140:43:17

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

0:43:170:43:21

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

0:43:210:43:25

Newcastle's iconic quayside,

0:43:260:43:28

famous for its Millennium Bridge, Gateshead Sage Music Centre

0:43:280:43:32

and the Tyne Bridge.

0:43:320:43:33

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

0:43:350:43:37

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

0:43:390:43:45

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

0:43:450:43:50

businesses, restaurants and art galleries like the Baltic.

0:43:500:43:54

It's different world for the Geordie girls.

0:43:540:43:58

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

0:43:580:44:01

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

0:44:010:44:06

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

-Aye.

0:44:060:44:10

-No suited and booted and posh people.

-It's been taken over by posh people.

-Yeah, it has.

0:44:100:44:15

You Southern lasses, does this feel like London Embankment?

0:44:150:44:20

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

0:44:200:44:23

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

0:44:230:44:26

-Get me a sangria.

-All I want is a T-bone steak.

-Reminds me of home.

0:44:260:44:32

Don't cry.

0:44:320:44:34

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

-No.

0:44:340:44:35

I kind of really want to go home now.

0:44:350:44:37

It's just as well that the Southern girls feel

0:44:390:44:42

so comfortable on the Quayside, because tomorrow night

0:44:420:44:45

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

0:44:450:44:49

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

0:44:570:45:02

But first, Huffty has a treat for the Geordies,

0:45:040:45:06

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

0:45:060:45:09

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

0:45:100:45:15

-Get in!

-Excellent news!

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

0:45:150:45:22

-I'm buzzing.

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

0:45:240:45:29

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

0:45:290:45:32

God, my heart's pounding.

0:45:360:45:38

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

0:45:380:45:42

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

0:45:420:45:48

in my favourite local pub.

0:45:480:45:51

-Where's that?

-It's the Butcher's.

0:45:510:45:53

-Ah, you're not!

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

0:45:530:45:57

What about that?

0:45:570:45:58

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

0:45:580:46:01

-No offence, Huffty.

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

0:46:010:46:07

I'm jealous.

0:46:070:46:08

-Look at her!

-She's like...

0:46:090:46:11

Jealousy is the root of all evils, angel.

0:46:110:46:14

I don't care.

0:46:140:46:15

Take us all!

0:46:170:46:19

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

-I want eat really nice food.

0:46:190:46:23

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

-We'll only get one chance.

0:46:230:46:26

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

0:46:260:46:28

Let it shine, let it shine.

0:46:280:46:30

I love it.

0:46:330:46:34

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

0:46:340:46:38

Tonight, Huffty is showing the Geordie lasses a world

0:46:410:46:44

of glamour, glitz and fairytale ball gowns

0:46:440:46:47

normally completely beyond their reach.

0:46:470:46:51

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

0:46:560:47:01

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

0:47:010:47:04

The Geordie lasses may be in heaven

0:47:040:47:06

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

0:47:060:47:10

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

0:47:100:47:14

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

0:47:140:47:18

Because it's so disgusting.

0:47:180:47:20

Oh! You look amazing.

0:47:200:47:22

-Thank you.

-I'm not joking, that is stunning.

0:47:240:47:26

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

0:47:260:47:31

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

0:47:320:47:36

-Like a princess.

-So cute.

0:47:360:47:38

Oh, my gosh, it makes you look lovely.

0:47:410:47:44

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

0:47:440:47:48

and they're certainly less than enthusiastic.

0:47:480:47:51

Look at the crotch on them.

0:47:530:47:54

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

0:47:570:48:00

Oh, wow!

0:48:030:48:05

Oh, my god.

0:48:060:48:07

-IN POSH VOICE:

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

0:48:090:48:13

Love it.

0:48:150:48:16

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

0:48:160:48:21

You've just gone from classy to pantomime.

0:48:210:48:24

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

0:48:240:48:27

-You should lose the tiara.

-Oh, leave my tiara alone.

0:48:270:48:29

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

0:48:290:48:34

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

0:48:340:48:36

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

0:48:360:48:39

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

0:48:390:48:42

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

0:48:420:48:46

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

0:48:460:48:50

For single mum Makylea, wearing a dress like this

0:48:520:48:55

is beyond her wildest dreams.

0:48:550:48:58

Don't you feel like a million dollars?

0:48:580:49:01

You look incredible!

0:49:020:49:05

I really am going to cry.

0:49:070:49:10

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

0:49:100:49:15

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

0:49:150:49:17

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

0:49:170:49:21

Everyone's going to laugh at us.

0:49:210:49:23

Sorry.

0:49:290:49:31

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

0:49:370:49:39

Back at the house, the girls are still complaining

0:49:390:49:42

about not being invited to the castle.

0:49:420:49:44

I would never wear a top like this.

0:49:440:49:47

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

0:49:470:49:52

I may have to change it.

0:49:520:49:53

-I feel like a chav.

-That's the idea.

0:49:560:49:58

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

0:50:000:50:04

GIRLS SCREAM

0:50:050:50:07

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

0:50:090:50:14

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

0:50:140:50:18

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

0:50:180:50:22

Champagne, canapes and a lavish five-course dinner.

0:50:220:50:27

I'm Francesca.

0:50:270:50:28

-Hi, I'm Gaynor.

-Hi, Gaynor.

-Hiya.

0:50:280:50:32

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

0:50:330:50:38

I think Shauna feels the most uncomfortable.

0:50:380:50:41

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

0:50:410:50:44

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

0:50:440:50:46

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

0:50:460:50:49

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

0:50:490:50:54

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

-Right.

0:50:540:50:58

You could be anyone to them.

0:50:580:50:59

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

0:50:590:51:03

That's why I'm not bothered.

0:51:030:51:04

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

0:51:080:51:11

and they wouldn't know any different.

0:51:110:51:13

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

0:51:130:51:17

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

0:51:170:51:20

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

0:51:200:51:23

The Butcher's Arms, Byker,

0:51:230:51:25

where Huffty is giving the girls a prep talk.

0:51:250:51:28

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

0:51:280:51:33

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

0:51:330:51:36

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

0:51:360:51:38

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

0:51:380:51:41

The locals are proper friendly, like all Geordies.

0:51:410:51:45

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

0:51:450:51:51

-What's that?

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

0:51:510:51:54

-Can you tell us?

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

0:51:540:51:57

So, let's not do any of that.

0:51:570:51:58

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

0:51:580:52:02

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

0:52:020:52:04

MAN: Come on!

0:52:100:52:11

Thank you, Huffty.

0:52:160:52:18

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

0:52:180:52:20

ALL: Cheers!

0:52:200:52:22

Back at the castle,

0:52:260:52:27

the guests have been called to the dining room.

0:52:270:52:30

Can I have some white, please?

0:52:360:52:40

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

0:52:400:52:45

Straight down the hatch.

0:52:450:52:48

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

0:52:480:52:51

Followed by Geordie skittles,

0:52:520:52:54

a pint-sized cocktail of spirits and orange juice.

0:52:540:52:57

What are the three glasses for?

0:53:000:53:02

You usually have one for water..

0:53:020:53:04

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

0:53:040:53:08

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

0:53:080:53:13

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

0:53:130:53:17

Back in the Butchers,

0:53:180:53:20

the girls are getting a lesson in catch the beermat.

0:53:200:53:22

Hooray!

0:53:220:53:24

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

0:53:290:53:34

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

0:53:340:53:38

-He's cute.

-There are good-looking guys in here.

0:53:400:53:43

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

0:53:430:53:48

and it's just completely different backgrounds.

0:53:480:53:52

So it's like eye candy.

0:53:530:53:55

At Lumley Castle, the evening is drawing to a close

0:53:570:53:59

with cherry Clafoutis and Amaretto fondant.

0:53:590:54:02

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

0:54:030:54:06

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

0:54:060:54:10

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

0:54:100:54:16

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

0:54:160:54:20

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

0:54:220:54:25

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

0:54:250:54:29

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

0:54:290:54:33

Despite her nerves, Shauna has made it through dinner

0:54:360:54:39

but is definitely ready for her carriage home.

0:54:390:54:42

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

0:54:430:54:47

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

0:54:470:54:52

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

0:54:520:54:56

when they were deprived of a fancy night out

0:54:560:54:59

has underlined tensions between the two groups.

0:54:590:55:02

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

0:55:020:55:07

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

0:55:080:55:15

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

0:55:150:55:19

Fi and Lucy aren't learning enough.

0:55:210:55:25

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

0:55:250:55:28

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

0:55:280:55:30

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

0:55:300:55:35

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

0:55:350:55:39

Next week on Geordie Finishing School for Girls...

0:55:410:55:45

Not in the house!

0:55:450:55:47

Lyndsey has had enough of the posh girls.

0:55:470:55:50

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

0:55:500:55:53

Do you have any hidden talents?

0:55:530:55:55

Definitely not.

0:55:550:55:56

-BELL RINGS

-The Southern girls go speed dating with Northern boys.

0:55:560:55:59

Look how big he is!

0:55:590:56:01

Emotions reach breaking point.

0:56:030:56:06

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

0:56:060:56:11

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

0:56:130:56:16

No. I'm not having fun.

0:56:160:56:18

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

0:56:180:56:20

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

0:56:350:56:38

Email: [email protected]

0:56:380:56:41

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