Four privileged young ladies swap their affluent lives down south, for 10 days of living on the breadline up north. Can posh girls Steph, Fi, Lucy and Fiona cope with the change?

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Episode 3

3/3 The four privileged young southern ladies go partying Newcastle-style.

Fri 25 Nov 2011 03:00 BBC Three

See all previous episodes from Geordie Finishing School for Girls

  • SOUTHERN GIRL: Steph Hislop

    SOUTHERN GIRL: Steph Hislop

    “My version of letting my hair down is sitting comfortably in a nice armchair with a G&T... It’s not going out scantily clad and gorging on alcohol.”

    Steph, 21, studying international politics, has climbed Mount Killimanjaro twice and belongs to the Officer Training Corps. She doesn’t like laziness or teenage pregnancy. She’s never been to a council estate in her life.

  • SOUTHERN GIRL: Lucy Haythornthwaite-Shock

    SOUTHERN GIRL: Lucy Haythornthwaite-Shock

    “I don’t really know where Newcastle is to be honest”

    Lucy, 24, loves the Chelsea party scene and works as an events manager promoting exclusive London clubs, with groups paying between £1,000 - £2,000 a night on champagne and vodka. She thinks Geordie Finishing School will be good for her as she lives in a bit of a bubble.

  • SOUTHERN GIRL: Fi Wishart

    SOUTHERN GIRL: Fi Wishart

    “I think I am a bit spoilt… I like to get my own way which could be seen as a good thing”

    Fi, 20, is studying drama and doesn’t really want a job. Dad, an international banker, pays her rent, allowance and all her expenses. She’s travelled the world but Newcastle is unknown territory. She hates it when people judge her for being posh.

  • SOUTHERN GIRL: Fiona Culley

    SOUTHERN GIRL: Fiona Culley

    “You shouldn’t be able to make more money sat on the sofa doing bugger all than you can working, that’s where the whole system is screwed.”

    Singer-songwriter Fiona, 24, lives in Chelsea, London with her fiancé and her three Chihuahuas. She’s got strong opinions on people on benefits and single mums.

  • GEORDIE: Makylea Munroe

    GEORDIE: Makylea Munroe

    “They might work but I very much doubt it. I guarantee mam and dad puts a grand in their account every month”.

    Makylea, 25, single mum with twins dreams of making it as a singer. She struggles to pay the bills from her benefits and is trying to find a job.

  • GEORDIE: Lyndsey Balfour

    GEORDIE: Lyndsey Balfour

    “I am proud to be a Chaver, I'm not ashamed of it… I am who I am.”

    Lyndsey Balfour, 20, says she’d be in jail or dead if it wasn’t for the youth workers. In her teens she drank heavily and made trouble. Now she’s turned things around and is a youth worker helping kids with problems. She’s proud to be a Geordie.

  • GEORDIE: Shauna Henry

    GEORDIE: Shauna Henry

    "If anyone slags off Byker I just say look where Cheryl is now"

    Shauna, 18, is from Byker like her idol Cheryl Cole. She’s doing A levels and working in a chip shop. One day she hopes to run her own club. First she wants to study more.

  • GEORDIE: Kimberley Allen

    GEORDIE: Kimberley Allen

    “This world would get a lot better if everyone was a Geordie, I'm telling you, it really would. Send everyone to a Geordie school now.”

    Kimberley, 20, lives at home with her extended family and her 2 year old son Jayden. Her husband, Keith is away serving in Afghanistan. She works 12 hour shifts as a care worker.

  • MENTOR: Huffty

    MENTOR: Huffty

    Aged 17 Huffty got involved in youth work. 30 years on she’s something of a local legend in her native Newcastle. After a stint presenting on Channel 4’s The Word she returned to youth work in the city. As the Mentor for Geordie Finishing School for Girls she brings her passion for the local area, an understanding of the problems young women from disadvantaged backgrounds face and also her great sense of humour.

    “The posh girls will see poverty, they’ll also realise that Geordies talk proper fast, not sure they will literally be able to understand each other. Think it will be an eye opener for everybody, in terms of class and what privilege means and how that affects your life”

  • Beginner's guide to Newcastle

    About 190,000 people live in the city of Newcastle.

    Locals refer to Newcastle as ‘the toon’.

    The most popular local beverage is Newcastle Brown Ale.

    Famous Geordies include:
    - Ant and Dec, entertainers
    - Cheryl Cole, pop star
    - Alan Shearer, footballer
    - Sting, singer
    - Paul Gascoigne, footballer
    - Donna Air, television presenter
    - Marcus Bentley, the ‘voice’ of Big Brother
    - Ridley Scott, film director

    Newcastle United are referred to as ‘The Magpies’ by supporters, due to their black and white team strip.

    Princess Eugenie has studied at the University of Newcastle since 2009.

    Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North sculpture, which towers over Gateshead, was named as the UK’s most recognisable landmark in 2008.

    Grainger Market was the largest indoor market in Europe when it opened in 1835, and is now a Grade 1 listed building.

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