An edition of this Tyne Tees Television series investigating topics affecting life in the North East. In this episode presenter Ian Payne travels to Eggleston Hall in County Durham which has become a centre of excellence for teaching etiquette and good manners and to meet five Ukrainian women who have come to the region to learn high society skills. Title: Northern Eye: Airs and Graces Ian Payne turns her car into the driveway of Eggleston Hall in County Durham and pulls up in front of the...

An edition of this Tyne Tees Television series investigating topics affecting life in the North East. In this episode presenter Ian Payne travels to Eggleston Hall in County Durham which has become a centre of excellence for teaching etiquette and good manners and to meet five Ukrainian women who have come to the region to learn high society skills. Title: Northern Eye: Airs and Graces Ian Payne turns her car into the driveway of Eggleston Hall in County Durham and pulls up in front of the country house. Inside a group of five Ukrainian journalists are taking part in a new type of short break to learn English manners. The women are learning good posture and how to walk elegantly watched over by a tutor. In another room a waiter pours a glass of Champagne and a woman sitting at a table teaches the women the correct way to eat pasta as part of a class in table manners. Olga Bezsonova, a television guide editor and Tetyana Savrutska, women’s magazine journalist, are asked what they are getting out of this course? Olga replies it is for people with a crazy lifestyle, for people who work hard and want to relax. Through a translator Tetyana says it’s about learning good manners, how to behave in high society and to learn the skills to make you confident and competent. The women are shown how to take off and hold their jackets by their tutor, they all watch intently. Tanya Kosh, the boss of Augusta Maria International the company who arranged these short breaks, helps with translating. In another room she explains how and why she started the company and what the women get out of these courses. Nataliya Shepotinnik who does marketing for the company, explains that these holidays are a chance to bring people from Ukraine and show them the real life of English high society, to give them a chance to live such a lifestyle. As they talk a formal dinner with Sir William and Lady Grey and a butler coming into the dining room with plates of food serving them to two of the women in the group. In another dining room a class on dealing with fiddly food, the women taking photographs of the tutor Heather Pickering, an etiquette coach, as she teaches them the correct way to eats a bowl of mussels and a plate of asparagus and peas as well as a plate of spaghetti. The women laugh when been told what do to with olive stones. Ian speaks with Heather about her passion for upholding standards which she sees as slipping. It is basic politeness; do as you would be done by. Title: Classy or Common? Heather Pickering explains the difference between lunch and luncheon. Title: Classy or Common? Nataliya Shepotinnik is asked why do people in Ukraine want to learn about how to behave in high society? She explains it is always interesting to learn something new, it is well known that English people are good in manners and why shouldn’t Ukrainians come to learn how it should be done properly. As she speaks the butler serves wine during the formal dinner seen earlier. Olga Bezsonova explains that the course has helped her career with presentations, and to become ‘a lady’. Title: Classy or Common? Heather Pickering explains that woman underwear should be referred to as ‘knickers’. Heather Pickering holds a second class in table manners explaining to the woman how they should take their seats. In the background Tanya Kosh translates Heather’s words into Ukrainian, one of the woman watching intently makes notes. Ian comes over and helps with the class with the butler and waitress assisting with the placement of napkins and the pouring of wine. The women are taught how to eat and not drink soup. Ian speaks with the Philip Durkin, the butler, who says that he is holding up traditions while waitress Mary McCulloch says it is nice that visitors are able to see our traditions and they both enjoy doing the work. Again, as they speak, they are seen serve during the formal dinner. Title: Classy or Common? Heather Pickering explains the difference between ‘pudding’ and ‘desert’ and when the terms should be used. Title: Classy or Common? In a kitchen areas the women are given a class in flower arranging by floristry teacher Gillian Harbord. Again, Tanya Kosh helps with translations. Heather Pickering sits with the women and assists with the class. Title: Northern Eye: Airs and Graces The second part of the episode the flower arranging class continues with the Ukrainian women trying to create their own arrangement. Gillian Harbord goes around the room explains what works with these arrangements and what doesn’t. After the lesson Ian speaks with Iryna Medvedchuk, an architectural magazine journalist, who said the class was very strict, like a girl boarding school. Olga Bezsonova laughs as he talks about the ‘disagreement’ she had with Gillian. Back in the classroom Gillian Harbord explains to Ian why Olga’s display isn’t what she was asked to do. Title: Classy or Common? Heather Pickering explains that when you can’t hear someone clearly you say ‘what’ and not ‘pardon’ as this is a French word. Title: Classy or Common? Back in the flower arrangement class Gillian Harbord names the winning arrangement to go onto the dining table in tonight formal dinner is that of Olga. In another room the women take lessons in wine tasting from New Zealander Jamie Connell. He shows them how to correctly open a bottle, the class claps as Nataliya successful opens one after which Olga then pours wine into a glass. The women are shown how to correctly taste the wine. Tanya says to Heather that spitting the wine out into a spittoon is ‘barbaric’. Gillian shows the women how it is done properly after which Jamie shows them how to correctly open a bottle of sparkling wine or Champagne. Iryna Medvedchuk explains to Ian that Ukraine doesn’t have a ‘high society hierarchy’ while Heather Pickering says that all she wants from these classes is people being more courteous to each other and learn how to behave better in a wide world. Tetyana Savrutska explains that for her the course is a ‘universal tool’ that gives her the confidence that you would be accepted in any decent society in any part of the world. Tanya Kosh explains the idea behind the course being that in whatever social setting or occasion you find yourself you will have a ‘protocol’ which is what she believes holds society together. Ian thanks Nataliya Shepotinnik for choosing the north-east as the venue for their holiday, she explains that the north of England is know for its manners and etiquette. Title: Classy or Common? Heather Pickering explains that women go to the ‘loo’ while men go to the ‘lavatory’, what you never do is go to the ‘toilet’. Title: Classy or Common? In the entranceway of the hall the women are given a class on the correct way to be greeted on arriving at a formal event. Tetyana shakes hands with the tutor who then explains to them the correct way to be seated. Ian asks Olga Bezsonova if Ukrainian girls what to come to the UK to learn these skills to meet rich Englishmen? She laughs and says most of these men are already married, but most women aren’t looking for a ‘Cinderella’ story. Tanya laughs when Ian asks if she is matchmaking, she doesn’t believe in ‘international marriages’. Heather Pickering laughs when Ian states that the north of England is now a ‘national centre of excellence’ for upholding English standards. A formal dinner with Sir William and Lady Grey begins with the Ukrainian women along other guest being shown to their place at the table. In a relaxed atmosphere everyone enjoys the evening with food and wine being served. The programme ends with Ian leaving Eggleston Hall who stages that for some class is still something that opens doors here in the north-east of England. Title: With thanks to Sir William and Lady Gray Credit: Presenter Ian Payne Camera Simon Foggin Sound Robbie Carruthers Lighting John Mason Graphics Dave Richardson Music Magregor Cook Editor Kerry Plummer Sound Post Production The Edge Production Manager Christine Stewart-Tilling Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer/Director Peri Langdale © ITV Tyne Tees 2006 End credit: Production for ITV