Jade Franks: 'I cleaned toilets while studying at Cambridge'
BBC World
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Jade Franks, a Cambridge graduate who experienced classism during her time at the prestigious university, has turned her struggles into a compelling play that gained attention from Netflix. After working in a call center and feeling disconnected from her peers due to her working-class background, she documented her experiences, leading to the creation of a hit play about her time at Cambridge.
During her studies, Franks felt isolated as her classmates often made assumptions based on her background. She recalls incidents like being mocked for her Scouse accent and attending dinners where her sister was deemed improperly dressed. These moments highlighted the stark contrast between her working-class roots and the elite environment she found herself in.
Financial struggles compounded her challenges; unaware of her eligibility for grants, Franks worked part-time as a cleaner to make ends meet while keeping her job secret due to university rules. Despite being a talented actor, she faced exclusion from the Footlights drama group but eventually became its president after a democratic change in leadership.
Franks' determination to overcome these obstacles led her to write an autobiographical play about her Cambridge experience. The play's success, picked up by Netflix, underscores the broader conversation about classism and access within elite institutions, resonating with those interested in social inequality and educational barriers.
Her story not only reflects personal resilience but also sheds light on systemic issues faced by students from working-class backgrounds in higher education.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/22/2026