Ricky, When's Your Lecture

It says the public believes that studying at the the world famous university is too expensive.

So the institution's PR unit has written to soaps such as EastEnders and Coronation Street in an attempt to get them to write in more working class characters as graduates.

University spokesman Greg Hayman said: "We want to attract the brightest pupils from all backgrounds.

"This project has been all about changing perceptions.

"It's about challenging myths about studying at Cambridge. People think it's an expensive place to study when in fact, because of short terms and the availability of college accommodation, the bills can be lower.

"We have some of the most generous student support packages around and it's an unlimited pot: we don't run out of cash."

A spokesman for the university said its communications team also contacted other popular long-running shows - including Dr Who - in a bid to boost its profile.

The Press Association: Cambridge university targets tv soaps like Eastenders

"Cambridge University wants to shed its elitist image by persuading Britain's television soaps to depict graduates instead of school drop-outs.

EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street could change youngsters' perceptions by introducing more characters at university, officials at Cambridge claim.

The three long-running series have starred only a handful of university students between them over the years.

A spokesman for the university said its communications team also contacted other popular long-running shows - including Doctor Who - in a bid to boost its profile."

A spokesman for the university said its communications team also contacted other popular long-running shows - including Doctor Who - in a bid to boost its profile.

It was also suggested the BBC's Top Gear could recreate an infamous stunt, when 12 engineering students winched an Austin Seven above the university's Senate House in 1958.

Greg Hayman, spokesman for the university, said: "We want to attract the brightest pupils from all backgrounds. This project has been all about changing perceptions.

"We wrote to a lengthy list of television shows and have heard back from several, some of whom are interested in coming to the university to have a look.

"It's about challenging myths about studying at Cambridge. People think it's an expensive place to study when in fact, because of short terms and the availability of college accommodation, the bills can be lower. We have some of the most generous student support packages around and it's an unlimited pot - we don't run out of cash."

Soap characters best-known for attending university include Coronation Street's Ken Barlow, who studied English and History at Manchester University, and Toyah Battersby. Michelle Fowler and trumpet-playing Sonia Fowler who all continued their studies to degree level in EastEnders.

The Walford-based show is also currently featuring the story of two students, Libby Fox and Tamwar Masood, whose mothers are competing over who might make it to Cambridge or Oxford when they apply to university next year.

Cambridge University wants to be on TV soaps - like Eastenders

"LONDON: Britain's soap operas offer a steady diet of sex, scandal — and if Cambridge University has its way, scholarship.

Trying to shed its elitist image, Cambridge has approached the producers of Britain's three leading TV soaps about including it in their story lines.

Spokesman Greg Hayman said the idea was part of a bid to correct the perception that Cambridge was 'not for young people from ordinary backgrounds.'

'We're very keen to attract the brightest and best students regardless of their background,' Hayman said Tuesday. 'One of the better ways of communicating directly with potential students is to talk to them through the soaps and other programs they watch.'

Like almost all British universities, Cambridge and its rival Oxford are government-funded, and under pressure to become more inclusive. The government wants half of all young people to attend college by 2010, which means universities need to target all economic backgrounds."

What better way than through the travails of characters on "EastEnders," "Coronation Street" and "Emmerdale" — set respectively, in a gritty London neighborhood, a scruffy Manchester district and a farming village.

In some ways Oxford and Cambridge — elegant, affluent universities known collectively as "Oxbridge" — resemble U.S. Ivy League schools, which have long tried to attract minority and less well-off students through scholarships and outreach programs. Several elite U.S. colleges, including Harvard and Yale, have set family income thresholds below which students pay no tuition — $45,000 at Yale and $60,000 at Harvard for students entering this fall.

Eastenders GILLIAN'S BID TO BE DANCING QUEEN

BROXBOURNE actress Gillian Taylforth is among the stars who will feature in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC has announced.

Hertfordshire Mercury - Gillian TaylforthFormer EastEnders and Footballers' Wives star Gillian will be joining 15 other celebrities partnered with professional ballroom dancers in the hit Saturday night show.

Gillian, 52, who has also appeared in The Bill, lives in Springfields with her children and long-term partner Geoff Knights.

Other contestants in this year's Strictly Come Dancing include singers Rachel Stevens and Heather Small, plus other former EastEnders stars Jessie Wallace and Phil Daniels."

Ex Eastenders appear on Strictly Come Dancing cast | EastEnders | Soaps | What's on TV - Top TV listings guide, plus soaps, news, prizes and previews

This year's Strictly Come Dancing includes former EastEnders Jessie Wallace and Phil Daniels and GMTV host Andrew Castle among the celebrity dancers.

At a press launch in London, ITV confirmed that Phil, 49, will dance with Flavia Cacace, who caused a storm by beginning a relationship on the last series with her dancing partner, ex EastEnder Matt Di Angelo.

Flavia's former boyfriend Vincent Simone will dance with another onetime EastEnders star, Gillian Taylforth, 53.

Professional dancer and occasional cad Brendan Cole has been paired with model and TV presenter Lisa Snowdon, 36."

BBC - EastEnders - News - Inside Soap Awards

"Vote for EastEnders in this year's awards! Most categories have now closed, but the competition's still heating up for Best Soap. Have you voted for your fave yet?"