70 Up: The final chapter of the documentary that defined six decades of British life
We've followed their lives for six decades; now the stars of 7 Up are bowing out
After 56 years, the groundbreaking 7 Up series concludes with 70 Up. Jackie Bassett, one of the original seven-year-olds, reflects on a lifetime in front of the cameras—from a one-off class study to a cultural phenomenon that captured the nation's heart. The final episode airs Tuesday on ITV.
Seventy has got a symmetry to it. We started at seven, we finished at 70 - and that's it.
- loevborg
7up is truly one of the most astonishing and ambitious pieces of television ever made. When I found it, I couldn't stop watching it and I learned a ton from it. Highly recommended!
- the_interloper
Nick Hitchon was a professor of mine in college. He seemed like a genuinely very nice guy and took the time to learn everyone's name, despite how large the classes were.
- lordnacho
This is what I thought "Reality TV" should have been. Genuinely interesting content about real people in the real world.
Somehow they managed to just create soap opera with bad actors instead.
- vr46
I have followed the Up Series for decades, although fewer than six, and I am truly sorrowful at its end. When I was young they felt so far away from me and as I've gotten older I felt as though I have been catching up.
- unpopularopp
> Apted acknowledged flaws with the show, saying it was a "horrible error" to have only four women in a cast of 14 when making the original selection
I am more surprised they could only found 14 white kids even in 1964!
A show like this would be very different today.