ITV’s long-running 7 Up collection is going to complete its final chapter in an epic and moving last instalment: 70 Up.
Described as the greatest documentary series of all time, it’s the culmination of a ground-breaking, television journey that has followed the lives of 14 people.
Following the seven decades of work and forensic questioning by the late Director Michael Apted, Academy award-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona, Kenny Dalglish, 2073) will bring his unique expertise to close the circle on a series he’s long admired.
In 1964, World in Action screened the very first film – 7 Up. Every seven years since, cameras have returned to capture a journey from childhood to teenagers, to adulthood, through careers, marriage, divorce, parenting, bereavement and more.
Now, the participants – whom viewers have come to know, and in many cases grow up with – are pensioners and retirees, looking back at their lives in a way very few people ever have, caught on camera and recorded forever.
70 Up will be the end of this remarkable television journey. Viewers will join them for the last time as, having reached three score years and 10, they reflect on their triumphs, their trials and tribulations, and what happened to their hopes and dreams.
(Image: Neil Hughes, who features in the Up series)