A beloved ITV documentary series is set to conclude in 2026, 62 years after it first started airing.
Referred to as the Up series, it began back in 1964 with 7 Up.
It followed the lives of ten boys and four girls in England when they were seven years old, and has followed up with them every seven years.
The series has been produced by Granada Television for ITV, who have aired all of the films except 42 Up, which was broadcast on BBC One.
Paul Almond directed the first film, with Michael Apted having been in that role since then.
Apted died at the age of 79 in 2021, and Asif Kpadia was assigned directorial duties for the final film.
What will the final 7 Up film look like?
The final film, called 70 Up, will allow viewers to join the participants for the last time as they reflect on their triumphs, trials and tribulations and what happened to their hopes and dreams.
It will feature Tony, the “cheeky chap” who wanted to be a jockey before becoming a London cab driver, as well as Neil, who once dreamed of being an astronaut.
ITV has teased: “Sue will talk about marrying Glenn and decades working at Queen Mary University of London, while Peter has more music news.
“KC John who wanted a powerful career and lawyer Andrew, the prep school boy who famously read the FT, return.
“Alongside them is Suzy, the young ballerina who hated her private school.
“The series will remember fondly the late Lynn, part of the trio of friends.
“Meanwhile, we hear from Charles who left the programme at 21.
The Up series has followed a group of 14 people since the age of seven (Image: Multistory Media)
“And the series will also include a poignant and moving interview with the late Nick, the farmer’s son who fulfilled his dream to become a nuclear physicist.”
Jo Clinton-Davis, controller of factual ITV and commissioner of 70 Up said: “The 7 Up story is much more than a TV documentary, it’s a document of our times.
“A truly distinctive landmark piece of film-making that has become part of our cultural fabric.
“In the evolving stories of our cast we see the universal themes of life play out. It is the series that made me want to get into television.”
Asif Kapadia, director of 70 Up commented: “In 2014 I named the Up Series as my favourite documentary of all time.
“Who knew that two decades later I would have the incredible honour and privilege to be asked to direct 70 Up, the legendary documentary series.
“I love the show!
“I have watched it all my life, first as a child with my parents and siblings, growing up in East London and then as an adult.”
ITV and Asif Kapadia pay tribute to Michael Apted
Clinton-Davis shared that the Up series was something she had been “beyond proud” to be involved in since 56 Up.
She added: “It is a tribute to Michael Apted who will forever be associated with it and to the continued dedication and remarkable skill of Claire Lewis.
“Yet in Asif Kapadia we have an outstanding director who will bring his passion, creativity and incredible flair whilst safeguarding the very precious ‘Up’ legacy.”
Kapadia also shared that she was lucky enough to have met Apted on a few occasions.
He added: “I first came in contact with Apted when he interviewed me after he saw SENNA and he liked the fact I directed drama and documentaries, like him.
“Directing 70 Up has been a dream project for me, the ultimate portrait of human life, working with my amazing editors Andrew Hulme and Patrick Saxer, we had the challenge of cutting hours of archive material shot over decades, while also looking at the nature of documentary filmmaking itself.
“I hope the audience feel my team and I have done the epic series justice with the closing chapter.”
ITV has shared that 70 Up will air later this year, but have not given a broadcast date just yet.
Will you be watching 70 Up later this year? Let us know in the comments.
