Viewers of the final episode of 7 Up have described being moved to tears as the participants reflected on their lives in 70 Up, the last instalment of the documentary series after 62 years on television.
The programme opened with footage from across the series, prompting an immediate reaction from audiences. One viewer wrote: “I was in tears even from the opening titles. Such a touching and interesting series.”
Another posted: “70 Up has been on two minutes and already crying seeing the past clips knowing it is the last one,” while a third said: “I’m filling up already.”
The film also featured Yorkshire-born Nick Hitchon, who appeared just three days before his death from throat cancer in July 2023.
Among those attracting particular attention was Neil Hughes, from Liverpool, whose life has taken a markedly unsettled path since he first appeared in the series at the age of seven.
Neil was homeless by 28 Up, living in a council house by 35 Up, and had separated from his wife by 63 Up. He has said he believes he may have suffered from depression throughout his life.
In the final film, Neil revealed that he now lives in France, in a house where he had spent many years on holiday. He acknowledged that he might appear to be a hoarder, but said everything in the property “has a purpose”.
He also discussed plans to retire, while questioning how he would support himself financially. One viewer wrote: “Neil, he must be protected,” while another described him as “such an intelligent man who just lost his way”.
A further reaction characterised Neil as “a questing, restless person” and said his life represented “a triumph of will”.
The final chapter of 7 Up
The series began in 1964 by following 14 children from different backgrounds. Most returned every seven years, although some missed episodes, withdrew from the project or objected to the way they were portrayed.
Director Michael Apted led the films from 1970 until his death in 2021. Academy Award-winning director Asif Kapadia took over for the concluding programme.
Public schoolboy and lawyer John Brisby said he felt he had been “set up to represent an outmoded class system that had no validity in the modern world”.
Jackie Bassett, who came from the East End, said she had originally been chosen because “I wouldn’t stop talking”. She married at 19, divorced, remarried, moved to Scotland and became a single mother of three before divorcing again.
Her fellow East Ender Sue, who married at 24 and divorced by 35, has since remarried. Now retired after a series of office jobs, she said she needed to find a “new direction” and sometimes did not know what to do with herself.
Bruce, a former public schoolboy who once hoped to become a missionary, also took part in the final film. Symon, another participant, has fostered more than 120 children and has 12 grandchildren.
The programme also heard from Charles, who stopped appearing in the films after the age of 21. Lawyer Andrew and Suzy, once a young ballerina who disliked her private school, returned for the final instalment.
ITV factual controller Jo Clinton-Davis described the series as a “truly distinctive landmark piece of filmmaking” that had become part of the country’s cultural fabric.
