The "Up" documentary series (Seven Up! to 70 Up)

[Spells & Karma]

Sadly, but maybe appropriately as 70 is a nice round number and it will be a tribute to Michael Apted, the next instalment of the series will be the last.

That's disappointing. I realise participant numbers are beginning to dwindle and will continue to do so at this stage of life, and also that there is arguably less ground to cover as people's lives get calmer and less active. Still, though, I feel this is a waste The premise of the documentary lends itself to running for as long as its subjects are alive, and this series was uniquely placed to cover a whole life cycle.

I realise this may read as morbid, but I would find it interesting to see people reflect on their lives as they face the inevitability of death.

Also, I don't know how this can be said with any degree of certainty. A lot can happen in seven years, and it's quite likely that someone, somewhere would find 77 Up and beyond too tempting an opportunity to pass up. Even Michael Apted himself expressed a desire "to do 84 Up when I'll be 99".

Still, though, I'll take what's offered and will very much look forward to watching 70 Up.

 

[Angela Chilling]

That's disappointing. I realise participant numbers are beginning to dwindle and will continue to do so at this stage of life, and also that there is arguably less ground to cover as people's lives get calmer and less active. Still, though, I feel this is a waste The premise of the documentary lends itself to running for as long as its subjects are alive, and this series was uniquely placed to cover a whole life cycle.

I realise this may read as morbid, but I would find it interesting to see people reflect on their lives as they face the inevitability of death.

Also, I don't know how this can be said with any degree of certainty. A lot can happen in seven years, and it's quite likely that someone, somewhere would find 77 Up and beyond too tempting an opportunity to pass up. Even Michael Apted himself expressed a desire "to do 84 Up when I'll be 99".

Still, though, I'll take what's offered and will very much look forward to watching 70 Up.

I agree there is more scope for this series of documentaries beyond 70 Up especially as many people today can expect to live well into their 80s and 90s. It would be fascinating to see how the uppers were coping with the challenges of old age in different ways and their reflections on their lives and the world as they enter their twilight years.

However, I think the problem with the last instalment was that the update was told over 2 episodes when the lives of many of the participants had become relatively uneventful and less interesting. A shorter, more focused single hour programme may have worked better. I also think now would be a opportunity to try something different with the format of the show and instead of recounting tales of retirement, tending their gardens and playing with grandchildren, they could more explore their views on a range of issues and how they may have been influenced by the different lives they lived. Also, getting the Uppers together to compare and contrast on each other's lives and experiences of the series, even if it was only possible to do this virtually, would be interesting.

That said, if the series has to end early, one final episode after Michael Apted's death to conclude his work does feel like an appropriate point to do it.

 

[Spells & Karma]

I think the problem with the last instalment was that the update was told over 2 episodes when the lives of many of the participants had become relatively uneventful and less interesting. A shorter, more focused single hour programme may have worked better.

Yes, I completely agree with this. And I see that 70 Up, too, is going to run over two parts to total three hours. But...

I also think now would be a opportunity to try something different with the format of the show and instead of recounting tales of retirement, tending their gardens and playing with grandchildren, they could more explore their views on a range of issues and how they may have been influenced by the different lives they lived. Also, getting the Uppers together to compare and contrast on each other's lives and experiences of the series, even if it was only possible to do this virtually, would be interesting.

I'm hoping that the claim of this being the final episode will allow for this to happen. If the series is concluding at this point there needs to be some closure, and I feel the most effective way to bring this about would be for the subjects to reflect on the process as a whole, ideally as a group.

 

[Spells & Karma]

An article on 70 Up, which is to air on Tuesday. Participants are discussed, so there may be spoilers for anyone who hasn't been following news of the Uppers since the last film:

70 Up: Curtain falls on documentary that has captivated Brits for six decades

70 Up is the final instalment in a series which began in 1964 and has followed the lives of 14 people.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

I havent watched it all yet but Neils story is the stand out, most poignant and moving for me from that cute little boy aged 7 with big dreams and life didnt pan out quite as he wished. I hope he is happy living in France and i also read that when he was down on his luck another seven up participant stepped into help

Bruce Balden, who as a seven-year-old had spoken about wanting to help people less fortunate than himself, reached out after seeing what Neil was going through. Bruce gave Neil somewhere to stay in London and later helped him find a basement flat in Hackney.
Neil subsequently completed a degree through the Open University and became involved in politics.
Looking back on Bruce's support, Neil said simply:
“Bruce was a great help.”

I also take my hat off to Symon who spent his childhood in foster care and went on to foster 130 kids

The poem Bruce read out from his father was incredibly moving.

Just heart warming

 

[Angela Chilling]

The Up series is as brilliant, as always. It's sad that this is the end but if it has to finish, 70 Up seems to be the right point to do it. Watching the new episode this week, I realised I first started watching the series at 28 Up so this series as been something I've looked forward to for 42 years and the latest instalment didn't disappoint, Asif Kapadia did a great job filling the shoes of Michael Apted and brought a new energy to the production. I thought it was faster moving, the recaps seemed to work better than before and the overall reflective tone was nicely done. I had forgotten how direct and judgmental Michael Apted had been in his questioning of the Uppers in the previous episodes and I can totally understand why some of them had previously decided to end their participation.

Neil never disappoints. Every 7 years he seems to have the most changes in his life and I'm pleased that he now seems content with life in his French home. Paul and Symon, both seem like really nice people even though they must have had a difficult early life growing up in a children's home. It was nice that Lynn featured quite prominently in the episode, even though she had died several years back.

Looking forward to next week's show because I read that they turn the tables a bit and the Uppers discuss Michael Apted. Should be fascinating.

 

[Spells & Karma]

Last night, having watched the first part at the weekend, I watched the final part of 70 Up.

What a profound experience it's been. And it's a little ironic that the first episodes I've watched at the time of their release are also the final ones (except never say never).

If this is indeed the last time we spend with the Uppers, I feel we've had closure. It was a highly reflective visit and feels the subjects seized the opportunity to speak about their journey as a whole, and to say goodbye.

For me, this time round, it's the quieter characters who have stood out.

Through almost all the episodes focusing on adulthood, I've expressed disappointment at the absence of Charles, and while he didn't appear here in the conventional way, I very much appreciate that he did finally return to straighten some things out and to update the audience in a way that he managed. It's an example of a complete turnaround. He began as this seven year old, grouped in with two others from his school who he barely knew and didn't feel any kinship with, and yet associated that group until he was in his twenties, to his great discomfort. And he's signed off as someone who has claimed his own identity and shared his story and his image in a way that he controls. And he probably only did this in light of Michael Apted's death and this being intended as the last episode.

Likewise, Paul and Symon are perhaps the series' two most grounded characters. Paul's quiet ways always make complete sense to me (I'd say he's the wisest Upper), and Symon reaping the rewards of carving out the simple family life he never had is just beautiful.

There were a couple of surprises. I had known about Nick's death back in 2023, so was pleasantly surprised to see new footage of him recorded before his death. Seeing that he had died just three days after the interview was recorded was incredibly touching, but also felt very right given his passionate views (expressed in the Wake of Apted's death) that the series should follow its subjects to the grave. It's sad he died so young, but I'm glad he got that wish fulfilled and had his closure, as well as appearing to live a life that gave him a wealth of experiences.

Given the interview was recorded, it seems there must have been some notion of doing 70 Up as far back as 2023.

It really felt the gang was all here.

One disappointment was the minimal time spent on the reunion. We glimpsed them together, but there was very little time with them as a collective. This is, I think, the first time they've been gathered since 21 Up, so I wanted to see more of the dynamics and hear their conversations. Still, it will do me that it happened.

Any series running for 63 years is an achievement. This documentary doing that is nothing short of remarkable. As always - and especially with the more recent visits - this has got me reflecting about my own life. And a series which makes its audience connect so deeply is a must-watch.

I hope to re-watch the entire series in due course.

 

[Angela Chilling]

Given the interview was recorded, it seems there must have been some notion of doing 70 Up as far back as 2023.

I read somewhere that Nick had contacted the producers to suggest that they record a final interview with him because he knew his death was imminent. The production team raced over to get the interview not knowing whether or not there would be a 70 Up but wanted to record it just in case. The strength of the interview turned out to be a major factor in why 70 Up got commissioned.

I completely agreed that they missed an opportunity to show the Uppers at the reunion sharing their reflections on the series and the impact it had on their lives. I thought it was interesting how some were critical of Michael Apted and how judgemental he appeared to be at times and it would have been fascinating to see how they collectively felt about that and other ways the series had impact their lives.

Overall, I thought it was a better final installment with a new director because it felt like the participants could speak more freely about their involvement in the show and there was a new energy to the series compared with 63 Up.

I may be hallucinating, but I vaguely remember there was a 7 Up The New Generation which started to coincide with the new millennium in 2000. Don't know if that project was abandoned because I can't recall seeing any of the subsequent installments.

 

[Spells & Karma]

I read somewhere that Nick had contacted the producers to suggest that they record a final interview with him because he knew his death was imminent. The production team raced over to get the interview not knowing whether or not there would be a 70 Up but wanted to record it just in case. The strength of the interview turned out to be a major factor in why 70 Up got commissioned.

Oh - that explains it. Sad as it is to lose an Upper, it's also quite nice to think that the participants have ended up driving the story behind the camera as well as in front.

It still blows my mind that Nick died just three days after those interview scenes were filmed. And the fact that he contacted them with everything going on shows how important the series has become to the participants and what a significant part of their lives it remains. This was expressed by most of the Uppers in these last instalments, but this demonstrates it more clearly than anything.

Overall, I thought it was a better final installment with a new director because it felt like the participants could speak more freely about their involvement in the show and there was a new energy to the series compared with 63 Up.

I think it changed the tone in a positive way, because it gave a kind of objectivity that wouldn't have been present if they were speaking to Michael Apted. When someone dies it gives people an opportunity to reflect on their relationships with a new understanding, and this was tangible here.

I also thought it interesting that Apted himself became part of the story here in a way he hadn't been before. Rather than driving the narrative, he became another subject, and I thought it presented a fairly balanced picture of him and his relationship with the Uppers.