I've seen them all to date, and they are the same age as me
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SubscribeThe 9th programme starts tomorrow evening. I find this programme fascinating, and sad in part. It started in 1964 with Michael Apted following a group of children aged 7. He has gone back every 7 years since, and I've managed to see them all.
I wonder if this will be the last as the Director is into his 70s I think.
I've seen them all to date, and they are the same age as me
Love this series - set to record!
I'll be watching (or recording)
Shysal
Be sure to watch it, it’s quite moving
It’s one I never miss, saw the first few while studying sociology in the early 80s and have followed the programme ever since.
I recall the three ‘upper class’ boys on the sofa who said they read the observer and would be going to charter house school. At seven?
Neil was my favourite, such a happy little boy with a big smile. It was a shock and so sad to witness his declining mental health, so look forward to seeing what he and all the rest have been up to since we last saw them 7 years ago.
I have watched them from the beginning, and can’t believe that they started in 1963. We had been married for 2 years and our DS1 was born in Oct 1963.
I know a few have dropped out of the program, but the remainers are so brave to have continued.
Saw last night’s programme, and until I realised that it was just a sort of prequel, I got cross wondering why all the well known participants were taking up valuable ‘Up’ time.
I love watching this especially as i am the same age and its great to see how life was when i was growing up. It evokes so many memories, you couldnt get a better record of how times have changed. Hopefully they will be able to do 70 up, to see how everyone has fared a a pensioner
I was always fascinated by the 3 girls who were friends + how their lives panned out. I'm so looking forward to seeing how all of the ' children' are now
I've watched this wonderful series from the beginning. The participants are genuine. They did not originally put themselves forward, although presumably their parents or guardians agreed on their behalf. They will all have fared differently, had highs and lows in their lives, but the editing has been carefully done so it does not seem intrusive. They are treated with respect and in their different ways, all of them seem to grow in stature as they age.
These people are such a contrast with the types who now appear in what is termed "reality tv". In 1964 there really was no such thing as "reality tv". Now tv is almost exclusively populated by people who want to "be on the telly" and as such are not representative of the rest of us who are happy to live our lives away from tv cameras and indeed, guard our privacy. I find it sad to hear children say they "want to be famous", which is so different from these people who, at the age of 7, wanted to be a jockey, a lawyer, an astronaut or work in Woolworths - much more worthy ambitions.
I saw the first one and cried at the little fellow who said, 'My dearest wish is to see my Daddy again.' He'd been sent away to boarding school and we saw, in the background, a bullying boy kicking someone. It was awful.
There are 8 in the series, 9 with this latest and they are all on DVD.
www.amazon.com/Complete-Up-Tony-Walker/dp/B00CD6VY6S?tag=gransnetforum-21
BradfordLass
I wondered also what became of the boy who was 'drilling' all the boys on the lawn of the boarding school.
He was not a participant but certainly had all the others jumping to his command.
Poor little boys - coming from a wealthy background does not always equate with happiness!
I am also really looking forward to this next set of programmes. Neil stole everyone’s heart. Bruce was another child who I found to be very gentle, but with hidden depths and it would be fascinating to see what he did in life as an adult.
I remember one of the upper class boys saying that they hadn't had any advantages as they had had to work jolly hard to get their degrees.
I'm sure they did, but they had the advantage of being set on the path to do so, which others didn't have.
Just wanted to add, thought the little boy (one of the Barnardo two) gravely concerned face when recounting how worried he was, that if he married, his wife might force him to eat greens, he added very seriously, "because I don't like greens" so poignant I think he went to Australia and happily married years later, his wife was asked "do you force him to eat his greens?"
Did you watch last night where celebrities talked about the programme and talked about their lives? It was a good reminder of the previous series. Looking forward to tonight.
I’ve watched it from the start when they were 7. It’s fascinating how their lives have developed. EllanVannin I also had a soft spot for the little tough boy, I remember him saying he wanted to be a jockey and I think he did do that briefly but I think the last time I watched he had a successful taxi business and a property in Spain, a happy family man whereas Neil had a very different life, I always wanted to give him a big hug.
It is such a groundbreaking and important series. I think I have seen every one as well and am really looking forward to it.
If the whole series could be made available on DVD that would be great as I think it is such a unique social document and I don't think there will ever be a programme like it again.
I too have watched from the beginning, I'm seven years older and in black and white was one of the first things I watched. It was Neil, wasn't it, who was such a gorgeous little 7 year old, and went on to become homeless and miserable. But I think in the last one he had become a Lib Dem councillor? !
Another watcher here.
It is an interesting programme and I look forward to ' catching up' with them all.
I can't wait to watch this tonight! I've seen every one of the series and I love them all. I feel so sad for Neil too and hope so much that he's in a better state of mind. He was a Lay Preacher in the last one.
I watched last night's programme Pittcity, it was very good.
Thanks for the link BradfordLass73 for the Complete 7 up DVD. Please note that they are Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only) Might be alright on a multi regional DVD player?
I'll be so sad if this is the last one tonight
Just watched first episode and was very said to see that Nicholas is seriously ill with cancer of the throat. To see him so looking back on his life with such emotion was very sobering.
You never know what life's going to throw at you, do you?
Oh, no. Poor Nick
BradfordLass72 - indeed that poor little lad who just wanted to see his Daddy - heartrending.
Interesting programme tonight - I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed every minute of the first episode tonight. Absolutely fascinating. My son works as a podiatrist and works with many older people and said this week that basically they are 25 year olds in an older body.
I too have watched every episode. The group are all the same age as me, so we could all have been in the same class if we'd attended the same school.., so it's a bit sobering to watch the comparisons between myself and them as ''we'' grew up...
I don't want to make spoilers for people who may be recording it to view all in one show , but as it's already been mentioned about Nick's illness, I will just add, how shocked I am , he seemed as tho' he was the healthiest of the Group tbh, and I'm so sorry for him!!
There's another shock to come yet, but I won't reveal it.. but I'd love to thank those guys and gals who have taken part every year since ''we'' were 7 years old, I feel like they are all my distant friends, and I always look forward to seeing the next episode every 7 years. May all of us still be around to watch 7-70 UP ...
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