70 UP: ITV ANNOUNCES COMPANION SHOWS FOR UPCOMING SERIES

ITV will air two additional programmes alongside 70 Up as the groundbreaking documentary reaches its emotive final chapter. Described as the greatest documentary series of all time, 70 Up is the culmination of an epic television journey that has followed the lives of 14 people since the age of 7.

Following the seven decades of work and forensic questioning by the late Director Michael Apted, Academy award-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia now directs as the original line-up say goodbye to the series and the years of their lives uniquely captured on screen. This includes cabbie Tony, musician Peter and university administrator Sue.

Meanwhile, two more companion programmes will delve into the rich history of this one-of-a-kind series. ‘7 Up: The Story’ explores how the series originally came to be. It looks into British society at the time and takes a walk down memory lane to see what were the pleasures, the pitfalls and the concerns of those living in 1964 Britain.

Meanwhile, ‘70 Up: The Victorians’ showcases footage of a group of 70-year-olds born in the Victorian era, who were interviewed around the time the series started; a fitting companion to the series’ own conclusion at 70 years.

This footage, long forgotten, was re-discovered by the MultiStory Media [part of ITV Studios] archive team while simultaneously working to bring the final Up series to life. It has been re-edited and re-mastered for a brand new audience today.

Some of their views are wise and some of them address the changes to come. But just how vastly do their lives, worries, hopes and dreams differ to those of their fellow septuagenarians today, Andrew, Jackie, Bruce et al?

Scheduling details will be announced in due course.