70 UP TO BE CONCLUDING CHAPTER TO LONGRUNNING DOCUMENTARY SERIES, 7 UP

ITV’s long-running 7 Up collection is going to complete its final chapter in an epic and moving last instalment: 70 Up. Described as the greatest documentary series of all time, it’s the culmination of a ground-breaking, television journey that has followed the lives of 14 people.

Following the seven decades of work and forensic questioning by the late Director Michael Apted, Academy award-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia (Amy, Senna, Diego Maradona, Kenny Dalglish, 2073) will bring his unique expertise to close the circle on a series he’s long admired. 

In 1964, World in Action screened the very first film - 7 Up. Every seven years since, cameras have returned to capture a journey from childhood to teenagers, to adulthood, through careers, marriage, divorce, parenting, bereavement and more. 

Now, the participants - whom viewers have come to know, and in many cases grow up with - are pensioners and retirees, looking back at their lives in a way very few people ever have, caught on camera and recorded forever. 

70 Up will be the end of this remarkable television journey. Viewers will join them for the last time as, having reached three score years and 10, they reflect on their triumphs, their trials and tribulations, and what happened to their hopes and dreams.

The emotionally-charged finale will include Tony, the ‘cheeky chap’ who wanted to be a jockey before becoming a London cabbie. He appears alongside Neil, who dreamed of being an astronaut and experienced homelessness.

Plus Bruce, the public schoolboy who wanted to be a missionary, Symon who has fostered more than 120 children and has 12 (and counting) grandchildren, shy Paul who is now a grandparent and Jackie who left Scotland with a new partner. 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. 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.

Remaining at the heart of the films will be questions of class, education, wealth and the all important thread of whether it holds true to say: “Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you the man.”

Alongside Asif Kapadia and his producer George Chignell, will be Production Executive Helen Houston and Claire Lewis, the careful custodian and producer of the casts’ stories since 28 Up. The series is due to air later in 2026. 

Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual ITV and Commissioner 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. It is the series that I am beyond proud of having been involved in since 56 Up...

"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. Ultimately, this is a tribute to the courage of all the cast who continue to share their lives with us so we can see our lives in them.”

Asif Kapadia, Director, 70 Up said: “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. I was lucky to meet Michael Apted a few times. 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.”

Mike Blair, Creative Director, MultiStory Media and Executive Producer 70 Up said: “It has been a privilege to be part of this truly groundbreaking series - one that I have followed my whole life. It is a bittersweet moment drawing it to a close. But in Asif Kapadia we found a director who has paid homage to what has gone before because he believes, like the rest of us, that it is very precious. It is the end of a historic television journey and we hope everyone - particularly the people whose lives we have followed for decades - will feel these films are a fitting tribute.”

Producer Claire Lewis said: "After over 40 years of working with the participants of 7 Up it seems extraordinary that we have come to the end of this unique series. It's been an incredible lifetime's work and has given me a second family. I'm sad and content at the same time that it's ending. Working with Asif, as well as Michael, has been an honour...

"But the highest accolade goes to the fortitude of our trusted contributors. We miss Michael, Nick and Lynn terribly; the jigsaw is not complete without them. Thank you to them and thank you to the team. Each episode captures an era for our society and one for each individual. It's pure magic. Thank you to the pioneers of ITV who made it happen. It's film history." 

Transmission details will be announced in due course.