The 7 Up documentary series has concluded with its final chapter, 70 Up, which aired this week. The series, which began in 1964 with a 40-minute ITV documentary, has followed the lives of a group of individuals from the age of seven, revisiting them every seven years.
Initially aiming to expose the British class system, the series has evolved to reveal broader shifts in social attitudes over six decades. The original subjects, now 70, have been seen transitioning from children to teenagers, then to adults, parents, and grandparents.
The programme has highlighted changes in societal views, including attitudes towards mental illness and sexism. For example, Neil, who was depicted as lonely and homeless at 28 Up, now openly discusses his lifelong battle with depression. The series also noted the shift in the director's questioning of women about marriage versus men.
Two of the original seven-year-olds from 1964 have passed away. Those who remain have expressed the centrality of family in their lives, with one subject, Andrew, reflecting on prioritising work over family time.