The Up Series returns: 56 Up!

Michael Apted’s Up Series (1964 – ongoing) is the longest running documentary series on television. Inspired by the Jesuit maxim, “Show me the child at seven and I will show you the man” intoned by a grave, male voice, the original 7 Up was framed by Granada’s World in Action team as an exploration of the English social and class system. It was intended to catch “a glimpse of England in the year 2000,” at the moment when “the shop steward and the executive of the year 2000” are seven years old. Apted and fellow Granada researcher, Gordon McDougall found 20 children for the initial broadcast — a number reduced to 14 for the following film, 7 plus 7. Apted has since returned to film these subjects every seven years. They are now 56 and the current documentary, presented as three episodes, premieres on UK TV this month.

Read the The Guardian newspaper review of 56 Up! and the profile of participant Nicholas Hitchon.