70 Up hailed ‘one of the greatest TV films of all time’ as finale airs after 62 years

| Senior TV Reporter Published September 16, 2026 1:23pm Updated September 16, 2026 1:36pm To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The television institution Seven Up! aired the first part of its final chapter this week, six decades on from the first. The programme first aired in 1964 as a one-off special from Granada Television, focusing on a group of seven-year-olds from vastly different backgrounds, offering a snapshot of the British class system. The first series was directed by Paul Almond, with a young Michael Apted on board as a researcher and part of the casting team, who selected the children featured. It went on to become a groundbreaking series, checking in with the same group every seven years to see how they and the country around them had changed. This week we return to the group, who are now in their seventies, for the final time. The ITV two-part documentary, titled 70 Up, features the twelve surviving cast members of the original 14. After Apted – who directed every episode from 1970 to 2019 – died in 2021, renowned documentary-maker Asif Kapadia came on board to produce the final instalment. The two-parter features the 12 surviving members of the Seven Up! cast (Picture: Nick Wall/ITV) The Up series checked in with the same group every seven years (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) It had been thought the series would end with 63 Up, but when participant Nick Hitchon was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he called the broadcaster to request a final interview. Those scenes are movingly included in the latest 70 Up instalment, after he died in 2023, 10 years after fellow Up cast member Lynn Johnson’s death. The television experiment’s swansong aired its first episode on Wednesday, with many online labelling it ‘the end of an era’. Reacting to the episode on social media, Conor Holt tweeted: ‘This incredible, decades-in-the-making project is one of the great cinematic achievements.’ There was agreement from Roger Mosey, who described it as ‘one of the all-time great series of TV films’, adding: ‘Michael Apted asked some tough questions, but they’re so illuminating about the lives of a generation.’ Ah even a glimpse of Neil on #70UP bring the tears, watched religiously with mum and dad growing up, comparing, dreaming, crying, feel so blessed watching but also wish these were longer eps, I could watch for hours more…. this programme was a huge part of how I learned about…— David Yelland (@davidyelland) September 15, 2026 ‘70 has got a symmetry to it. We started at seven, we finished at 70 – and that’s it’ (Picture: ITV) Ahead of the first episode, Lee Wellings wrote: ‘The greatest television programme of all time is about to end. It’s going to be emotional.’ As for whether there could be more of the Up series to come, Jackie Bassett has thrown cold water on the suggestion. She told the BBC: ‘I’m not sure any of us will have the energy for it, to be honest. I think this is the right time to stop, I really do. ‘70 has got a symmetry to it. We started at seven, we finished at 70 – and that’s it.’ Deals of the Day Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 70 Up is available to watch on ITVX, with part two airing Tuesday at 9pm on ITV1. Arrow MORE: Coronation Street legend ‘slightly nervous’ as she lands new ITV role worlds away from Maria Arrow MORE: Why are Emmerdale and Coronation Street not on tonight? Absence from TV schedule explained Arrow MORE: Big Brother star Frankie in tears as he comes out on TV: ‘I’ve been in pain for so long’ TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.