Watch Seven Up / 7 Plus Seven

Seven Up / 7 Plus Seven is a groundbreaking documentary series aired on ITV in 1964. The show, created by director Michael Apted, follows a group of fourteen British children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, who were seven years old at the time of filming. The premise of the show was to trace the development of these children and examine social mobility and class structure in Britain by revisiting them every seven years.

The children are introduced at the beginning of the show, and as we get to know them, their diverse backgrounds are revealed. They come from different parts of the country and have different family backgrounds. The children are: Bruce Balden, Symon Basterfield, Andrew Brackfield, John Brisby, Peter Davies, Suzanne Dewey, Charles Furneaux, Nicholas Hitchon, Neil Hughes, Lynn Johnson, Paul Kligerman, Susan Sullivan, Tony Walker, and Jacqueline Bassett.

As the series progresses, we see the children grow up before our very eyes. They evolve from seven-year-olds in 1964 to teenagers at fourteen, young adults at twenty-one, and so on. We witness their changing attitudes towards education, marriage, work, and politics. The children's differing experiences over the years continue to highlight issues of social class and the role that privilege and luck play in individual success.

The show's success was due to the striking contrast between the different children's lifestyles and ambitions. Some of the children seem destined for success, while others appear to be stuck in their social classes. Their differing attitudes towards class and privilege are also explored, and we see that as they mature, some of the children become more aware of the impact of their social backgrounds on their lives.

As the show progresses, some of the children's lives take unexpected turns. Some of them marry while others do not, some pursue academia while others enter the workforce. What remains constant is the earnestness with which each of the children confronts these major life changes. Their hopes, fears, and aspirations are skilfully woven into the narrative of the show.

Seven Up / 7 Plus Seven is an innovative documentary series that broke new ground in the field of television programming. Its structure of revisiting the same individuals at seven-year intervals is a remarkable feat in television documentary making. The show has since become an iconic fixture in British television, with its longevity testament to its cultural significance.

In conclusion, Seven Up / 7 Plus Seven is a show that is both personal and political, presenting individual stories that are woven into a larger narrative about social mobility and class structure in Britain. The show offers a poignant look at how the lives of the fourteen children have evolved over the years, making it a compelling and thought-provoking documentary that has stood the test of time.

Seven Up / 7 Plus Seven is a series that ran for 1 seasons (3 episodes) between May 5, 1964 and on ITV