The iconic British documentary series "Seven Up!," which has tracked the lives of 14 individuals since they were seven years old, is concluding with its latest installment, "70 Up." Sue Fitzgerald and Jackie Bassett, both now 70, who were selected as children from a working-class East London school, shared their experiences and reflections on a life documented on screen.
The series, initiated by Granada TV and guided by director Michael Apted through its seven-yearly follow-ups until his death in 2021, aimed to explore the societal structures and class divides of Britain. Apted, who also directed Hollywood blockbusters, began his involvement as a researcher for the original "Seven Up!" in 1964.
Sue Fitzgerald, a retired university administrator, and Jackie Bassett, who has lived through significant personal challenges, have been central figures in the documentary alongside their classmate Lynn Johnson. Johnson died in 2013 at the age of 56.
Fitzgerald and Bassett, who attended Susan Lawrence Primary School in Bethnal Green, noted the differing expectations placed upon them based on their background. While the more privileged boys in the initial film discussed aspirations of attending prestigious universities like Oxford, the girls were often assumed to pursue less ambitious paths. Fitzgerald herself progressed from a secretarial role to university administration, while Johnson became a librarian, exceeding early assumptions.
"Looking back, there was no push for university for us girls," Fitzgerald recalled. "I don’t ever remember my parents talking about education. The more privileged boys in the first documentary talked about going to Charterhouse or Oxford, but people thought we’d just want to work in a shoe shop."
Basil remembers the early films focusing on class. "At the start, the show was totally about class. They took us on filming trips including to a cinema where we queued up outside. They didn’t even let us see the film – I think it was an experiment to see if we’d behave badly and the richer children behaved better," she said.
Bassett also observed how the interview topics diverged based on gender, with boys questioned about global affairs and politics, while girls were primarily asked about relationships and family. "Michael would ask the boys about the world and politics, but the girls would be asked about men, marriage and family," Bassett stated.
The series documented significant life events for Fitzgerald and Bassett, including marriages, divorces, and raising families. Fitzgerald married her second husband, Glenn, in 2020 after a 25-year engagement. Bassett navigated the challenges of single motherhood after her partner, Ian, died in a car accident in 2012, and later developed rheumatoid arthritis. "You can’t see any symptoms, though, so I don’t think Michael thought I had a problem," Bassett commented on her health condition.
Reflecting on the show's impact and Apted's direction, Bassett expressed frustration at times. "I hated filming 21 Up (1977) – the world was changing, but Michael seemed to think we would remain the little women in the home. I swore at him and walked off," she said. Fitzgerald added that while Apted was a kind man, he was