Seven Up: BFI TV Classics (Paperback)

Seven Up began as a 1964 World in Action special made by Granada TV about the lives of 20 (later 14) children - from across British society - from public schoolboys to working-class girls from London's East End. The idea behind this original film was to test the Jesuit maxim 'give me a child until he is seven, and I will give you the man' and to see the extent to which a child's future was determined by the social environment into which they were born.

Michael Apted, one of two researchers on the original World in Action programme, went on to revisit the children every seven years, producing an iconic series that has won international acclaim, has been screened all over the world and has spawned numerous imitations.

Stella Bruzzi's illuminating study is the first comprehensive account of the series. It traces Seven Up's origins and production history up to 49 Up, places it within the context of the history of British documentary, and provides in-depth analysis of the programmes themselves. Interwoven into Bruzzi's account are invaluable insights from Apted, his series producer Claire Lewis, and two of the 'children' - Nick and Bruce.