One of the original 7 Up children has paid tribute to her co-stars who died before the final episodes of 70 Up air. Suzy Lusk, who was among the four little girls chosen, alongside ten boys, to take part in the social experiment in 1964, has vowed to watch the show for the first time, in memory of Nick, who died in August 2023 at the age of 65 after being diagnosed with cancer.
A difficult and intrusive experience
Speaking to Ed Balls and Susanna Reid on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain, Suzy described how "difficult" and "intrusive" it had been throughout her life, and admitted she had never actually watched the show before. When asked if she was glad not to have to film another episode, Suzy said: "There's not going to be a 77 Up."
She continued: "I think it has to have a natural end, and with Michael [Apted, original director] having died, Asif [Kapadia, 70 Up director] was lovely, he's done a very good job of picking up Michael's story."
Watching for Nick
Suzy then said: "For the first time, I will watch it. I think I've got to. I'll find it hard. It is the final chapter, and with Nick now, because he was the one I filmed with at 56, one of the missing pieces, he was an extraordinary person and I feel for him that I've just got to do it."
Nick featured alongside Suzy in 56 Up and gave his final ever interview while filming for 70 Up, sadly dying just days later. Suzy added: "You get to 70 and we've lost friends a lot younger than me from cancer and other things. We're in sniper alley now at this age and I just think, if you're reasonably healthy at 70 and can get on with your life, well we're just really fortunate."
Tributes and the final chapter
ITV had previously teased that the final episodes would pay tribute to Nick, and another of the cast who sadly died, Lynn. A press release stated: "The series will remember fondly the late Lynn, part of the trio of friends. Meanwhile, we hear from Charles who left the programme at 21. And the series will also include a poignant and moving interview with the late Nick, the farmer's son who fulfilled his dream to become a nuclear physicist."
Having taken over from Michael Apted, Asif Kapadia commented: "In 2014 I named the Up Series as my favourite documentary of all time. Who knew that two decades later I would have the incredible honour and privilege to be asked to direct 70 Up, the legendary documentary series. I love the show!"
He added: "I have watched it all my life, first as a child with my parents and siblings, growing up in East London and then as an adult. I was lucky to meet Michael Apted a few times. I first came in contact with Apted when he interviewed me after he saw SENNA and he liked the fact I directed drama and documentaries, like him."
Kapadia concluded: "Directing 70 Up has been a dream project for me, the ultimate portrait of human life, working with my amazing editors Andrew Hulme and Patrick Saxer, we had the challenge of cutting hours of archive material shot over decades, while also looking at the nature of documentary filmmaking itself. I hope the audience feel my team and I have done the epic series justice with the closing chapter."
70 Up airs on Tuesday, September 15 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
