Tony
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Tony, as a seven-year-old, wanted to be a jockey. He became a cabbie instead. Still, it was a good life for an "Eastender." In 42 Up, Tony showed viewers around the solid middle-class home he shared with his wife, Debbie, and their three children. But he never quite gave up dreams of glamour — embracing his role in the series and even trying to break into show business. 49 Up reveals how Tony and Debbie, now grandparents, saved their marriage from infidelity and just what has become of Tony's acting ambitions.
Captions: 1964 - Tony at 7; 1971- Tony at 14; 1978 - Tony at 21; 1985 - Tony at 28; 1992 - Tony at 35; 1999 - Tony at 42; 2006 - Tony at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Sue
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Sue, Jackie and Lynn began the series as girlhood friends, voicing the half-realistic, half-dreamy hopes of working-class girls for good husbands and decent jobs. The Up series subsequently saw Sue marry at 24 and divorce by 35. In 42 Up, she was a struggling, single mother with a son and daughter from her marriage. But she had met a new man. 42 Up asks if Sue has finally found a stable life with Glen.
Captions: 1964 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue on slide at 7; 1971 - Lynn at 14; 1978 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue at 21; 1985 - Jackie, Lynn, Michael Apted and Sue at 28; 1992 - Sue at 35 with her family; 1999 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue at 42; 2006 - Sue at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Lynn
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In 7 Up, Lynn's ambition was to work in Woolworth's. Instead, she went to work in a library and by 42 Up was still there, a rock of stability among the three friends. But 42 Up finds Lynn devastated by news that her job as a children's librarian might be abolished. The mother of two wrestles with her anger over losing her life's work and with her fears over how it will change her family's life.
Captions: 1964 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue on slide at 7; 1971 - Lynn at 14; 1978 - Lynn at 21; 1985 - Jackie, Lynn, Michael Apted and Sue at 28; 1992 - Lynn at 35 with her family; 1999 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue at 42; 2006 - Lynn at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Jackie
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The series similarly followed Jackie through marriage in her 20s and divorce by age 35. In 35 Up, she had a son from a brief relationship after her divorce. By 42 Up, she'd had two more sons from passing encounters, and she was living with all three boys in a council flat near Glasgow. 49 Up finds Jackie and sons in Scotland. Surviving on benefits and suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, she says wistfully that Scotland reminds her of the close-knit world of London's East End when she was growing up.
Captions: 1964 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue on slide at 7; 1971- Jackie at 14; 1978 - Jackie at 21; 1985 - Jackie. Lynn and Sue at 28; 1992 - Jackie at 35; 1999 - Jackie, Lynn and Sue at 42; 2006 - Jackie at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Bruce
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In 7 Up, upper-class public schoolboy Bruce wanted to be a missionary in Africa to "teach people who are not civilized to be, more or less, good." The series followed Bruce from Oxford to teaching in Bangladesh. At 35 Up, returned from foreign missionary work, he was unmarried and lonely. By 42 Up, Bruce had met a fellow teacher, Penny, while working in London's East End, and the pair had tied the knot. Has the couple managed to have the family they dreamed of?
Captions: 1964 - Bruce at 7; 1971- Bruce at 14; 1978 - Bruce at 21; 1985 - Bruce at 28; 1992 - Bruce at 35; 1999 - Bruce at 42; 2006 - Bruce at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Nick
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In 7 Up, farmer's son Nick said he wanted to learn about the moon but firmly refused to answer any questions about girls. In 14 Up, the shy teenager stuck to his guns. By 21 Up, Nick had met Jackie, and in 35 Up they were married and living in America. By 42 Up, the couple had a son, but Jackie was missing home. Both the marriage and Nick's career were at stake.
Captions: 1964 - Nick at 7; 1971- Nick at 14; 1978 - Nick at 21; 1985 - Nick at 28; 1992 - Nick at 35; 1999 - Nick at 42 with his father; 2006 - Nick at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Suzy
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Suzy was so shy in 14 Up that she barely looked at the camera. At 21, she was nervous, chain smoking and adrift. By 28, Suzy had married Robert, and seemed happier than she had her entire life. Suzy continues to thrive with 2 children in her thirties, and delivers some startling news in 49 Up.
Captions: 1964 - Suzy at 7; 1971- Suzy at 14; 1978 - Suzy at 21; 1985 - Suzy at 28; 1992 - Suzy at 35; 1999 - Suzy at 42; 2006 - Suzy at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Andrew
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The series also catches up with the fortunate Andrew. In 42 Up, he had been happily married to Jane for over 15 years and was a partner at a law firm. The eldest of his two sons was planning to go to the same boarding school he attended. How fortunate has Andrew remained?
Captions: 1964 - Andrew at 7; 1971- Andrew at 14; 1978 - Andrew at 21; 1985 - Andrew at 28; 1992 - Andrew at 35; 1999 - Andrew at 42; 2006 - Andrew at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
John
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John went to public school with Andrew and Charles (who decided not to participate after 21 Up) and seemed to have his entire future planned out for him at the age of seven. John went on to university and became a lawyer, married and was happy in 42 Up. What will 49 Up bring for John?
Captions: 1964 - John at 7; 1971- John at the piano at 14; 1978 - John at 21; 1985 - John at 28; 1992 - John at 35; 1999 - John at 42; 2006 - John at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Paul
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The series saw Paul, who lived in a children's home as a seven-year-old, emigrate to Australia in his early teens. Now, in 49 Up, he has a wife and children, and talks proudly of his daughter, the first member of his family to go to university. But there are clouds in Paul's sky — a change in career by his wife bodes ill for his own hopes.
Captions: 1964 - Paul at 7; 1971- Paul at 14; 1978 - Paul at 21; 1985 - Paul at 28 with his wife Susan; 1992 - Paul at 35; 1999 - Paul at 42; 2006 - Paul at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Symon
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Symon lived in the same children's home as Paul in 7 Up. By 42 Up, Symon had a new wife and son — and children from a first marriage who refused to see him. In 49 Up, he is back with a touching update.
Captions: 1964 - Symon at 7; 1971- Symon at 14; 1978 - Symon at 21; 1985 - Symon at 28; 1992 - Symon at 35; 1999 - Symon at 42 with his wife Vienetta; 2006 - Symon at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features
Neil
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And what's happened to Neil? A happy child in 7 Up, he was, by age 28, wandering lonely and homeless in the Highlands. He surprised viewers when, in 42 Up, he was rediscovered working as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Hackney. The once-homeless man hoped to win a seat in parliament. Has he succeeded? Has he still got a roof over his head?
Captions: 1964 - Neil at 7; 1971- Neil at 14; 1978 - Neil at 21; 1985 - Neil at 28; 1992 - Neil at 35; 1999 - Neil at 42; 2006 - Neil at 49; All photos courtesy of First Run Features