56 Up

The story

When a cross-section of seven-year-olds were interviewed for 7 Up in 1964 it was immediately evident that their social backgrounds influenced their attitudes towards life. While the upper class children were confident and self-assured, those from middle and working class backgrounds were resigned to a challenging life of hard work. This premise was put to the test every seven years when the same group were interviewed about the progression of their lives. 49 years in the making, the changes that occurred to the original 14 make for fascinating television and are in many ways the stories of all our lives. From success and disappointment, marriage and childbirth, to poverty and illness, nearly every facet of life has been captured on film. Now, at the age of 56, the group are once more brought together and, with the benefit of hindsight, assess whether their lives have been ruled by circumstance or self-determination.

In the same saga

The Up Collection

In release order

Seven Up!

1964

7 Plus Seven

1970

21 Up

1977

28 Up

1984

See all films (10)

35 Up

1991

42 Up

1999

49 Up

2006

This film

56 Up

2012

63 Up

2019

70 Up

2026

Cast

P Peter DaviesSelf N Neil HughesSelf T Tony WalkerSelf L Lynn JohnsonSelf S Susan SullivanSelf J Jacqueline BassettSelf P Paul KligermanSelf S Symon BasterfieldSelf S Suzanne DeweySelf J John BrisbySelf B Bruce BaldenSelf A Andrew BrackfieldSelf

See more cast

N Nicholas HitchonSelf M Michael AptedInterviewer/Narrator (voice)