7 Up: Millennium Generation

[MacMahon]

I don't remember this at all. They started filming in 2000 with some 7 year olds. This and the subsequent 14 Up and 21 Up are also available in time for this year's 28 Up episodes.

I'm on the 7 Up episode and it's a must see. Fascinating, shocking, saddening...

It's a lovely series (as is the Michael Apted one that started in the 1960s and is sitll going strong)

I just watched 28 Up ep 1 (Millennium Generation). We are lucky they let us share their lives. What makes them different from my 1960s generation is they are "kidults" other than one or two (such as the electrician). At 28 mostly living with parents in a way my older children born in the 80s weren't and aren't. Even the Eton boy with the Harrods mother and Clifford Chance father is still studying at age 28. Even the Liverpool law degree girl is still at 28 still learning to be a teacher - PGCE. They seem to start their lives so late because I suppose parents are richer and they tolerate them at home longer than used to be so. By 28 I had been working as a trainee lawyer and lawyer for 7 years and was married with 3 children and worked full time.

I love the series. I've also followed the Sth African and Russian versions (born in the USSR).

There was also the born different series and another one that followed kids born in 2000.

Ooooh where can I watch this? I love the series

BBC iplayer if you have a TV licence - this is 28UP of the Y2K series www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00104my/28-up-millennium-generation-28-up-episode-1

It is very good. I cannot remember people not on this episode but so far I could have done with more who were a bit better off (ie like I am) just for interest but may be they appear later. We only have the Eton boy who has turned socialist and seems to be a permanent student at 28. [ Sorry that was spoilers....]

There was a similar one with Robert Winston following children born in year 2000. I don't know how long it continued, I watched until they were around 5.

I remember that one too. My favourite is the original starting in about 1960 7 Up which my parents first watched in black and white and I started watching in the 1970s. Those people are now in their 60s and I hope they carry on until they die even though director Michael Apted has now died. ah it was 1964 . The last one was age 63 Up. By then I had found even if there were initial class and money differences by age 63 their issues were similar whatever the background and their basic inherent personalities seemed as important as any particular financial start in life.

[ Sorry that was spoilers....]

Yeah. Thanks for that.

There was a similar one with Robert Winston following children born in year 2000. I don't know how long it continued, I watched until they were around 5.

That was Child of Our Time. They lost funding.

There was also one with people who turned 18 in the year 2000 called Citizen 2000 I think?

It was interesting. I thought the boy that had a posh background and probably the best education money can buy, Eton, Harvard ( maybe Yale I can’t remember) and Oxford and was almost doing nothing much at age 28. He didn’t seem to be money motivated at all so that might be the explanation whereas the DJ / entrepreneur man was almost the opposite, really trying to get out there and get rich despite his average education.
The Liverpudlian woman was very different in her approach to life and actually if she had richer parents and had the eton etc education could have really excelled. She still might of course. She’s only 28.
There’s another program/ group next week too

I don't remember this from last time. I remember the original series which has got to 63 up now. I also remember Child of Our Time with Robert Winston, shame that's finished now. It included of course Alison Lapper's son who sadly killed himself. Absolutely tragic, I wonder if that was one of the reasons for cancellation?

Since this series and Child of Our Time were both BBC, I wonder why they felt the need for 2 very similar series? I would have preferred them to keep CoOT.

I loved Child of Our Time

I believe Child of Our Time was a collaboration with the Open University. I guess that explains why there might be more than version.

Sasha although the bright law graduate Liverpudlian in a sense was identical to the Eton boy - BOTH still in full time education at age 28 - one doing her PGDC and the boy doing his PhD. I was hoping the lady became a great local lawyer now with 6 years of experience but she is still at the stage she could have been a year out of university, as if a lot of people now have the time, money, parents, support to keep not quite starting adult life. So many still living with parents at 28 too.

I’ve not seen this one, I love the original 7up series. I’ll have to watch it.

(Also nowt wrong with being a permanent student IMO, the teaching side of my undergraduate degree would be severely lacking without PhD students!)

I was surprised that not one of them were married or had children. 28 is certainly a different age now to the one I grew up in. I was a born in the 70s and married at 22 (post university) and had at children at 29. I have 3 nephews in their 30s, all university educated, 2 with partners, none married or have children. 2 in city jobs renting in London one living at home.

I was surprised at how few have left home. Apart from those at uni, is it just the BMX-rider who has moved out?

You know there were two little girls who played brass, and took very different routes at 14? I noticed one of them wasn't in the programme at 21. I'd like to know what happened to her.

The ones I've found easiest to warm to are the other brass girl teaching in China, the Scouser, the BMXer and Talen (sp?).

The high levels of social inequality and lack of social mobility is shocking.

@Justawaterformeplease

There was also one with people who turned 18 in the year 2000 called Citizen 2000 I think?

My friend's sister was on Citizen 2000! Dermot O'Leary used to come to her house to film the family as a very junior PA/producer.

I was surprised at how few have left home. Apart from those at uni, is it just the BMX-rider who has moved out?

I'm not surprised. When I graduated in the 80s my entry level graduate professional job was enough to get a mortgage on a decent sized flat in what was a popular mid market area in London's zone 3. The flat was about three times my annual salary. That same property is now about 15 times the annual salary of the same job at the same level.

Kids who 30 years ago expected to be on the housing ladder by mid 20s now take a decade or so longer and start in smaller properties. Unless they have parents wealthy enough to give them massive deposits or own additional properties getting a foot on that ladder is much more difficult now.

It is very good. I cannot remember people not on this episode but so far I could have done with more who were a bit better off (ie like I am) just for interest but may be they appear later.

Of the original cohort of 19 children three went to major public schools, several more went selective. That is disproportionately high for the population at large.

One thing they did in the original 7up but haven't done in this series is to say something about the children not participating - just a line or two to say they were fine, had decided not to take part.

Of the original group, nine were girls and ten were boys. One girl and one boy (Tane and Rosie) dropped out leaving eight girls and nine boys. At 21up Hannah, Heena and Sophie dropped out with Ben (who has reappeared at 28).

This time it seems Asif has dropped out leaving no South Asian heritage participates (and there never were any East Asian heritage participants). And a skew in favour of the boys.

I agree the lack of social mobility shown is depressing. I hope some of the girls who dropped out might come back in the future.

Yes, I think you’re right. I bought a two-bedroom house 18 years ago just before I graduated. I think it was a 95% mortgage. Different times.

Ep 2 was good too. The girl who had worked in China for 7 years and is now home - that was an exciting original move for her. The architect (blonde) girl was doing well - I suspect she might be married to her boyfriend and have children by 7 years' time but who knows?

Welsh boy with the builder father didn't go to university but married and has 2 children and a nice house etc doing as he says what his parents and 2 siblings have done in a sense - the fact his career was 9 years dealing with PPI claims shows what a weird world we are in - that that became such an industry.

As ever we are very lucky to be able to see that window into their lives. Very nice people.

This bunch seemed a bit more sorted. The woman from Hackney moved to Kettering was a very interesting character. Talented musician, lovely voice, bright, articulate but never leaves her house. I thought that was strange but she seemed happy and content in her life.
I also thought the architect women was successful. Obviously had a privileged upbringing but had used her advantages well unlike the man last week. She seemed very nice and grounded.

I can’t remember this at all and I love this type of programme. Loved Child of our time and the Born to be different one. I’m watching from the beginning so we are only on 14 up at the moment but it’s so interesting.

Thanks for flagging this - sounds right up my street