Wednesday 16 May 2012

ORIGINAL REALITY TELEVISION...



                                                      56 Up

The programme that started 49 years ago was originally only intended for one edition. It brought us an insight into a group of 7 year olds, their hopes, fears, dreams and aspirations for the future. Since then the programme has become a unique social documentary, returning each 7 years. We get a sneak peak into the participants lives and what's happened since we last saw them on television 7 years previously. The first in a three part documentary series revisit the lives Sue, Paul, Neil and Peter.

Sue is appears happier then she's ever been happily married with two children and teaching at a university, despite not having been herself. Paul a man who when we first saw him at the age of 7 was in care, is now

happily married and living in Australia, with his children and grand children. He still appears somewhat at odds with his low-self esteem, that we've seen him battle with over the years, when asked about his wife he says “I can tell you how I feel about her, but I have difficulty telling her…”. Perhaps a true reflection of life, that we all have our own inner demons and struggles that can't easily be erased.

Neil who in 28 Up was homeless and living on the streets in Scotland, is now living in Cumbria and a Liberal Democrat councillor, still philosophical about the world still troubled and is still yet to find love. Peter who dropped out after 28 Up after having a backlash from the rightwing press for his views on Thatcher at the time is back seemingly just to promote his band The Good Intentions inspired by the artist Graham Parsons.

Although we only glimpse into their lives every 7 years it's been a lasting and binding relationship, like having an old friend who we only see now and then getting together for a good catch up. We've seen this group of 7 year olds grow up over the years, their highs and lows, children, grandchildren, their losses and love come and go. We've seen the history of their lives, what's shaped and moulded them into the people they are today and the people they could become in future years. There is no hidden agenda, the participants have no contract they can take part or refuse as many times as they like, ultimately it's television that the audience can truly relate too.

As a programme it's by no means perfect out of the 13 participations only 4 selected were female, when the programme originally started in 1964, at the time it may have seemed like a broad spectrum of society, by today's standards it indeed seems a very narrow representation of our society. It is also a small compressed snapshot into their lives every 7 years, simply 15 minutes of television to be precise and that cannot by no means tell the whole story of their lives.

However, perhaps most importantly because it's a show that to it's very core is about people, the happiness and struggles faced in everyday lives making it ultimately a programme everyone can relate to. It may only be a snapshot of their lives every 7 years but it feels far more real and moving then any current reality show.

The first episode of 56 Up is currently available to watch on itv player.
 http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=316919

56 Up is next on Monday 21st May ITV 1, 9PM.

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