Film director Michael Apted, best known for the Up TV series documentary following the lives of 14 people every seven years, has died at the age of 79.
He also directed Coal Miner’s daughter, Gorilla In The Mist and the 1999 Bond film World Is Not Enough.
The first 7 Up in 1964 began recording the life prospects of a variety of children from all walks of life.
The show is inspired by Aristotle’s quote that “give me a child until he is seven years old and I will show you the man”.
7 Up Series
The first 7 Up show was followed by 14 Up at the start of the next decade, which interviewed the same children as teenagers – and the pattern was set right up until 63 Up in 2019.
Throughout all those intervening years ITV viewers became engrossed with the stories of private school trio Andrew, Charles and John, of Jackie who went through two divorces, of Nick who went from jobless and homeless to Liberal Democrat councilor, and of working-class chatterbox Tony, whose life ambition was to become a jockey.
Apted shows – which won three Bafta awards – are often portrayed as the forerunners of today’s real TV series, giving their participants time to tell their stories on screen.
But unlike their modern counterparts, original Up children tended to fade away from the limelight in the seven years between each chapter.
In 2008, Apted was made a companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to the British film and television industries.
Prosperous Career
Thomas Schlamme, president of the Directors Guild of America, said Apted was a “fearless visionary” who would inherit his estate.
He said Apted, who was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, “saw the trajectory of things when others didn’t and we were all beneficiaries of his wisdom and lifelong dedication”.
ITV’s managing director Kevin Lygo said the director’s six-decade career was “in itself truly remarkable”.
He said the Up series “showcases television opportunities at the highest level with its ambition and ability to raise the mirror in society and engage and entertain people while enriching our vision of the human condition”.
“The influence of Michael’s contribution to film and programme-making continues to be felt and he will be sadly missed,” Lygo added.
Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the James Bond film franchise, said Apted was “a great talent director” and “loved by all his colleagues”.
“We loved working with him on The World Is Not Enough and sent our love and support to his family, friends and colleagues,” they said.
A post on the Twitter account of the band Garbage, who performed the theme for The World Is Not Enough, labelled Apted a “delightful, charming soul”.
Composer David G Arnold, who co-wrote the Bond theme and worked with Apted on three other non-Bond movies, said he felt “lucky” to work with him.
