7 Up's Charles Furneaux will feature in 70 Up finale and reveal exactly why he quit the show age 21
Charles walked away from the television series in 19777 Up‘s Charles Furneaux made headlines when he quit the show age 21, but he has agreed to come back for the 70 Up finale.
Charles was a one of the original seven-year-old school children picked for the Up series TV experiment in 1964.
Every seven years, the cameras would return to hear how Charles was getting on in life.
But after 21 Up, Charles walked away from the landmark show and never returned – until now.
The retired TV producer has agreed to take part in the highly-anticipated 70 Up finale and give fans a small glimpse of his life now.
7 Up’s Charles Furneux returns for 70 Up finale
Charles made headlines when he announced his exit from the Up series after 21 Up had aired in 1977. He will now be returning to the show as the groundbreaking documentary series finally comes to an end.
However, Charles has come back on one condition; he does not want to appear on camera.
Charles has instead provided voiceover commentary about the Up series and his own thoughts. He reveals exactly why he decided to leave and what he has been doing since then.
Fans will only get a glimpse of what Charles looks like now in several carefully taken photographs. Snapped while climbing – his favourite pastime – Charles’ full face is deliberately obscured.
He says: “There is an issue over TV and what it does to people. That was my concern with Michael [Apted, the director] and why I didn’t engage from 28.
“I felt he had cast everyone and they had their role to fulfil. And didn’t they know it in some cases.”
‘They weren’t mates of mine’
Viewers will learn how Charles moved into journalism as an adult. He worked as a newspaper editor and as a producer for the BBC.
Charles will talk about how his parents unwittingly signed him up for 7 Up. He also found himself being filmed alongside John Brisby and Andrew Brackfield.
“I was stuck with two boys who, while perfectly nice, weren’t mates of mine,” Charles says. “And I was going to be forever branded, in terms of casting, as part of that group. I felt I was different to them.”
Charles said he used to “dread the seven-year cycle”. He adds: “21 was quite painful to film. Already I look a bit different to the other two. I felt I had a sense of being trapped in a situation that wasn’t me.”
When does 70 Up start?
70 Up will air over two hour-long episodes. The first one starts at 9pm on ITV1 on Tuesday September 15, 2026.
Episode two will air a week later. This will also start at 9pm on ITV1.
ITV is also set to show two documentaries about the Up series, however it has not yet been confirmed when viewers will be able to watch them.
We will keep you posted!
Read more: 7 Up’s Nick Hitchon makes surprise appearance in 70 Up but tragically died three days after filming
