7 Up's Nick Hitchon makes surprise appearance in 70 Up but tragically died three days after filming
Nick made sure he is included in the milestone episode7 Up original Nick Hitchon tragically died just three days after filming his scenes for the for the highly-anticipated 70 Up finale.
Nick, a scientist, had been recorded every seven years from the age of seven for the extraordinary social TV experiment.
Viewers last saw Nick in 63 Up, where he revealed he was “seriously ill” with throat cancer.
Nick, the son of a farmer, told the cameras that he could only focus on the “short-term future”, given his prognosis.
Up series fans may, therefore, be surprised to see the professor in the forthcoming 70 Up final instalment.
Nick invited the cameras back in just 72 hours before he died to ensure he would be included in the milestone episode.
7 Up’s Nick Hitchon died three days after filming 70 Up
Nearly all of the original cast have taken part in the 70 Up final. Sadly, Lynn Johnson died in 2013 so has not appeared in any episodes since 53 Up.
Charles Furneaux also bowed out after 28 Up, but he is making a return for the series finale.
Viewers are likely to be shocked to see Nick in the programme, as it was assumed he would not appear. Nick, who had moved to Wisconsin, US, tragically died in July 2023 from throat cancer.
Then aged 65, he asked the Up series crew to recorded final scenes to be included in the last ever episode.
Viewers will see Nick looking incredibly frail in the second episode of the two-part show. He had already lost 60lbs in 63 Up following his diagnosis, but appears very gaunt in 70 Up.
Sitting outside his house on a sunny day, Nick says: “I had a stroke last autumn and apparently they asked numerous times if they should just let me die. I had no idea I was going to be this ill and I had no idea I was going to keep living.
“It’s a surprise to my doctors that I’m still around. Curious really. One was saying, ‘It does happen that people survive’ but made it clear he didn’t expect it. They should train them to be more tactful.”
Nick describes his Up appearance as ‘tremendously important’
Nick is seen visiting the hospital. He is lifted into a wheelchair and admits he feels “guilty” that everyone is picking up the slack”.
“I just hobble around on my walker and at the hospital they have to get me into a wheelchair instantly,” he adds. “My son wanted to take me for a haircut yesterday. I got out of the car, took two strides and said, ‘I can’t do this’.
“I could not get from the car to the barbers that was 10 paces away, I was going to collapse.”
Nick said it was “tremendously important” to appear in 70 Up.
“When you guys pack up and leave, and I’m fairly sure we’re not going to do this again, I will feel there is a hole in things that I’ve not experienced since I was six,” he admits.
Viewers will then be told the very sad news that Nick died three days after filming.
When is 70 Up on?
70 Up will air in two hour-long episodes on ITV1. The first starts at 9pm on Tuesday September 15, 2026.
Fans will then have to wait a week for the second and last ever episode. This airs at 9pm on Tuesday September 22. This is the episode that features Nick’s last interview.
It’s going to be an emotional ride, folks. Get the tissues ready.
