70 Up first look: Tony and co-stars pictured as retired cabbie gets tearful over his jockey dream
Tony had his heart set on being a jockey from seven years old70 Up will give fans of the landmark documentary series one final chance to catch up with the people they’ve watched grow up for more than six decades – including Tony.
The new two-part documentary marks the end of the extraordinary Up series, revisiting the participants as they reach the age of 70 and reflecting on the lives they’ve led since viewers first met them as seven-year-olds.
One of those is Tony, who had dreams of becoming a jockey from the age of seven.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated show airing, ITV has released some first look pictures.
We can also reveal that Tony, remembered by fans for wanting to be a jockey, will be seen reflecting on his boyhood dream.
70 Up first look pictures: Tony reflects on jockey ambitions
In one picture of 70 Up, the 11 remaining participants can be seen gathered in a cinema. The gang are sitting down to watch their lives back on the big screen as they reunite for one final time.
Pictured together are John, Bruce, Symon, Andrew, Suzy, Jackie, Tony, Sue, Peter, Paul and Neil. Lyn and Nick have both sadly died. Charles Furneaux, who left after 21 Up, will feature but not as fully as the others.
Another picture shows Tony holding on to a clapper board. Fans will fondly remember Tony for his boyhood ambition to become a professional jockey.
“I wanna be a jockey when I grow up. Yeah, I wanna be a jockey,” he excitedly declared in 7 Up.
Tony came within touching distance, but was told he had become too heavy to continue. He was 8st 2lbs at the time.
In 70 Up, Tony sits in his back garden and recalls how he was told: “You’re getting lumpy now, you’re getting bigger.”
Tony then reflects: “I thought about my weight, I thought about my ambition and I thought about the longevity and I thought, ‘That’s me, blown’.”
The 70 Up star, who went on to become a taxi driver, then becomes tearful. Getting choked up, he adds: “That was me out of the game. It broke… it broke my heart.”
Meanwhile, fans will hear how Bruce, who aimed to be a missionary, now spends his retirement at choir and volunteering for the RNLI. Sue reveals she has finally got married to Glen after “the longest engagement in history”.
When is 70 Up on? Can I watch it in Australia?
Fans are counting down the days until 70 Up airs. The final instalment will be split across two hour-long episodes on ITV1. It will air from 9pm on Tuesday September 15, 2026.
The Up series also has a huge fanbase beyond the shores of the UK. Many of those are Brits who have emigrated to Australia – and they are very keen to watch 70 Up.
The good news is, ITV has confirmed to TVGuide that the show will be distributed internationally. There is no confirmation whether it will air in Australia, but the entire Up series has previously aired on SBS, so fingers crossed!
Read more: 7 Up hit with ‘trigger’ warning as ITV series gears up for emotional 70 Up final
