Six decades have passed since Jackie Bassett first appeared on television at the age of seven, skipping down the road with her younger sister. In 1964, she was chosen by teachers at her primary school in east London to take part in a documentary called 7 Up. This groundbreaking series interviewed 14 seven-year-olds from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds. Inspired by a Jesuit saying—“Give me the child until he is seven and I will show you the man”—the show aimed to explore how early life experiences shape a person's future. It was meant to be a one-time documentary, capturing a snapshot of Britain's class system and its influence on individuals. In the original episode, Jackie expressed a desire to marry a man who had some money but not too much. The audience also met other children, like Neil, who dreamed of becoming either an astronaut or a coach driver, and Bruce, who longed to see his father in Rhodesia. The show was directed by Canadian filmmaker Paul Almond, with the help of a young researcher named Michael Apted, who later decided to follow up with the same group every seven years. Over the decades, millions watched as these individuals navigated life's challenges, from Neil's struggles with depression to Jackie's journey from not wanting children to becoming a devoted mother. As the years passed, some cast members found themselves at odds with Apted, especially over the way they were portrayed. At 21, Jackie, who had recently married, was asked by Apted if she had met “enough men” before choosing her husband. She was visibly uncomfortable during the interview, and it took her 18 years to confront him about the question. In 49 Up, she expressed her frustration, saying she felt Apted was out of touch with the evolving roles of women. She noted that he rarely asked about politics, focusing instead on domestic life. Jackie was not the only one to challenge Apted. John Brisby, who became a barrister, described the show as a “little pill of poison” injected into his life every seven years. Charles Furneaux, who later worked at the BBC, refused to appear after an argument with Apted. Despite these tensions, Jackie always maintained a deep respect for Apted, who she said opened up a world she never would have known otherwise. In recent years, Nick Hitchon, one of the original participants, passed away from cancer, becoming the second cast member to die after Lynn Johnson. Nick, who had once dreamed of exploring the moon, became a scientist and professor. His brother noted that while he was an expert in nuclear fusion, he would always be best known for his appearance in the documentary. After Apted's death in 2018, it was uncertain whether the final episode, 70 Up, would be made. However, it was recently announced that Asif Kapadia, known for documentaries on Amy Winehouse and Diego Maradona, would direct the final chapter. Jackie expressed some apprehension at first but felt at ease with Kapadia's approach, which she found more conversational than Apted's. In the final episode, Jackie appears the most content she has been since she was seven. She credits her newfound peace to moving to Norfolk, where she now lives, and to embracing her role as a mother and grandmother. She said she needed time for herself, and now she feels at peace. While she isn't sure if the series will end with 70 Up, she believes it is the right time to stop. “Seventy has got a symmetry to it,” she said. “We started at seven, we finished at 70 — and that's it.” Despite its acclaim, Jackie remains slightly puzzled by the show's lasting impact, though she understands how it has helped many people make sense of their own lives. She believes the series, which began as an exploration of class, ultimately became about life itself. “There's somebody on that programme that just about everybody can associate with,” she said. “And I think that is something that will outlast all of us.”