Original subtitles

BALLOONS POPPING, CHILDREN SQUEALING

MICHAEL APTED: In 1964, Granada Television brought together

MICHAEL APTED: In 1964, Granada Television brought together

a group of seven-year-olds.

We have followed their lives every seven years.

We have followed their lives every seven years.

They talked about their dreams, their ambitions...

They talked about their dreams, their ambitions...

..and their fears for the future.

..and their fears for the future.

DOUGLAS KEAY:Give me a child until he is seven,

and I will give you the man.

I read the Financial Times.

I read the Financial Times.

Sometimes, we can't play nicely with the boys,

Sometimes, we can't play nicely with the boys,

and sometimes, we go out and argue with the boys.

and sometimes, we go out and argue with the boys.

Do you want to be rich?

Well, yes, because I don't want to be tied down

Well, yes, because I don't want to be tied down

to the dullness of an everyday job.

to the dullness of an everyday job.

I think if you're healthy and have good friends,

I think if you're healthy and have good friends,

you can get on perfectly well.

What do you want for yourself, then?

Just be content with what I'm doing, to know where I'm going,

Just be content with what I'm doing, to know where I'm going,

Just be content with what I'm doing, to know where I'm going,

and to remember fondly what I've done.

I'd like to find out all about the moon and all that.

I'd like to find out all about the moon and all that.

I'd like to find out all about the moon and all that.

Do you want to take up farming? No.

Do you want to take up farming? No.

But as a last resort.

Was gonna be a film star

but now I'm gonna be an electrical engineer.

but now I'm gonna be an electrical engineer.

Aren't you worth more than this?

Aren't you worth more than this?

I'm going to work in Woolworths.

I'm going to work in Woolworths.

I would help the poor.

Yeah, cos the poor,

if you don't help them, they'll sort of die soon, wouldn't they?

if you don't help them, they'll sort of die soon, wouldn't they?

Well, some people are just born into rich families, and they're lucky.

Well, some people are just born into rich families, and they're lucky.

An education is very important.

Good education, that's something that no-one can take away.

Good education, that's something that no-one can take away.

Because we've been to private schools,

it's not that we're better qualified.

it's not that we're better qualified.

We've been taught to expect more.

We've been taught to expect more.

The posh 'uns, "Oh, yes, oh, yes, oh, yes."

The posh 'uns, "Oh, yes, oh, yes, oh, yes."

They're nuts.

Obviously, if you come from with a silver spoon,

Obviously, if you come from with a silver spoon,

you're gonna get more attractive jobs and easier life.

you're gonna get more attractive jobs and easier life.

But I think you've also seen that it doesn't always work that way.

But I think you've also seen that it doesn't always work that way.

But I think you've also seen that it doesn't always work that way.

At seven and 14, everybody was in love with you.

At seven and 14, everybody was in love with you.

And now nobody speaks to me.

When I leave school, I may want to go to a university,

When I leave school, I may want to go to a university,

but I don't know which one yet.

What does university mean?

What does university mean?

Why is it that you three haven't changed?

Why is it that you three haven't changed?

We've all had a stable background with stable relationships.

We've all had a stable background with stable relationships.

'You can be born shy. You can be born as an extrovert.

'You can be born shy. You can be born as an extrovert.

'You can be born shy. You can be born as an extrovert.

'You can be someone who likes to make people laugh.

'You can be someone who likes to make people laugh.

'You can be someone who's much quieter and deeper.'

'You can be someone who's much quieter and deeper.'

And I think that's in you, but then life happens.

And I think that's in you, but then life happens.

And I think that's in you, but then life happens.

I have had regretful behaviour at various times.

I have had regretful behaviour at various times.

We all make mistakes in everything, from parenting to decisions in life,

We all make mistakes in everything, from parenting to decisions in life,

We all make mistakes in everything, from parenting to decisions in life,

and that's how you become the person you are.

The years are flying through my mind at the moment.

The years are flying through my mind at the moment.

The future is not maybe as bright as it would have been

The future is not maybe as bright as it would have been

for a kid coming out a university like me in the late '70s.

for a kid coming out a university like me in the late '70s.

for a kid coming out a university like me in the late '70s.

I can't really recognise myself.

He looks a little bit lost and a little bit sad,

He looks a little bit lost and a little bit sad,

and I'm quite sort of surprised to be sort of contented.

and I'm quite sort of surprised to be sort of contented.

The moment of pure, unadulterated joy in my life

The moment of pure, unadulterated joy in my life

was when my son was handed to me when he was born.

was when my son was handed to me when he was born.

I have never felt so optimistic,

I have never felt so optimistic,

so just purely unworried about anything.

so just purely unworried about anything.

so just purely unworried about anything.

Real-life TV, with the added bonus that you can see people grow old,

Real-life TV, with the added bonus that you can see people grow old,

Real-life TV, with the added bonus that you can see people grow old,

lose their hair, get fat. Fascinating.

lose their hair, get fat. Fascinating.

ALL:Cheers!

Every time this programme starts, it says,

Every time this programme starts, it says,

"Give me a child till they're seven, and I will give you the man."

"Give me a child till they're seven, and I will give you the man."

Is that true or false?

CHILDREN SQUEALING

CHILDREN SQUEALING

They're teddy bears. They're not real.

CHILDREN SQUEALING

CHILDREN SQUEALING

Look at those claws.

Look at those claws.

DOUGLAS KEAY: This is no ordinary outing at the zoo.

DOUGLAS KEAY: This is no ordinary outing at the zoo.

It's a very special occasion.

We've brought these 20 children together for the very first time.

We've brought these 20 children together for the very first time.

CHILDREN SQUEALING

CHILDREN SQUEALING

They're like any other children,

except that they come from startlingly different backgrounds.

except that they come from startlingly different backgrounds.

You musn't give it. "No feeding," it says.

You musn't give it. "No feeding," it says.

We brought these children together

We brought these children together

because we wanted a glimpse of England in the year 2000.

because we wanted a glimpse of England in the year 2000.

because we wanted a glimpse of England in the year 2000.

LAUGHTER

LAUGHTER

Let's get to know these children.

Let's get to know these children.

MICHAEL APTED: What do you think about rich people?

MICHAEL APTED: What do you think about rich people?

Er...

Not much.

Rich children always make fun

of poor children, I think. Yes.

Yes. They say, "Oh, look at that lovely little sissy over there."

Yes. They say, "Oh, look at that lovely little sissy over there."

Or something horrible. Yes.

They're nuts.

Just have to touch 'em.

They'd like to come out for a holiday in the country

They'd like to come out for a holiday in the country

They'd like to come out for a holiday in the country

when we like... when I'd like to have a holiday in the town.

when we like... when I'd like to have a holiday in the town.

What would you do if you had lots of money?

Me? About £2.

Me? About £2.

I would buy myself a new nice house now.

I would buy myself a new nice house now.

I would buy myself a new nice house now.

One that's all nice and comfy.

One that's all nice and comfy.

We should give all... some... most of our money to the poor people.

We should give all... some... most of our money to the poor people.

We should give all... some... most of our money to the poor people.

When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut,

When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut,

but if I can't be an astronaut, I think I'll be a coach driver.

but if I can't be an astronaut, I think I'll be a coach driver.

but if I can't be an astronaut, I think I'll be a coach driver.

BELL RINGS, HE GRUNTS

I was born a little Artful Dodger on the street.

I was born a little Artful Dodger on the street.

Arse hanging out my trousers.

Arse hanging out my trousers.

I was always here, there and everywhere.

I was always here, there and everywhere.

Adventure. Cheeky.

Adventure. Cheeky.

Is it important to fight? Yes.

Is it important to fight? Yes.

And I've never changed.

A bird said to me the other day, "Ain't you small?"

A bird said to me the other day, "Ain't you small?"

So I said, "But you're ugly. At least I can grow."

So I said, "But you're ugly. At least I can grow."

I wanna be a jockey when I grow up.

Yeah, I want to be a jockey when I grow up.

Yeah, I want to be a jockey when I grow up.

Tony left his East End secondary modern school at 15.

I walked into a stable, and there...

it was like a mammoth racehorse.

it was like a mammoth racehorse.

I got on it.

And now I'm up in the air.

And now I'm up in the air.

And I felt like I was John Wayne in the Wild West...

And I felt like I was John Wayne in the Wild West...

..and the die was cast.

Within a month, he called me in the office.

He said, "You get on with that horse, don't you?"

He said, "You get on with that horse, don't you?"

I said, "Yes, sir."

He said, "I'm just letting you know

"you're riding him at Kempton in a race.

"you're riding him at Kempton in a race.

"Tell your mum and dad. Make sure they're there."

"Tell your mum and dad. Make sure they're there."

I'm a wet-behind-the-ear kid,

I'm a wet-behind-the-ear kid,

and there I am, walking into the parade ring,

and there I am, walking into the parade ring,

seeing my mum and dad crying.

HE CLICKS TONGUE

I thought to myself,

here I was yesterday, sort of nobody,

here I was yesterday, sort of nobody,

and here I am today, I'm king.

and here I am today, I'm king.

Like, I felt king for one day or for ten minutes.

Like, I felt king for one day or for ten minutes.

But my guv'nor said,

"I've got faith in you, Tony, but," he says,

"I've got faith in you, Tony, but," he says,

"you're gonna find it hard."

I said, "Why is that?" He said, "Your weight."

I said, "Why is that?" He said, "Your weight."

I said, "Weight? I'm 8 stone 2, Guv'nor."

I said, "Weight? I'm 8 stone 2, Guv'nor."

He said, "I know, but you're getting lumpy now.

He said, "I know, but you're getting lumpy now.

"You're getting bigger."

And I thought about my weight.

And I thought about my weight.

I thought about the ambition, the longevity,

I thought about the ambition, the longevity,

and I thought, "That's me blown."

and I thought, "That's me blown."

And I went out the game, and it...

And I went out the game, and it...

..broke...

VOICE BREAKS:It broke my heart.

It was the greatest mistake I've ever made in my life

It was the greatest mistake I've ever made in my life

at that particular time, saying, "Right, let's go home,"

at that particular time, saying, "Right, let's go home,"

and it wasn't the right decision.

What will you do if you don't make it as a jockey?

What will you do if you don't make it as a jockey?

I don't know.

If I knew I couldn't be one, I'd get out of the game.

If I knew I couldn't be one, I'd get out of the game.

Wouldn't bother. What do you think you would do then?

Wouldn't bother. What do you think you would do then?

Wouldn't bother. What do you think you would do then?

Learn on taxis. Taxi driver.

Learn on taxis. Taxi driver.

It's surprising who you pick up, you see.

It's surprising who you pick up, you see.

I once met Kojak. I picked him up.

I once met Kojak. I picked him up.

But, son, it's hard work out there. You're not reaching me yet.

But, son, it's hard work out there. You're not reaching me yet.

At 28, Tony was taking acting lessons.

At 28, Tony was taking acting lessons.

Be bigger. Dominate me. All right?

Son... Yeah.

Son, it's a big world out there, and obviously, I'm not...

Son, it's a big world out there, and obviously, I'm not...

I can't get into it, Brian. All right, don't worry.

I can't get into it, Brian. All right, don't worry.

Pardon the expression, but can you do my inside leg?

Pardon the expression, but can you do my inside leg?

He now works as an extra.

Now I know how Bruce Willis feels.

'I'll have a go at anything, especially acting.

'I've always said it -

'there's never, ever a thing in my life

'I've never set out to do that I've never achieved.

'I've never set out to do that I've never achieved.

'I wanted to be a jockey.

'Thank God, I rode on a race with Lester Piggott, and I did it.