Tony Walker has lived one of the most extraordinary documentary lives in history — appearing every seven years in Michael Apted’s groundbreaking 7Up series since he was a 7-year-old boy. In this episode, Gabrielle sits down with Tony to reflect on the legacy of the series and what it means to grow up on screen.
We're back with a new season of Back From Reality! And to celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Edit — a new play written and directed by Gabrielle Scawthorn, inspired by this very podcast — we’re releasing a mix of previously unreleased interviews, your favourite episodes from season one, and new content from inside the production.
🎭 The Edit runs at Belvoir St Theatre, Downstairs, from 7–26 October 2025.
🎟️ BOOK TICKETS: belvoir.com.au/productions/the-edit
In today’s episode, Gabrielle speaks with Tony Walker, one of the central figures in the legendary 7Up documentary series.
The 7Up project began in 1964 as a groundbreaking experiment in British documentary filmmaking, following the lives of 14 children from various backgrounds every seven years. Tony, who was first filmed as a cheeky 7-year-old from the East End, has continued to appear in every instalment of the series — from 7 Up all the way to 63 Up.
In many ways, 7Up created the blueprint for long-form, observational storytelling and helped lay the foundation for what we now recognise as reality TV. Gabrielle and Tony chat about what it means to share your life with the world on screen.
📎 Find out more about Tony and his work at: tonywalkertheupseries.com
🎙️ Back From Reality is a podcast about the human impact of reality television, hosted by actor and writer Gabrielle Scawthorn. It was originally created as part of an Arts Council England-supported project to develop a new piece of theatre about the reality TV industry. That play became The Edit.
🖥️ Visit the podcast page: unlikelyproductions.co.uk/projects/theedit
📱 Follow Gabrielle on Instagram: @gjosca
🌐 Podcast available on all major platforms: Back From Reality on Apple Podcasts
🎭 The Edit
📅 7–26 October 2025
📍 Belvoir Street Theatre, Downstairs
🎟️ BOOK NOW: belvoir.com.au/productions/the-edit
This podcast was made with the support of the Arts Council England National Lottery Projects Grant.