I've got those cups - inherited from my Mum when she died.

Excellent programme. It's very sad though to see Sylvia Sims who was a bit of a sex symbol back in the 50's and 60's deteriorating so much. She's a bit of a battleaxe isn't she?

It was an amusing hour of TV, even if you ignore the experiment and just watch for the personalities. Should be good as it develops further.

Hard to believe Sylvia Syms was rather gorgeous when she was younger....

I read recently that she's in a lot of pain with a chronic back problem.

I only know Sylvia Syms from At Home With The Braitwaites (which was about 10 years ago I think). Loved her in that! Also a big fan of Liz Smith.

Enjoyed the programme. I volunteer at a day centre for the elderly and some of the people there are amazingly physically and mentally well for their age but some for some of them I'd say it was psychological.

I thoroughly enjoyed it; it was so good to see all the t.v's, record players, the original labelling, the press button car radio to change channels, the Hornsea pottery, the waffle blankets & much more.
Thank u BBC for this, a great experiment & I can see how it would work. Can't wait for tomorrow night.

The woman that was doing the yoga with the group, Barbara Curry, I live by her saying of, if you don't use it, you lose it. Both mentally and physically. Although that's easy for me to say now, you never know what is around the corner.

Definitely an eye opener to our possible futures.

I've got to try and not let the programme depress me now. I don't mind aging, I mind losing my abilities.

I have a green set, from my Mum.

One of the newspapers called it a Hornby tea service.

Great programme.

It got me thinking about how often I jump in and offer to do things for elderly people. It has never crossed my mind that I could be helping to kill them off early with my well-intentioned helpfulness. I will definitely try backing off a bit!

The fact that I can remember some of these guys when they were at their peak makes the programme all the more compelling. I admire their courage and generosity in taking part.

It was sobering to hear that there are now more over-80s than under-16s in the UK. The experience of growing old and gradually losing mobility and independence awaits most of us.

Lionel Blair is great. In spite of his cultivated camp image, he has been with his wife for over forty years, and they have several children and multiple grandchildren. He will be 80 next year! It was surprising to hear that, in spite of his youthful appearance and apparent good health, he actually scored badly on most of the physical tests.

I will definitely be looking forward to future episodes. Well done, BBC!

Loved it when she said about NOT looking after the boys with housework, good on yer girl!!! She was beautiful when she was younger, Ice Cold in Alex was the film I most remember her in, of course when I saw it in re runs on the TV not from the original!!

dupe post - DS dragging.

G

I've been looking forward to this since it was announced and wasn't disappointed.

Though it may be sad in some respects, it's good that they are showing this experience unvarnished.

I first remember Sylvia from an ITV sitcom in the 70s with Leslie Crowtherand Richard Wilson:

http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/mygoodwoman.htm

and she was a memorable baddie in the last ever 'classic' 'Doctor Who' story to be recorded in 1989:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/class...de/ghostlight/

and she's been in "Eastenders" this year.

G

I generally like these "time capsule" programmes (like this and Electric Dreams), but they do so exaggerate and caricature fixtures and fittings - although, like others, I recognised the likes of the Hornsea pottery, the decor in the communal areas (as opposed to the bits that were supposedly reconstructing the celebs' old rooms) was ridiculously garish. I grew up in the '70s and there's no way my parents had carpets and wallpaper in such outlandish colour combinations.

And what was with that bed with all the built-in radio gubbins in a fascia in the bedhead? I'd associate that kind of thing with hotel rooms but did ordinary people really have things like that? Bit Austin Powers I want one though

I know what you mean. The most common mistake was mixing wallpapers and carpets that both had different garish designs, which didn't really occur that often. However mixing brown and orange was something that really happened.

And they had said they'd placed them specifically in 1975 yet some of the music was from later in the 70s and the "Generation Game" clips shown were not from the 1975 run (I remember each different set ).

G

Give me someone like that over some of those who've had their faces lifted so many times over the years that their skin looks taut as a drum anyday.
Good for Sylvia for just being herself.

Article on the experiment (which includes what you might call 'spoilers' for tonight and Thursday shows):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11284180

G

i thought this was gonna be THE young ones

Yup, Cliff and Una!

G

I remember Sylvia Sims playing (a) Margaret Thatcher in a drama about 15 years ago, (b) the Queen Mother in the film about Helen Mirren.

When do they do the first nominations?

They don't. It's only on for three nights and is recorded.

G

I found it incredibly depressing.

Don't you just want to adopt Liz Smith? She never fails to make you smile and laugh. A lovely lady.

LOL@Hornby

Made me feel like getting mine down from the top cupboard in the kitchen and using them!

They're a bit of an anachronism on this show though, my mum bought hers from the Hornsey Pottery in the 60's.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/theyoungones/

Have a go at the Mental Agility tests yourself. Good fun, takes about 10 minutes to do the four tests and if you note your age score after each one you can do your average. My average age ended up as 22.5 years old - quite chuffed as i'm 41!