Skip Channel4 main Navigation
Explore Channel4
Food
4Homes
4Car
News
Sport
See All
Cutting Edge header image

BUS PASS WORKAHOLICS

First on Channel 4 June 2007


Image from the programme

This film features some of the 1.2 million-strong 'secret workforce' of people working past the retirement age in Britain. Compulsory retirement may be a thing of the past, but why are so many pensioners choosing to continue working? Living longer on inadequate pensions mean that many have to work to pay the bills. But for others the story is more complicated.

Want to know more about the issues raised in this documentary? Check out our related links >>

Eighty-six-year-old Sylvester Stein has been a successful entrepreneur, journalist, publisher and athlete; he set up his latest venture at the age of 80 and can't bring himself to step down.





Image from the programme

Maureen and Joyce are both 74 and night cleaners at Gatwick airport's VIP lounge. Both live alone and find it hard to get by on their pensions, still working eight-hour shifts to pay for holidays and days out.

Sue and Pete, both in their 70s, are part of a workforce who supplement their pensions doing all kinds of odd jobs, in their case working as some of the army of elderly house-sitters, minding people's homes and pets while they are away.

Meanwhile at a Surrey golf course an assortment of septuagenarians are at work before dawn every morning collecting 40,000 golf-balls from the driving range. While Arthur, 78, works to keep fit and for extra money to play golf, 75-year-old Pat saw the investments that were to be his pension sink without trace and has no choice. But while the film doesn't hide from the realities of working beyond retirement, it is also a celebration of people who know that there can be new tricks in old dogs.

Top




Find out what the 2008 series has to offer

More4 faces
More docs, drama, film and news

Channel 4's investigative news strand

Look back at past programmes

Get chatting to other Channel 4 viewers


Channel 4 © 2009. Channel 4 is not responsible for the content of external websites.