成人论坛

In 1974, the 成人论坛 broadcast the ground-breaking serial 鈥楾he Family鈥�, which documented from week to week, the ups and downs of the real life family The Wilkins. For 3 months a 成人论坛 film crew lived with them, capturing the prejudice, pressures and politics of living in an urban society.

Following the lives of 9 family members living in one household, the programme appeared to create a real life soap opera of the trials and tribulations of their lives. The camera was there for everything including the rows and revelations. Nothing like it had been seen on television before. It was a slice of British life that broke all sorts of taboos and attracted national media interest on an unprecedented scale.

We hear from the producer, Paul Watson, often referred to as The 鈥楪odfather鈥� of reality television as a result of the unique production approach to this seminal documentary series. Cameraman, Philip Bonham Carter, was aware that they were breaking new ground at the time not in hindsight. He felt very privileged to be taking part.

Margaret Sainsbury (nee Wilkins) wanted to get involved in the programme in order to show people what ordinary family life was all about. She felt there were real issues to be discussed i.e. the housing situation, financial constraints and the cramped living conditions in the household. Heather Wilkins was a 15-year-old teenager at the time. She is now 47 years of age; she has 4 children and 2 grandchildren. And Marian Hodder (nee Wilkins) was 19 years old and engaged to Tom Burns at the time. Their marriage was billed as 鈥楾he Wedding of the Year鈥� and millions tuned in and lined the streets to watch them exchange vows.

Producer: Christina Captieux
Series Producer: David Prest
The Reunion is a Whistledown Production for 成人论坛 Radio 4

This programme has been edited since its original broadcast.