The Family is a 1974 BBC television series made by producer Paul Watson, and directed by Franc Roddam. It is a fly-on-the-wall documentary series, seen by many as the precursor to reality television. It is similar to an American documentary which had aired the previous year, called An American Family. The series follows the Reading-based working class Wilkins family of six, headed by Margaret and Terry, through their daily lives, warts and all.