Ben Williams
Being the parents of 22 children sounds like a full-time job, and for Sue and Noel Radford, it pretty much is.
Between running a bustling household, filming their hit Channel 5 series 22 Kids and Counting, and keeping up with their huge online following, it’s hard to imagine the couple have any time left for themselves.
The Radfords, who live in a 10-bedroom home in Morecambe, Lancashire, have been in the public eye for over a decade. That’s been for better or worse, too, like when they were taken to court over a $70,000 Disney vacation and ended up being fined over $1,000 for taking their kids out of school during term time.
They first shot to fame back in 2012, charming the nation with their chaotic yet love-filled family life.
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Sue, now 50, gave birth to her first child, Chris, when she was just 13 years old, and welcomed her youngest in 2020, a staggering 31 years later.
Between school runs, meal prep for what’s practically a small army, and the occasional TV appearance, downtime doesn’t come easily.
In fact, the family’s packed schedule is so intense that Sue and Noel recently gave fans a candid glimpse into just how tricky it can be to find a moment alone, and it came with a rather awkward confession.
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While filming their latest series, Sue began working on her upcoming memoir about the family’s story. During one scene, their ghostwriter Paddy decided to ask a slightly cheeky question: “Is your sex life today the same as it ever was?”
Without missing a beat, Sue laughed and admitted: “I think we prefer sleep now, don’t we?” Noel quickly agreed, simply saying ‘Yeah’. Paddy couldn’t help but joke back: “That’s a great story right there.”
Despite the endless demands of their enormous family, Sue and Noel still manage to laugh about the realities of married life after three decades and 22 children together.
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The Radfords are continuing to juggle the everyday chaos of parenting.
In a recent episode of 22 Kids and Counting, Noel revealed how he keeps things running smoothly during the school holidays. He explained: “To get the kids to help, I just come up with a little plan…make it a game, and they all jump in.”
In one scene, he challenged the kids to see who could load the dishwasher fastest. Among those who took part, five-year-old Heidie proudly claimed she’d collected ‘seven million’ items, prompting Noel to laugh and say: “Looks like Heidie’s our clear winner!”