Sue and Noel talk about the ‘worst’ moment they experienced as parents of 22 children
SUE and Noel Radford’s last series, 22 Kids and Counting, ended last month.
Fans can now watch a special episode where the parents of Britain’s largest family sit down with each other and share their 22 most important life lessons.
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In the episode, which airs tomorrow night at 8pm on Channel 5, Sue and Noel look back on various moments and memories.
One of these was a trip to Alton Towers, where they experienced what they called “a parent’s worst nightmare”.
Whether you have one child or 22, it can be impossible to keep an eye on them during a fun day out.
Sue said: “When you have to keep an eye on that many children, when you’re out and about or on holiday, you really need eyes in the back of your head.
READ MORE ABOUT THE RADFORDS
“We usually try to keep them in a place where we can see them.”
“[But] “It’s like herding cats,” Noel remarked, and Sue said, “Isn’t that what we always say?”
Noel continued: “They’re gone! They want to run in all directions.”
The mother of 22 explains: “One time we went to Alton Towers and Hallie and Phoebe disappeared – oh my god.
“That is every parent’s worst nightmare.”
A clip from that day was shown and Sue said: “They were there and now I don’t know where they’ve gone.”
Noel was then heard calling out his daughters’ names, but they were nowhere to be seen.
The parents usually manage their large brood by having Noel lead the way, “making sure none of them get ahead, and Sue at the back, making sure none of them get left behind.”
But when Hallie and Phoebe were walking around the amusement park, Sue says she “panicked.”
“You feel like your heart is going to jump out of your chest.
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“It was the worst few minutes ever,” Noel said, “and it felt like an eternity.”
Noel then explained how “Sue stayed with all the children and how myself and some of the older ones ran in different directions looking for them”.
The old clip then showed Sue getting a phone call: “Have you got them? Oh my God Noel, where the hell are they?”
Looking back, Noel said, “The worst thoughts go through your head, someone has picked them up and run away with them, taken them.”
Luckily, Phoebe and Hallie stayed together.
Sue commented: ‘When we saw them walking over the hill we thought, ‘Oh my God.
“Honestly, it was awful, awful, wasn’t it?” And Noel agreed.
Q&A with Sue and Noel Radford
Sue and Noel have learned a lot over the years with their 22 children.
Who is the strictest parent? Sue
Who is the naughtiest child? Archie
Do you prefer parenthood or grandparenthood? Grandparents, you can spoil them extra and give them back at the end of the day!
What can’t you teach your children? Don’t even try to take driving lessons with your kids, it’s not worth it.
What’s something you’ve never told your kids? We never sat down with any of the kids and said to them, ‘This is how babies are made.’ We never had that conversation.
What’s your best tip for raising children? Turn chores into games so they can get involved and help out in a fun way.
How do you deal with arguments and disagreements? There is always someone who gets into a fight with someone else. As they get older, they have their own opinions, and the arguments get more intense and last longer. We try to listen to them, be the reasonable one, and let them see both sides.
