The second episode of 22 KIDS and Counting aired tonight and all viewers agreed on a confession from Noel Radford.
The Radfords, who rose to fame in 2021 when their reality show aired on Channel 5, have opened up their 10-bedroom home to fans for the fifth season.
9
9
9
Tonight’s episode sees Noel, a 54-year-old father of 22, stripping off for a spray tan as he goes through a ‘midlife crisis’ and laments the fact that he was unable to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a truck driver in sunny Australia.
The father, whose family lives in a sprawling 10-bedroom mansion, admitted he feels like his wings have been clipped.
”When I see my mates enjoying themselves, it’s a real wake-up call. When I wait until all my children have left the plane, the nestThen I’ll just be too old to do the things I want to do.
“It sounds selfish, doesn’t it? But hey, maybe I should find some time for myself.”
Channel 5 viewers were quick to react to Noel’s confession, with one saying: “No, sorry Noel, you DID choose to procreate, so you should give your younger children the same dedication you gave to their older siblings.
“You can’t just run away because you suddenly realize you’re getting old.”
Another added: “I have to feel for Sue a little bit when I watch #22KidsandCounting. Every series is about Noel and his dreams and goals etc and it’s like she’s forgotten… what about her dreams… and her goals?”
A third commented: “What is wrong with Noel, suddenly feeling sorry for himself?”
In this episode, the cake maker went on a hike with other parents of the same age.
But unlike busy couple Sue and Noel, their peers had already had their children leave home, giving them all the time in the world.
Sadly, this is not the case for Noel, who admitted that for them, “it’s always been work and family, that’s all.”
After a heart-to-heart with Sue, 49, Noel announced he was quitting his baking guru job and would work just two days a week, leaving his children, Chloe and Luke, in charge.
The conversation must have been so tense that the cake guru even tried to offer the matriarch a house Down Under.
Sue, however, was anything but happy. She was shocked by her husband’s sudden change in behavior.
9
9
9
9
Speaking to the camera, she said: “Noel hasn’t really changed since I first met him. He’s definitely a family man.
”He loves to work hard and is very supportive of all of us. He is a rock for me and the kids. My Mr. Dependable.”
While Sue knows it’s normal to change your perspective on life as you get older, the 49-year-old confessed she worries this is the start of a “midlife crisis” for her beloved husband.
“Maybe he wants a flashy sports car or something,” she wondered.
Despite his best efforts, Noel’s plan to temporarily relocate the brood to Australia didn’t exactly win Sue’s heart. However, he came up with an alternative: Dubai.
9
9
After heading to the influencer tourist hotspot, the loved-up couple enjoyed a range of fun activities, including sandboarding and sliding down water slides.
The 53-year-old said he was “sold” on the idea – and even the matriarch was starting to “warm up” to the idea.
“Being away from your family isn’t really ideal, is it?” he said.
“But we can’t have this lifestyle in Morecambe, Lancashire?”
How does the Radford family of 22 survive?
As Britain’s largest family, it’s no surprise that Sue and Noel Radford have hefty bills.
Together they have no less than 22 children and seven dogs, which makes some people wonder how they manage their money.
The Radfords support themselves with proceeds from Noel’s bakery, The Radford Pie Company, which is located near their home.
On their websiteit says: “Since 1999 we have had our own beautiful bakery, which allows us to provide for (and feed) our large and growing family, as well as the needs of the local people of Heysham and Morecambe.”
The family expanded their business to process online orders in the UK.
The business is a family affair, with Noel at the helm and a number of their children helping out.
The older children, who work at least part-time, do not travel for free, but have to pay a small amount of rent to their parents.
“We seniors do pay a little bit of board and lodging. Granted, it’s not much, but I’m also trying to save for my own house at the moment,” their daughter Chloe said in a video on the Youtube Channel.
Sue added: “We’ve always said that if you want to buy somewhere, renting is a bit of dead money, so we’d rather you save that money and stay home for a bit longer.
“I also believe that they should pay board if they earn money. Our parents always raised us with the idea that we had to pay board.”
Noel and Sue are known for not relying on benefits to support their prolific brood, and for living off their pie shop.
They also indicated that they make money from brand partnerships on social media.
The Radford family stars in their own reality TV show 22 Kids and Counting, which has been running for four seasons.
Brand expert Andy Barr believes Noel and Sue were paid less than £10,000 per show.
He told the Daily mail: “The average fee per episode will be in the thousands, rather than the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands that people often think is the case with these types of TV shows.
“If they continue to request a fourth or fifth season, then they can ask for a higher fee.”
He estimates the Radfords earn £5,000 per episode.
At the end of the episode, Noel seemed to have had a change of heart and appeared happy with his family life in Morecambe.
In the coming scenes, viewers will see father Noel delve into his biological family historydaughter Millie leaves important personal newsand young Casper is left heartbroken, as his dream of becoming a professional footballer falls apart.
Sue and Noel are parents to Chris, 35, Sophie, 30, Chloe, 28, Jack, 27, Daniel, 25, Luke, 23, Millie, 22, Katie, 21, James, 20, Ellie, 19, Aimee, 18, Josh, 16, Max, 15, Tillie, 14, Oscar, 12, Casper, 11, Hallie, nine, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, five, and Heidie, four.
Sadly, the couple’s 17th child, Alfie, was stillborn on July 6, 2014.
