TV viewers say same thing as dad-of-22 Noel Radford confesses he feels his ‘wings are clipped’ by having large family
22 KIDS and Counting’s second episode aired tonight and viewers were all saying the same thing about a confession Noel Radford made.
The Radfords, who shot to fame in 2021 when their reality show aired on Channel 5, have opened their ten-bedroom home to fans for the fifth series.
Tonight’s episode saw dad-of-22 Noel, 54, strip off for a spray tan amidst a ‘midlife crisis’ where he lamented on missing out on his lifelong dream of being a lorry driver in sunny Australia.
The dad, whose family are based in a massive ten-bedroom mansion, confessed that he feels as if ”wings are clipped”.
”Seeing my mates enjoy themselves is a real wake-up call. If I wait until all of my kids have flown the nest, I’ll just be too old to do the things that I want to do.
”It sounds selfish, doesn’t it? But yeah, maybe I do need to find some time for myself.”
Channel 5 viewers were quick to comment on Noel’s confession, with one saying: “No, sorry Noel, you CHOSE to keep reproducing, so you need to give your younger children the same commitment you gave to their older siblings.
“You can’t just shirk and dash because it’s suddenly dawned on you that you’re getting old.”
Another added: “Got to feel for Sue a little watching #22KidsandCounting every series is about Noel and his dreams and his goals etc and it is as though she gets forgotten about.. what about her dreams… and her goals?”
A third commented: “What’s with Noel feeling sorry for himself all of a sudden.”
The episode saw the pie master go on a hike with fellow parents of a similar age group.
But unlike the busy couple, Sue and Noel, the peers already had their kids move out of the house, leaving them with all the time in the world.
This, unfortunately, is not the case for Noel who admitted that for them, ”it’s always been work and family, that’s it”.
After having a heart-to-heart with Sue, 49, Noel announced he would be stepping down as the baking guru and would only work two days a week, leaving his children, Chloe and Luke, in charge.
The chat must’ve been so thrilling that the pie guru even tried to pitch getting a property Down Under to the matriarch.
Sue, however, was anything but pleased, totally startled by her hubby’s sudden change in behaviour.
Chatting to the camera, she said: ”Noel’s never really changed much since I first met him. He’s definitely very much a family man.
”Loves to work hard and loves to support all of us. He’s been a rock to me and the kids. My Mr Dependable.”
Although Sue knew it’s normal to change your perspective of life as you grow older, the 49-year-old confessed she was concerned it’s the start of a ”midlife crisis” for her dear hubby.
”’Maybe he’ll want a flash sports car or something,” she wondered.
Despite his efforts, Noel’s plan to relocate the brood over to Australia for a bit didn’t necessarily win Sue’s heart – however, he then came up with an alternative, Dubai.
After jetting off to the tourist and influencer hotspot, the loved-up couple enjoyed an array of fun activities, such as sandboarding and going on waterslides.
The 53-year-old revealed he was ”sold” on the idea – and even the matriarch was beginning to ”warm to the idea”.
”Distance from the family isn’t really ideal is it,” he said.
”But we’re not going to have this lifestyle in Morecambe, Lancashire, are we.”
How does family-of-22 the Radfords afford to live?
AS Britain’s biggest family, it may come as no surprise that Sue and Noel Radford must have some hefty bills.
Between them, they have a whopping 22 children and seven dogs, which often has some people wonder how they manage their money.
The Radfords support themselves with the proceeds of Noel’s bakery, The Radford Pie Company, which is located near their home.
On their website, it says: “We have owned our own lovely bakery since 1999 which is how we manage to provide for (and feed) our huge and expanding family as well as for the local people of Heysham and Morecambe.”
The family expanded their business to cater to online orders placed across the UK.
The business is a family affair, with Noel at the helm, and some of their children helping out.
The older kids, who are working at least part-time, don’t get a free ride as they’re made to pay a small amount of rent to their parents.
“Us older ones do pay a little bit of board. Granted it’s not a lot but I’m also trying to save up for my own house at the moment.” their daughter Chloe said in a video on the YouTube channel.
Sue added: “We’ve always said if you want to buy somewhere, renting is a bit of dead money, so we’d rather you saved that money up and stayed at home a bit longer.
“I also do believe they should pay board if they are earning. We’ve always been brought up by our parents that we had to pay board.”
Noel and Sue famously don’t rely on benefits for their bumper brood and live off their pie shop for income.
They also revealed 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 run for four series.
Brand expert Andy Barr believes Noel and Sue have been paid less than £10,000 for each show.
He told the Daily Mail: “The typical fee per episode is going to be in the thousands rather than the tens or hundreds of thousands that people often think is the case with TV shows of this nature.
“If they continue to get commissioned for a fourth or fifth season, then they are going to be able to command a higher fee.”
He estimates that the Radfords make £ 5,000 an episode.
By the end of the episode, Noel appeared to have a change of heart and seemed happy with his family life in Morecambe.
In forthcoming scenes, viewers will see dad Noel delve into his biological family history, daughter Millie dropping significant personal news, and young Casper left heartbroken as his dream of becoming a pro football player is crushed.
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 still born on July 6, 2014.