Sue and Noel Radford’s daughter Sophie breaks down in tears as she admits to being ‘shattered’ & in a ‘really bad place’
BRITAIN’S Biggest Family is back on our screens and tonight, we saw Sophie Radford break down in tears.
In tonight’s episode of 22 Kids & Counting, the third of the new Channel 5 series, the eldest Radford daughter, Sophie, 30, opened up about hitting rock bottom.
As she approached her 30th birthday, the mum-of-three explained how becoming a mother has changed her life, and not for the better.
She confessed: “Usually people in their twenties are out partying, but my twenties were very different, I had three kids, all within a year between them.
“It’s hard going, it’s definitely hard going. It’s the same routine everyday, it’s so full on, all the time.”
The mother also recognised that since having kids, her relationship with her husband, Joseph Broadley, has also been impacted massively.
I don’t like my legs, I don’t like my belly, I don’t like my arms, I just don’t like anything, at all.”
Sophie Radford
She added: “With me and Joe, we used to go out to cinemas, out for meals, go out shopping, do all sorts of things. Had things and it all stopped.
“Because I’ve seen my mum and dad so happy, I do feel like I should be like that as well. However, it’s not for everyone.”
And not only has her relationship changed, but her relationship with her body has too, as she explained: “I used to be fit as a fiddle and I’ve let myself go a bit. Confidence completely shattered.
“I’ve realised I’m not as fit as I used to be and I don’t look as good as I used to.
“I don’t like my legs, I don’t like my belly, I don’t like my arms, I just don’t like anything, at all.”
Mum-of-22 Sue, 49, shared her worry about Sophie, as she revealed: “Sophie is a very busy mum, she does long hours at work, she’s up early in the morning.
“And I sometimes feel, is she stuck in a rut.
“I’m not wanting to interfere, but she seems to be in a really bad place, and I’m not sure I can leave it any longer.
“She seems quiet and distant recently.”
Who's who in the Radford family?
The Radfords are Britain's biggest family with 22 children.
Here are the kids from eldest to youngest include:
- Chris – born May 7, 1989
- Sophie – born December 13, 1993
- Chloe – born July 31, 1995
- Jack – born April 9, 1997
- Daniel – born March 3, 1999
- Luke – born October 1, 2000
- Millie Radford – born August 29, 2001
- Katie – born November 14, 2002
- James – born October 17, 2003
- Ellie – born May 6, 2005
- Aimee – born April 21, 2006
- Josh – born July 3, 2007
- Max – born December 11, 2008
- Tillie – born May 2, 2010
- Oscar – born October 22, 2011
- Casper, – born October 3, 2012
- Hallie – born June 3, 2015
- Phoebe – born July 24, 2016
- Archie – born September 18, 2017
- Bonnie – born November 6, 2018
- Heidie – born April 3, 2020
To celebrate Sophie’s 30th birthday and in a desperate bid to get her back on the right track, Sue and her kids organised a girls’ weekend to Amsterdam.
Sue, along with Katie, Chloe and Sophie, hopped on an EasyJet flight and took a trip to the Netherlands.
Once they had arrived, Chloe arranged a surprise activity that she hoped would lift Sophie’s spirits – a burlesque dance class.
29-year-old Chloe shared: “I’m hoping trying something new will help her feel a lot better.”
The Radford Family's TV history
THE first ever episode of 22 Kids and Counting aired on Channel 5 on 22nd February, 2021.
After the first series – which had just four episodes in it – performed well, Channel 5 commissioned a 10-episode second season, which was broadcast in 2022.
They went on to commission a third series, which included a Christmas special aired in December 2023.
The fourth season began airing in January 2024, but fans were left disappointed when it stopped after six episodes.
Sue and Noel reassured viewers that they were just taking a little break, and the next episode will be airing on 21st July.
You can catch up on all previous episodes of 22 Kids and Counting on My 5, here.
For the sake of her family, Sophie gave the class a go, but she wasn’t impressed, as she admitted: “It’s not something I’d ever do.
“It’s like a sexy dance, and I don’t feel very sexy.
“I couldn’t feel less sexy if I tried.”
And despite Sue, Chloe and Katie’s desperate attempts to get Sophie in the mood, things quickly went from bad to worse, when the frustrated mum left the room and broke down in tears.
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.
Talking to camera, Sophie shared: “I’m not comfortable, don’t like it, don’t wanna do it.
“I would rather have just not come, to be honest.
“I’m going to stop because I’m getting emotional.”
Later in the episode, Sophie opened up to Chloe, as she admitted: “[I’m] just feeling a bit low, same routine day in and day out.
“Just feeling really c****y in myself, no confidence whatsoever.”
But after opening up to her sister, Sophie later shared: “All my siblings always play a huge part in making me feel better, when it comes to just talking to them, I always feel so much better.”