Dad-of-22 Noel Radford breaks down in tears in counselling session as he battles the most difficult dilemma of his life
BRITAIN’S Biggest Family is back on our screens and tonight, we saw Noel Radford tackle the most difficult dilemma of his adult life.
In tonight’s episode of 22 Kids & Counting, the sixth and final show of this Channel 5 series, dad-of-22 Noel, 53, faced the decision on whether he should or shouldn’t find his birth mother.
Noel, who has ten grandchildren and lives in a 10-bedroom Morecambe home – known as the ‘millionaire mansion’ – in Lancashire, was given up for adoption when he was just a few days old, so has never really met his birth mother.
And in tonight’s episode, Noel was brought face to face with his emotions, during a gruelling counselling session.
Noel revealed that he hoped to learn more about one of the biggest events of his life, as he explained: “I think I was about seven or eight years old when my mum and dad told me I was adopted.
“I remember going to school the next day saying ‘I’m adopted, I’m special’.
“I guess the older you get the more curious you get and the other thing is, the clock’s ticking. I’m not getting any younger and she won’t be getting any younger.
“I can’t leave it another 10 years or so and then find out that she’s died, then have regrets for not doing it.”
The family’s matriarch, Sue, 49, recognised Noel’s struggles to open up about his past, as she claimed: “Noel is always a really emotional person when he talks about his adoption. He can never really hold his feelings in.
“His birth mum might not have anything to do with him.”
But eager to find out more on the prospect of meeting his birth mother, Noel invited a social worker to the house, for a meeting that was so private, that not even Sue, who was also adopted, was invited.
Sue shared: “I think he’s definitely feeling nervous. Whilst Noel is wanting to meet his birth mum, I am very much the total opposite.
“I don’t have any interest in that. But I think it will definitely help him, I think he’s got a lot of questions that he’d like answers for.”
After the 45-minute meeting, Noel revealed a new finding that left him stunned.
He explained: “I found out my birth name – Robert. It’s a bit weird because it never even crossed my mind if I had a different name.”
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
But Noel’s family had noticed his change in mood, as Chloe Radford, 29, told the camera: “My dad doesn’t seem himself, he has been a bit quieter at work.”
Sue then chimed in: “Noel has been more upset than usual, you can tell whenever he does talk about it, he does get upset, it definitely does really bother him.”
When I talk about my adoption, it does upset me
Noel Radford
Later in the episode, Noel was referred to a specialist, to learn more about his emotions attached with his adoption.
He met with Cath, a psychotherapist, whereby he admitted: “Some of me says, yes, I would like to go and meet my birth mum. And some of me says no.
“I don’t think I realised how much emotion was involved.
“When I talk about my adoption, it does upset me.”
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.
But it soon became clear that Noel was actually battling with the loss of his adoptive mother, Valerie, whom he lived with from just a few months old, but passed away four years ago.
When discussing his birth mother, Noel shared: “I think I’d like to meet her, and thank her for giving me up, because I had the best life ever.
“If she wants to see me, that’s fine, that’s good. If she doesn’t want to, I’m not bothered.
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.
“I don’t look at my birth mum as my mum. That’s just the way I feel.”
Holding back tears, Noel’s voice cracked, as he admitted: “I’ve always found it difficult to talk about.”
With his head in his hands, as he wiped his eyes, Noel confessed: “I just love my mum to bits. My mum was a lovely person. I miss my mum.”
I guess she’s right in thinking that I’m still upset about losing my mum
Noel Radford
Cath then spoke to the camera and recognised: “I think he’s probably kidding himself that he doesn’t care, of course he cares. It’s a defence mechanism to save himself from feeling any feelings of rejection of being unlovable or unloved.
“I think the fragility is more related to the loss of his adoptive mum. They obviously had a really close relationship.
“His overriding thing is wanting to thank his birth mother for giving him up for adoption as he feels he’s had this amazing life with a wonderful mum, and I think all that emotion, a lot of that grief.”
If I do meet her, I’ll see the life I could’ve led, the life Robert would’ve had with this lady
Noel Radford
Noel then explained: “I guess she’s right in thinking that I’m still upset about losing my mum.
“It feels nice to get a little bit off my chest and talk about it.”
“I think meeting her would make me feel better. My mum would be happy for me to meet my birth mum.
“If I do meet her, I’ll see the life I could’ve led, the life Robert would’ve had with this lady.
“If it takes months and months to sort out and see her, that’s fine, it’s been 53 years, so it can wait a little while longer.”