Mum-of-22 Sue Radford reveals festive trick for when kids are poorly – as bug sweeps through their 10-bedroom mansion
THE mum of Britain’s biggest family has revealed what she does when illness sweeps through their busy house.
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford, 49, shared how a number of her kids have caught a bug over the past few days.
Thankfully she had a trick up their sleeves to hopefully boost their spirits and help them feel a little better.
After decorating their 10-bedroom Morecambe home for Christmas, Sue shared how she was putting on some festive movies.
She wrote on Instagram: “Wonka with the kids.
“We have a sick house today so have watched a lot of movies.
“These bugs are not good.”
She then showed an updated snap of her kids, and wrote: “Bed full of poorly little ones.”
Sue and Noel are parents to Chris, 35, Sophie, 30, Chloe, 29, Jack, 27, Daniel, 25, Luke, 24, Millie, 23, Katie, 22, James, 21, Ellie, 19, Aimee, 18, Josh, 17, Max, 15, Tillie, 14, Oscar, 13, Casper, 12, Hallie, nine, Phoebe, eight, Archie, seven, Bonnie, six, and Heidie, four.
Sadly the couple’s 17th child Alfie was still born on July 6, 2014.
The family are known for going all out for Christmas, so it’s no surprise their ‘millionaire mansion’ has yet again been transformed to look like Santa’s grotto.
Dad-of-22 Noel took to YouTube to show off some of their decorations, which include a Christmas tree in nearly every room, twinkling lights, and more fireplace stockings than you’ve ever seen.
In the vlog, Noel first showed off the family’s main Christmas tree in the living room – and it’s a sight to behold.
The green tree was covered in lights and ribbons, plus large red baubles, and instead of the traditional angel or star on top, the family went for some rustic red and white foliage instead.
Next to the glitzy tree is the fireplace which has also been kitted out for the occasion.
A festive wreath covers the fireplace mantel, but it’s all of the stockings that really stand out.
Of course, when you’ve got 22 kids you need a lot of stockings.
It’s not just the living room that has been transformed though, in the dining room there’s another sparkling Christmas tree, and the kitchen island even got it’s own mini tree.
Sue and Noel’s room also got the festive treatment with a fresh set of Christmas-themed bedding and a wreath over their headboard.
The family famously doesn’t rely on benefits and is supported by their pie shop business.
Noel and Sue always go the extra mile to ensure their ALL kids have a very special Christmas.
But needless to say, this doesn’t come cheap.
Radford gift cost
In previous years, Noel and Sue revealed that they spend between £100 and £250 on each of their children – and a further £300 on their food shop.
So in the months leading up to Christmas, the parents pinch their pennies to save £5,500 to buy the kids’ presents.
And while most families simply chuck their presents under the tree when they’re wrapped, Sue has a personalised sack for each child so the gifts don’t get mixed up – and to save herself having to buy hundreds of tags.
What’s more, Noel and Sue also get through a staggering 70 rolls of wrapping paper every year.
Noel also showed how he cooks a 10kg turkey, 7kg of potatoes and sprouts, 50 Yorkshire puddings and litres of gravy.
The couple stay up late peeling potatoes and vegetables at 1am on Christmas Day and children open their gifts by 6.30am.
During the day, the family play separate games of Monopoly, watch films and play with their presents.
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.