After raising 22 children, one might assume Sue Radford would be eager to relax and enjoy some well-deserved downtime once her youngest leaves home. However, that’s far from the case. Sue, who has spent an incredible 16-and-a-half years of her life pregnant, reveals she’s open to expanding her family even further—this time through adoption or fostering. "We absolutely love being surrounded by children,” she explains. "We’re done having our own, but adoption or fostering is something we’d seriously consider once our kids are older.”
With another of her eldest children preparing to move out, Sue acknowledges that the family dynamic is shifting. "When they started leaving home, it was really tough for me as a mum. It felt strange not having everyone together,” she admits.
Sue and her husband Noel’s journey began 35 years ago when they met as teenagers in Kendal, located in the picturesque Lake District. They tied the knot in 1992 when Sue was just 17, and by then, their first child, Chris, now 34, had already arrived. Alongside Chris, the couple has Sophie, 29, Chloe, 28, Jack, 26, Daniel, 24, Luke, 22, Millie, 22, Katie, 20, James, 19, Ellie, 18, Aimee, 17, Josh, 16, Max, 14, Tillie, 13, Oscar, 11, Casper, 10, Hallie, eight, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, four, and Heidie, three. Tragically, they also lost their son Alfie, who was stillborn in 2014. Now a grandmother of 10, Sue, 48, acknowledges that raising such a large family hasn’t always been easy.
In 2000, the couple expanded their successful bakery business into new premises. However, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK caused a sharp decline in tourism, leading to the failure of their venture. Sue recalls facing the possibility of "losing everything,” adding, "We nearly went bankrupt and thought we might lose our home.”
Parenting 22 children comes with its own unique challenges. The couple admits they rarely have time for a proper conversation. Sue’s day begins at 7 a.m. with the military-like operation of preparing breakfast, while Noel, 53, has already been to work and returned to help with the morning chaos. After Noel heads back to the bakery by 9 a.m., Sue tackles the enormous tasks of tidying, vacuuming, and laundry—the family relies on two washing machines to handle five daily loads. Noel usually returns in time for the school run.
Thankfully, none of the children are picky eaters, so everyone enjoys the same meal at dinnertime. Even after the younger kids are in bed, there’s still plenty to do, like tidying the garden and preparing uniforms for the next day. With a weekly grocery bill of around £450, their double fridge is a lifesaver. It’s no surprise that Sue credits teamwork as the foundation of their happy 32-year marriage.
In addition to their thriving bakery business, the couple stars in their TV show *22 Kids & Counting*, now in its fourth season, and manages a suite of successful social media channels, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. However, their fame comes with downsides. Fans have approached their home and taken photos, sometimes while the children are playing in the garden. As a result, the family is in the process of moving to a more secluded property.
