Psychologist who worked with the Radfords reveals early trauma led to brood of 22… & how it became their secret weapon
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
WITH 22 kids the biggest question many people want to ask the Radfords is, 'why?'
The huge brood is an eye-watering thought for most, but Sue and Noel, who were childhood sweethearts, were determined to have as big a family as possible.
10
The Radford family are famous for having Britain's biggest brood at 22 kids... and counting
Credit: PA
10
Sue fell pregnant with their first child when she was just 13
Credit: The Sun
10
The couple are childhood sweethearts - and psychologist Jo Hemmings reckon their similar upbringings makes them kindred spirits
Credit: Getty
And, in a rare twist, both were adopted as babies, leading many to wonder if that was the reasoning behind their decision to create Britain's biggest brood.
The couple have always denied that their own adoptions had anything to do with their wish to have two football teams of children.
But psychologist Jo Hemmings, who worked with the family on their show 22 Kids and Counting, says that there could be deep-rooted reasons linked to their adoption journeys that may have had a subconscious influence.
She says people who have been adopted often feel a great sense of comfort when they have a child of their own, to finally have a connection with a blood relative.
'That is quite important,' she explains. 'Because they are both adopted I think that sense of having their own children together would have had much more significance, but not necessarily 22 of them.
'There isn't any science to back it up and say that either one or both parents that come from adoptive families are more likely each to have more birth children of their own.
'What there is some evidence of is that adopted children tend to be brought up in better socio-economic circumstances by their adoptive parents, so they are given a really stable upbringing, perhaps better education.
"A lot is put into their upbringing partly because their parents have chosen them rather than given birth to them.
'So there is something in that. If they both grew up in good, stable adoptive families, they feel they have got as much to give back as they had in their own childhoods.'
Despite this, Noel, 54, dismissed links between their adoptions and their huge brood in the couple's book, The Radfords: Making Life Count.
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford says she'll NEVER meet her birth mum & it's caused 'disagreements' with Noel, who's also adopted
He wrote in one chapter: "A lot of amateur psychologists may think the reason me and Sue have had lots of kids must be linked to the fact we were both adopted, but I don't think there is any connection.
"Unless someone comes along and sticks some electrodes on our heads, and says after doing some tests, 'Oh, this is why you've got so many kids,' we're just not going to believe any of those theories.'
And wife Sue, 50, agreed, saying: 'No, there is nothing in that - because I don't even think about my birth parents. I don't give the fact that I was adopted any thought at all, and never have.'
While Sue has always said she has no desire to find her birth parents, Noel met his birth mother earlier this year, with their reunion televised in the latest series of their TV show.
Sense of connection
10
Sue and Noel met when she was just seven and he was 11, and got married when Sue was 16 - when they were already parents
Credit: Supplied
10
Jo believes people who have been adopted feel a great sense of comfort when they have a child of their own
Credit: Supplied
Noel and Sue are childhood sweethearts, having met when she was just seven and he was 11.
Sue fell pregnant with first child Christopher when she was 13 years old. The couple married three years later and then the children kept on coming.
Jo says the couple share a deep bond and work together as a team.
'When you speak to them, they say no it is nothing to do with the psychology of us being adopted, it absolutely is because we felt we have a lot to give, we adore children - Sue especially adores babies," she says.
"I don't think their intention was to have so many children, but it worked out for them.
I don't think their intention was to have so many children, but it worked out for them
Jo Hemmings
'When I have talked to them one thing that comes across is how incredibly gentle and calm they are. You don't see that in many parents who have three, four or five kids, never mind 22 of them.
'There is just that feeling that they had so much to give, they love bringing up children.
"They don't claim benefits. They have made money over the years with Noel's successful bakery business and because their TV series have become so successful they have become influencers, in a way.
'I just think they are a remarkable family who have this presence about them. I'm sure there is chaos at times, but when you see them with their children, you don't see it.
"They are good, solid, stable, parents, which is amazing.
'They are very straight-talking, they are very resilient. So when there have been problems, you feel that they are a very strong couple together.
"Also they are talkers. They sit down and say, 'What are we going to do about this?' They are very open and candid with their children and will talk everything over with them.
"They always bounce back and they have this lovely soft energy about them which makes them work brilliantly together as parents.'
Driving force
10
Jo says they are a 'remarkable family' who have 'this presence about them'
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
10
Jo commends Sue and Noel for being great communicators with their children
Credit: Channel 5
Jo believes the Radfords' incredible parenting skills stem from their own upbringings in their loving, adoptive families.
She says: 'Sue was very young when she had her first child. I think their driving force is that they badly wanted to be parents.
"I know they are at pains to deny that it is anything to do with the adoptions, and I don't want to go against what they say, but knowing that you can give a large number of children a very stable, productive and healthy upbringing would probably have come from the upbringings they had.
'Often adoptive parents put the extra mile in, they over-compensate for the sadness that they didn't grow up with their birth families.
"I think a lot of it comes from the happiness and security that they had when they were growing up.'
Often adoptive parents put the extra mile in, they over-compensate for the sadness that they didn't grow up with their birth families
Jo Hemmings
For years, both Noel and Sue had been adamant that they didn't want to trace their birth families, saying they regarded their adoptive parents as their mums and dads and had idyllic upbringings.
But Jo says their background of both being adopted will have made them kindred spirits.
'I don't know how rare it is for two adopted people to get married, but it would have been one of the early conversations they had when they first met,' she explains.
'It would have been one of those bonding things, those shared values, that make relationships solid.
"I think having that in common would have been a really important thing for them as they both knew implicitly how the other one might have felt growing up.
"I think they were very similar in their views. I think they had all agreed at the time that they had both had such wonderful childhoods, there was no need or drive to seek where they were from.'
Meet the Radford children
Christopher, 36
The oldest Radford child, Chris works as a glazier and is married to Nicole Spencer. They have three children: Maise-Paige, eight, Jacob, five, and Oakland, three.
Sophie Rose, 31
Sophie has her own cleaning company, Time for Sparkle, and shares three children with husband Joseph Bradley: Daisy, 12, Ayprill, 10, and Leo, nine.
Chloe Anne, 29
Chloe's a make-up artist and is mum to daughter Milla, two, and son Bodhi, three months, with her boyfriend, Jake Wallace.
Jack Richard, 28
Publicity-shy Jack prefers to stay out of the limelight, and hasn't publicly shared his relationship status or career.
Daniel Leon, 26
After training to be in the RAF, Daniel had a near-fatal car crash in Bristol, which played out on his parents' TV show. He overcame his subsequent fear of driving in order to emigrate to Australia.
Luke James, 24
Luke came out to his parents as bisexual in 2021 - warming viewers' hearts after Sue and Noel attended a Pride festival with him that summer. He works for the family's pie business.
Millie Jo, 23
Millie is married to Harley Passmore and is mum to three children: Ophelia, four (from a previous relationship), and Chester, three, and Elodie, one (whom she shares with Harley).
Katie Louise, 22
Katie works at a nursery and shares one nine-month-old son, Ronnie, with her boyfriend Connor Carter.
James Edward, 21
James is busy working in the family's pie shop and hopes to run it someday.
Ellie May, 20
Ellie's training to be a hairdresser, and has also worked part-time in a hotel housekeeping job.
Aimee Elizabeth, 19
Aimee's also qualified to be a hairstylist and has famously practised her skills on family members in video clips.
Josh Benjamin, 18
According to his parents, Josh was a 'nightmare' at school and he didn't commit to his studies - but that all changed when he found his passion as a sports coach.
Max Joseph, 16
Max was diagnosed with autism in 2021, and has since struggled with socialising. Working in the pie shop has apparently helped him.
Tillie May, 15
One of Tillie's legs stopped growing when she was just 18 months old, due to an infection. In 2019, she was fitted with a frame to help strengthen the limb, but - last year - it was revealed she'd need further treatment and potential surgery.
Oscar Will, 13
Oscar has been described as having 'incredible initiative' at school.
Casper Theo, 12
Casper always dreamt of being a footballer, but was gutted on his family's show when he didn't make it into a Premier League club's youth team.
Alfie Thomas
Alfie would have been the Radfords' 17th child, but he was tragically stillborn at three months. The Radfords refer to him as their 'missing heartbeat'.
Hallie Alphia Beau, 10
Hallie's middle name was given in tribute to her late brother, who died just a year before her birth.
Phoebe Willow, eight
Phoebe has been awarded prizes at school for her achievements, much to her parents' pride.
Archie Rowan, seven
As the 20th Radford baby, Archie was expected to be the last - marking 'a nice, even number' in Sue's words.
Bonnie Raye, six
Again, Bonnie was expected to 'finish' the brood, but plans changed.
Heidie Rose, five
The youngest Radford child, mum Sue has since insisted: 'No, that's it now!'
Tragic discovery
Things changed for Noel in 2023 when the couple's teenage daughter Ellie was found to have the hereditary liver disorder Gilbert's Syndrome.
The couple were tested and Noel was found to be a carrier.
He said at the time: 'It's got me thinking, we're both adopted and we know absolutely nothing about our medical history at all.
'I'd quite like to find out more about my family, where I'm from, just anything about myself.
'It might tell me a bit more about who I am, where I'm from, possibly my birth parents. Now, as I'm getting older, I do think about it a bit more often.'
Fighting back tears he added: 'I don't even know why I don't like talking about it. I just don't like it.
"I have a lot of respect for my mum and dad.'
In the opening episode of the latest series of 22 Kids and Counting, Noel reveals he met his birth mother for the first time - and she was shocked by the news of his huge family.
He told The Sun: 'It was emotional meeting her and I was nervous beforehand.
"You don't know what she is going to look or sound like, and how she will react.
"A lot was going through my head, but she was so lovely and so glad to see me. We were with each other for a couple of hours.'
His mum, who chose to stay anonymous in the show, told him she was forced to give him up at 17 after she split from his birth father.
He added: 'As I have got older, I have been curious to find her,' Noel explains. 'I'm only ever going to have one chance and I've got no regrets that I have.'
10
Noel connects with his birth mum in the latest series of 22 Kids and Counting
Credit: Lion TV
10
Sue has always insisted she has no desire to meet her birth parents
Credit: Lion TV
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Keep windows streak-free by ditching vinegar for one common kitchen item
This clever hack can help clean windows in no time (Image: Elizabeth Fernandez via Getty Images) Windows are prone to getting particularly grubby during summer months, especially when you're frequently opening and closing them, allowing dust to accumulate on the interior glass surfaces. It can be frustrating attempting to maintain spotless windows as the glass has a tendency to streak, but TJ, a mother and creator of Measuring Flower, reveals there's a straightforward method to avoid those annoying marks. TJ explained: "I mixed alcohol, water, and cornstarch. Voila! I think I have found my perfect window cleaner. The alcohol disinfects, the cornstarch does something magical to make it streak-free and clear, and the water simply dilutes it." READ MORE: 'Simple yet effective' shoe rule means you'll never go over luggage weight limit Windows are prone to getting grubby during summer months (Image: Getty) Cornstarch works by disrupting water's surface tension, meaning it helps window cleaning mixtures spread across glass so they dry more uniformly. It's also incredibly absorbent, soaking up any leftover residue from cleaning products to ensure no streaks remain, reports the Express. Whilst some people champion white vinegar for window cleaning, it dries too rapidly, typically resulting in numerous visible streaks. White vinegar can work when combined with cornstarch, though rubbing alcohol proves superior as it's a powerful disinfectant that leaves no traces behind. TJ added: "Some say to just use plain white vinegar. But, when I tried just plain white vinegar (diluted with water, of course), it left streaks on my glass." Pour all the ingredients into an empty spray bottle. You can find these in the gardening aisle of most supermarkets, or even in pound shops. Ensure that the water you use is cold, as cornstarch begins to thicken when heated, which could turn your cleaning solution into a gloopy mess that blocks the spray bottle. Once you've added everything, secure the cap on the spray bottle and give it a good shake to combine all the ingredients. Then, simply spray it onto a window and wipe it down with a dry cloth. In just 10 minutes, your windows will be gleaming and sparkling clean. This easy solution can also be used to clean other glass surfaces like mirrors or shower doors.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Make your homemade soup thicker and creamier with very odd ingredient – just chop it up and blend
A CHEF has revealed the incredibly unusual ingredient that will make your soup "creamier", "thicker" and "taste better". With the heavens finally opening this week, and flooding the UK with a barrage of rain, many Brits are likely looking to make some comfort food to make them feel nice and cosy. 2 Soup is great for warming you up after getting caught in a thunderstorm Credit: Getty 2 Your leftover takeaway chips will make your soup thicker and creamier There's nothing better than getting home soaking wet after being caught in a thunderstorm, and tucking in to a nice bowl of soup to warm you up. And chefs from Allrecipes have revealed the unlikely ingredient that will turn your soup into a "luxurious bowl". Unlikely ingredient If you've ever come home from a night out with an order of Mcdonald's and immediately fallen asleep before getting the chance to eat it, you'll know the feeling of waking up next morning unsure what to do with it. Soggy, cold fries famously don't taste great, but they can be blended up and turned into a soup thickener. Potatoes are a great soup thickener, as they release starch as they cook, thickening the broth. How to use leftover chips to thicken soup To use your leftover chips to thicken your soup, simply chop them up into small pieces, add them to your broth, and then use a blender to smooth the mixture. Since the fries are already cooked, you don't need to add them until your soup is nearly done. Placing them in the pan just a minute or two before turning off the heat will make sure the soup remains piping hot. If you put the chips in any earlier, the fridge-cold temperature will temper the soup. You can either use a handheld immersion blender to blitz the soup, or transfer it to a blender. M&S shoppers go wild for an 85p hot treat - it's super tasty and will save on your dinner As takeaway chips are often very salty, you might want to add less salt to your soup, so that you aren't overloaded with salty flavour. Other ways to thicken soup If you don't have any leftover chips on hand, there are a multitude of other simple tricks you can use to thicken soup. For example, pureeing it with cannellini beans or lentils is a great budget friendly way to thicken soup. You can also puree vegetables such as squash, sweet potato and carrot. Finally, for a more decadent meal, you can add double cream to make your soup thick and extra tasty. What food do you need for a healthy diet? IF you want to have good health, a good way to start is from your diet. The Eatwell Guide shows that to have a healthy, balanced diet, people should try to: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day base meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat them in small amounts drink plenty of fluids (at least 6 to 8 glasses a day) Source: NHS
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Wilko's 49p buy will keep out creepy crawlies as UK's ‘biggest spider' believed to be hiding in homes
The largest UK spider was allegedly called after Cardinal Wolsey who was terrified by the sight of the spiders at Hampton Court HOME INVADERS Wilko's 49p buy will keep out creepy crawlies as UK's 'biggest spider' believed to be hiding in homes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NO ONE wants creepy crawlies invading their home but in the summer these little pests can slowly creep into your house. But we've got the perfect 49p buy that will keep out the UK's biggest spider that's believed to be hiding in your home. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up The Cardinal Spider 3 The Cardinal spider is the largest spider in the UK Credit: Getty - Contributor The UK has 650 different species of spiders, and the largest among them is the cardinal spider. Cardinal spiders, known internationally as Tegenaria Parietina, have been recorded to grow up to 14cm. Typically found in buildings or on walls, there is due to be more sightings of them in the upcoming weeks. All spiders can bite – that's how most subdue and kill their prey. But the Cardinal's small fangs will only render mild discomfort in a human. So there is no need to be fearful of these creatures - even if you don't like the look of them. What are Cardinal Spiders? 3 Though the species is pretty rare in Europe, they're found more commonly in the south of England Credit: Getty - Contributor The spider was allegedly called after Cardinal Wolsey who was terrified by the sight of the spiders at Hampton Court. Though the species is pretty rare in Europe, they're found more commonly in the south of England. Most of them live in buildings or walls, and like all spiders living in houses, they can withstand very dry conditions and survive for months without sustenance. The females are larger and can grow to a body length of up to 20 mm while males measure up to 17 mm. Giant huntsman spider lurking in his bunch of Aldi bananas Typically reddish brown in colour, but young Cardinal spiders can be much lighter, so taking that into account with it's size - easy to spot! However, their legs are about three times longer in length. How to deter them from your home 3 Wilko are selling Marigold seeds for only 49p Credit: wilko If you're looking for ways to keep the little guys at bay, there are plenty of spider-repelling plants to choose from that can help keep them away from your windows, doors, nooks, and crannies. Evie Lane, gardening expert at Primrose, pointed out that most of the plants out there that spiders hate have strong smells which, while not appealing to creepy crawlies, should smell great to you. There's a reason why allotment keepers have been putting marigolds next to their vegetable plants for generations. And Wilko's has packets of Marigold Petite Mixed Seed Packet on sale for only 49p - so it's a cheap, chemical free solution. These bright, friendly plants repel a swathe of pests including spiders and snails, so they come in handy both inside the home and out. Other plants that also help keep them at bay are Chrysanthemums, Eucalyptus, Lavender and Rosemary. Spiders also don't like mint, but you don't need mint plants all over your house for it to have an effect. You can also put some mint leaves in water in a spray bottle and after the leaves have had a chance to sit in the water a while, spray the entry points of your home. But to any who does come across any spiders in their houses, it's worth investing in a good, cruelty-free spider catcher, so you can send them on their way.
