Sue and Noel Radford, stars of 22 Kids and Counting, have given fans a sneak peek into the dream farmhouse they had hoped to purchase in their latest YouTube vlog. The Radfords, known as the UK’s largest family, first gained fame in 2021 when their reality show aired on Channel 5.
They are once again opening their doors to cameras for the fifth series, which airs on Sundays. In the upcoming episodes, Noel explores his biological family, Millie reveals some significant personal news, and young Casper takes the spotlight as he pursues his football dreams.
Currently, the enormous Radford clan resides in a 10-bedroom townhouse in Morecambe. However, they had grand plans to buy an £850,000 country home nestled in the picturesque countryside. Unfortunately, the couple recently received the heartbreaking news that the house sale had fallen through, leading Sue to abandon her dream.
Sue and her husband Noel lead the massive Radford family, which includes Chris, 35, Sophie, 30, Chloe, 28, Jack, 27, Daniel, 25, Luke, 23, Millie, 22, Katie, 21, James, 20, Ellie, 19, Aimee, 18, Josh, 17, Max, 15, Tillie, 14, Oscar, 12, Casper, 11, Hallie, nine, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, five, and Heidie, four. Their seventeenth child, Alfie, was tragically stillborn in 2014.
In their YouTube vlog, released on the same evening as their Channel 5 show, Sue and Noel tour the farmhouse they had hoped to buy, offering their fans a first-time glimpse inside.
As they stroll through the estate, Sue enthuses: “I can really see us living here, it is everything that we want.”
Speaking to the camera, Sue reflects: “It’s a different way of living,” while Noel chimes in, noting: “There are fields around us, a bit of our own garden.”
The large garden and surrounding land would provide their brood with ample space for frolics and play. Noel also remarked on the potential for the children to “enjoy their own plants” and “get in the greenhouse”.
Internally, the house boasts an inviting and spacious layout. A grand wooden staircase stands as the centrepiece in the entrance hall, while the bedrooms dazzle with vibrant hues and an eclectic mix of textures and patterns, from the bedding to the wallpaper and drapes.
The kitchen presents a more subdued palette with its white and grey tones. Integrated appliances contribute to a sleek appearance, and there’s plenty of storage and surface area to accommodate the culinary needs of their sizable family.
However, their dream is dashed by an unforeseen “development” that results in their property chain collapsing, crushing Sue’s rural aspirations. The scene where Noel gets the disheartening call from the realtor is caught on film.
Upon learning of the broken chain, Noel’s immediate expletive-laden reaction is: “F**k sake” before he hurries back to convey the unfortunate news to Sue.
Sue was heartbroken when the sale did not materialise. She said: “We were just really gutted, we’re not going to get that country life, it’s just been really difficult.”
Her husband Noel added his perspective by stating: “It’s taken the wind out her sails and she feels really down and fed up. We’ve just put the whole thing on hold.”
Reflecting back on the incident in a previous interview with OK!, Sue admitted, “When it fell through it was absolutely gutting, but sometimes you think these things happen for a reason and I guess it was just not meant to be. It was upsetting when it happened. The house move was an emotional episode.”
This mishap with their house is just one of many thrilling moments the Radfords encounter together in Channel Five’s new series about them. Exciting developments await this season – from Noel’s expedition to discover his biological heritage, Millie making a life-changing announcement, the anticipation of a new family member, to Casper doggedly pursuing his football dreams.