21 kids and counting

[thannyflaps]

Just watching the latest episode - how on earth do they afford to run that household? iPhones for the kids, holidays to Spain for 20 people, a new kitchen.

There is no way a bakery would generate that much money. Would channel 4 really pay that well for their participation in the programme?

Thanny Flaps

IloveMax Sue said the same thing. From the programmes, I get the impression Noel was controlling, did not want the kids to fly the next and do their own thing. Chloe went to uni, came back home as she felt guilty leaving the others behind. The parents did nothing to pursude her to stay. They seemed almost happy that she was back in the fold.

I just had a look on twitter and the vast majority of comments are very negative and referring to the age. What I can't fathom is why are people/press only having an issue with it now? They mention her age when she first got pregnant in every program and article.

I imagine they are having some sort of crisis meeting and coming off social media isn't a great sign. Feel very bad for the older children.

don't think Noel controls Sue, in fact I'd say it's her who pushes for another baby because she's addicted to getting pregnant and having a newborn.

Because he put her in a position where that is how she feels good, loved, wanted and accepted.

He controls her alright. Grooming and emotional abuse can be very subtle.

What I can't fathom is why are people/press only having an issue with it now?

Because the 'look at this huge family' angle is wearing thin and not getting the attention it used to. They needed another angle so have gone with the negative. It's worked.

I’ve just rewatched the show and I’ve noticed they arrived at 3am to the hotel, nighttime, darkness etc. Cut to break, show restarts and Noel is checking in in broad daylight

‘What I can't fathom is why are people/press only having an issue with it now?’

Because the cultural climate has changed- for the better. As I said upthread, look at Times Up and #metoo. People are speaking out now about things which they probably felt uneasy about for decades- only now it’s become not only socially acceptable but almost a moral imperative to speak up.

I think there’s a groundswell of opinion against the radfords now and this backlash could finish off their media presence. The sad thing is the children are once again collateral damage in all this. But then if the parents actually put their children first, they wouldn’t be in this mess.

I too wonder whether they might be regretting this latest program and wishing they’d stepped off the rollercoaster before it crashes horribly

Weird, on my YouTube feed their 'house tour' video just came up!

I for one am pleased to see the negativity and this “lovely family” facade that people have been gushing over for years slipping. I hope they disappear into oblivion very soon.

I've just seen a post on fb where the Manchester Evening News have posted about this. Lots of discussion in the comments (my favourite ones are the ones where people make excuses for the age difference, other posters ask how happy those people would be if their 13 year old became pregnant by an 18 year old man and the original posters are completely unable to answer)
However in these comments there are comments from a Millie Jo Radford who has commented saying 'good thing she wasn't actually 13' ??
Had a quick look at the profile and it seems legitimate, goes back a few years with comments from other people the same age/memorial posts etc.
The plot thickens?
I cant believe how many people think it's okay

No I mean now as in after this program. They had the birth announcement in the media and were on This Morning not so long ago where I assume yet again her age was mentioned. Why the media are making out that this is a new revelation is very strange.

I'm not on twitter so don't know how it works but is it more 'viral' than facebook? The vast majority of tweets are negative and highlighting that she was underage. Are twitter users younger or more engaged in social justice issues than Facebook?

Because the media need to get people interested in them again. It's just publicity from the media POV.

IloveMax in many establishments if you arrive after 10pm the reception is closed and security give you your keys, but you don't check in until the following morning.

Oh god I saw on Facebook that the house attached to theirs (they're semi detached) is being turned into flats.. who would want to live there!?

in many establishments if you arrive after 10pm the reception is closed and security give you your keys, but you don't check in until the following morning.

Oh thanks, I didn’t know that!

They are probably turning the house into flats because they can't sell it as a house. It will be huge but nobody with that amount of cash would want to live next to a family of 21 (or however many live there). So it's easier to sell it on to a developer who can then turn it into many separate flats. Perhaps if they are rented out people will have less choice about where they live. Ie social housing and all that.

I can't get my head around being up for sex after giving birth and being so tired looking after that many kids. It's just not normal. Surely she can't just function on 3 hours sleep everynight. For bloody years on end!!!!😳😳😳

I actually remember years ago her saying on the facebook page that there was a possibility that the property next door was being turned into flats and if that was the case that they would have to move as they couldn't be putting up with the noise

Imagine going to view a flat there mid day when they're all at school / nursery and having no idea about the carnage until you moved in

I find it depressing and feel very sorry for the children. How could you possibly know how your children are doing at school, with friendships etc? When there are so many of them? What one to one time does any child get with a parent? Zero. I think in the end the older children miss out on their childhood by being roped into all sorts of care for their baby siblings. And I'd just crave peace and quiet and calm.

I didn't see the Dad as controlling but the mother as having some emotional issues/emptiness by the constant need to have a baby or being pregnant rather than having any interest in the children growing up.

The other issue is that the more babies she has the greater the risk of complications or her dying in child birth. That's why people first campaigned for birth control - they didn't want their wives to die.

The older Radford kids will probably end up renting the flats one by one, until the whole building is full of them. Doors to the main house via each glat being installed, until it's the parents and latest baby in the one remaining seperate flat, and the rest of the place kids and grandkids.

She’s had complications in the past and been advised to have no more.

According to dates Sue was 13 and Noel 17 when she became pregnant (still wrong but not quite as bad as him being a legal adult) They were 14 and 18 by the time of the birth.

I don't understand the general love for this family. They're neglecting all their children.

It used to be that whenever there was a story about them in the Mail about 90% of the comments were positive - what a lovely family, great parents etc.

The last couple of stories the comments have become far less positive and it's not just about her age when first pregnant but how much they must have had over the years in child benefit and tax credit. How much they have taken out of the system. How they can't possibly give each child enough attention etc

^Yes there has definitely been a turn in the tide regarding the attitude. I was reading the comments last night and the positive ones are approaching it from a right wing 'at least the UK won't be muslim now, we need more babies for Britain' The rest are either saying they are neglectful, pointing out the age or being doubtful about the no benefits claim.
I feel gutted for their kids, wish I could delete them for their sake.