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21 kids and counting

765 replies

thannyflaps · 03/01/2019 22:00

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

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RoadrunnerMeepMeep · 06/01/2019 10:31

Yes Kyliejenner that’s the family. The media doesn’t care about people, the children, just selling a good story.

Hubanmao · 06/01/2019 10:34

In other words, a million miles away from a totally natural instance of a child being wary or making a fuss over new food. This was set up precisely to make the child upset and to film it. Disgusting.

GerryblewuptheER · 06/01/2019 10:40

Chloe and the cake making was a fiasco and most likely just done for the cameras

I wondered about this. My theory is (and I could well be wrong) that they were trying to show that they all did things as a family and weren't just sat around watching their 5 broken tvs or on their phones and sat and ate dinner as a family etc When In fact there was not really enough space to do so. Those kids were clearly not used to doing stuff. Following instructions, listening, taking turns, being safe in the kitchen etc

You'd expect a strict routine in such a big household but it seemed a free for all .

How there is time to have a bath or wash etc I don't know.

Isitmybathtimeyet · 06/01/2019 10:47

I was a bit puzzled by the holiday timing. Arrived in Spain at 1am but some kids still in bed when they were leaving makes for a very late getting up time. Although they were teenage boys I guess!

Hubanmao · 06/01/2019 10:49

Totally, Gerryblew.

Chloe was just barking at the kids, and at least one of the toddlers looked really distressed.

If you really did cake making on a regular basis with that many kids, you would owe it to them to develop a clear routine and a calm environment. They would know what they were allowed to do, and where the boundaries were. Instead it was a chaotic free for all, no doubt set up for the cameras, because hey, keeping that sponsorship going with all the freebies it brings is way more important than your own children’s welfare. Hmm

Isitmybathtimeyet · 06/01/2019 10:49

So in 16 Kids... Sue has said she was 14 when she found out she was pregnant and implies that Noel was 16, and her mum says she wasn't thrilled but they stuck together and she wouldn't have tried to split them up. Photos of a very young-looking Sue with her first baby.

orangecushion · 06/01/2019 10:51

How can somebody not believe in reading? Its not a religion.

Schmoobarb · 06/01/2019 10:55

I don’t care if they lose their sponsorship. Maybe then they can do what their PR team tries to convince people they already do and support their family on the profits of pies.

GerryblewuptheER · 06/01/2019 11:02

If you really did cake making on a regular basis with that many kids, you would owe it to them to develop a clear routine and acalmenvironment. They would know what they were allowed to do, and where the boundaries were. Instead it was a chaotic free for all, no doubt set up for the cameras, because hey, keeping that sponsorship going with all the freebies it brings is way more important than your own children’s welfare

The cake wasn't even big enough either.

It's honestly starting to look like they have no idea how to actually cook for that many. Or feed that many. Portions/quandaries were all way out.

That block of cheese would serve the family for about two days if used for sprinkling on your Bolognese.

That pan full of sauce appeared to be very low on any substance to the curry.

All those crisps and chocolate . Well that was one days worth of a packed lunch
Where did the 350 quid go? There was no actual food

I would go nuts if my kid poured what looked like most of a box of cereal into a serving bowl. Greedy. Not clever.

There are adults and teenagers in the house. That's not enough food even for sensible portions surely?

TickTockClocks · 06/01/2019 11:11

The kids are all pasty faced with bad hair

What a horrible thing to say about the children. I don’t think that’s true at all.

potatoscone · 06/01/2019 11:13

Ooh fgs kids whine and cry over new food all the time.

Yes they do. But normally parents don't deliberately film it, laugh at the child and them player all over national television for others to watch. I have a tricky eater and in a situation like that I would have ordered them an alternative, not set them up to feel distressed. If that's what they think is acceptable behaviour towards their children with TV cameras present, I dread to think how they treat them when the cameras are not around. It was very uncomfortable viewing.

Isitmybathtimeyet · 06/01/2019 11:16

OK, we're on to 18 Kids... and they have five dogs! How on earth?

potatoscone · 06/01/2019 11:16

How there is time to have a bath or wash etc I don't know.

The teenager boys didn't wash before going on holiday. They were woken up about 10 or so minutes before they were leaving Sad

GerryblewuptheER · 06/01/2019 11:21

The teenager boys didn't wash before going on holiday. They were woken up about 10 or so minutes before they were leaving

Which goes back to where is this routine. Why arebt they helping with the babies while the girls cant even use the bathroom in the morning without taking the babies...

Did the plane wait for them? How did they even make it to the air port?

tynext · 06/01/2019 11:21

Didn’t the earlier series used to concentrate on 3 or so different families? Then it seemed to just exclusively be the Radfords

Hubanmao · 06/01/2019 11:23

Going by their dates of birth, Sue gave turned 14 in March and gave birth in May, 2 months later. So she was very definitely 13 when she got pregnant. The comment earlier someone picked up from Twitter, where it seemed one of the children was trying to deny this suggests that either they have a very shaky grasp of maths (quite possible as none of the family seem to value education.) Or there’s a more sinister attempt to brainwash their own children over basic facts.

Isitmybathtimeyet · 06/01/2019 11:23

The first programme was 15 and Counting, which was three families, but since then it's been just the Radfords.

TheEagle · 06/01/2019 11:28

Of course kids cry over food and spouses argue with each other; I just don’t like that it’s all done with a camera pointed at them. She was heavily pregnant driving at night in Spain having packed for 18 people or so. He could have cut her a little slack.

I thought it was unfair to film that kid being upset about the prawn and to show people laughing at him. What age was he? 5 or 6?

I don’t like kids’ bad behaviour being filmed anyway, even if no-one is going to watch the video afterwards.

I’m sure some of the other documentaries showed the massive amount of presents the children’s get at Christmas so I think they do have some presents/personal possessions.

TheEagle · 06/01/2019 11:29

Why have they deleted their Instagram account? Were there nasty comments there?

mydogisthebest · 06/01/2019 11:33

GerryblewuptheER, it seems the boys are not expected to help with the younger children or the housework, only the girls are!

I don't blame them taking holidays which I assume are free. I would too (wish someone would offer me one) but if they could not have afforded holidays, new kitchen, new freezer etc then maybe they would not have chosen to have so many children?

Plenty of families can't afford any holiday even camping in the UK. It seems unfair to me that the Radfords get rewarded just for having so many children

ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/01/2019 11:36

I really hope they don't lose their sponsorships because the children will be the ones they suffer.

The reality is, they will lose their sponsorship. This show has run its course, the tv company have shown pretty much every angle that they can without showing stuff the Radfords wouldnt agree to being shown. There is nothing else to wow the audience with. Sue will probably have only one, maybe two more babies. So let’s say two more shows. Maybe a new holiday destination, a new house. Another pram. But that’s it. The sponsorship won’t last for the next 18 years to keep those babies into adulthood. That gravy train will end within the next couple of years. I hope N&S have taken advice on how to manage with the loss of income, put plans in place to replace it. Because it will be going very soon.

potatoscone · 06/01/2019 11:41

I thought it was unfair to film that kid being upset about the prawn and to show people laughing at him.

I think maybe people missed the fact that it wasn't just the film crew catching the upset, but the family were quite calculated in filming it on a mobile phone, while they all gathered round to watch the reaction when the food was placed in front of him.

cushioncovers · 06/01/2019 11:44

Nope not missing the point. Just don't see it as a big enough 'crime' to get your knickers in a knot about. Kids cry and scream about strange food on their plates all the time and that bit on the program was a fleeting few seconds.

Compared to their day to day chaos I'm sure the radford kids will put up with the inconvenience of the cameras in order for the family income to be boosted enough to buy them nice extras and luxuries.

The holiday, the kitchen, the driving lessons,the shopping for the new pram would of all be discussed before the filming started. There doesn't seem to be much that Noel and Sue haven't thought of imo.

GerryblewuptheER · 06/01/2019 11:44

I think maybe people missed the fact that it wasn't just the film crew catching the upset, but the family were quite calculated in filming it on a mobile phone, while they all gathered round to watch the reaction when the food was placed in front of him

It did a good job of showing the reality though I thought. I mean small children late nights, no routine, clearly fed crap or the kids wouldn't be freaking out at rice ffs, and no one.giving a shit cos well, "bored now" bump more important.

They cannot cope. So clearly cannot cope

ILoveMaxiBondi · 06/01/2019 11:45

How can somebody not believe in reading? Its not a religion.

Can sue read to a level that kids would benefit from? Did she finish her education? There could be more to it than just not “believing” in reading.

What a horrible thing to say about the children. I don’t think that’s true at all.

It is true tbh. I noticed it too while watching. All very pale, very, very skinny, and apart from the older teen/adult girls they had unkempt hair.