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

They either really don’t understand it, or they are desperately trying to minimize the issue of a 17 year old getting a 13 year old pregnant.

Either way is pretty

I've been following this thread with increasing disbelief at some of the vile comments that people seem to think they are entitled to make

This isn't North Korea. Members of the public are entitled to have an opinion and write it on the internet, discussing a family that have willingly put their lives on TV for the 66 million or so people in the UK to watch and by proxy form an opinion. It is evidently upsetting for them to read of negativity but that has always been the case after every show. They should be angry with the media who with they have courted, been paid by, been praised by and now seem to have thrown them to the dogs.
Keep your pearl clutching for the American sites and twitter, where there is some vitriol. It is all very polite and restrained in here in comparison.

Oops posted too soon.
Pretty awful. Definitely not pretty.

I wonder how many hours of filming do go in to each 60 minute programme.

No idea how long but I remember the Freers saying that the filming went on for months and there were loads of 12 hour days of takes and retakes and they only got about 20 minutes in two programs.

"they won't be doing any more vlogs or tv"!!! Yes I believe that. Like they are not having any more babies after 16 then 17 then 18 and so on?

If Sue doesn't want negative comments then don't parade your family for the world to see. Yes, they have lots of fawning fans but they also have people that don't agree that having so many children is ok or agree with their way of parenting or lack of etc

I'm just amazed that this thread has survived so long! Usually anything about the Radfords gets zapped pretty quick, especially once their ages at the time of their eldest's birth are brought into discussion.

I also don't believe they'll stop with the TV and social media stuff. It's a flounce and their fans will all be "oh no come back" and they'll say "oh alright then".

I don’t think they’d be able to stop the tv and vlogs.
It must cost an absolute fortune to keep everyone fed and clothed etc.

They seems like a nice couple and a very sweet family but it must be hard to keep up financially.

I remember them saying never again and especially with channel 4 as they didn't stick to their word about filming times. I assume that is when the prospect of the Australian road trip was dangled in front of them (or maybe they stipulated it as a condition) that is was too good an opportunity to turn down.

If they are stopping tv then it will be interesting to see if the trip to Florida goes ahead this year. They've been once so how a family that size can afford it again without ch4 helping out...they better stick the pie shop prices up.

Calvinsman, well I would guess without the tv and sponsorship they wouldn't survive financially. Shame then that the media ever got involved with them because maybe they would have had less children without the attention and money.

There are people who are genuinely in need of money and yet money is thrown at a selfish and somewhat stupid couple just because they don't know when to stop having children. What a truly fucked up world we live in

Sadly I don’t believe at all that they won’t do anymore TV but it’s exactly what they should be doing. They’ve exposed their children enough. Let the children just get on with their lives in privacy now. If sue and Noel are smart they will be able to carry on the vlogs/publicity involving just themselves. They have a bit of a following and I reckon their fans would totally understand them only appearing in videos on their own from now on.

If they really stopped all their media activity they would obviously lose all the freebie product placement goods and really would be solely reliant on income from the bakery. I suspect they would then be claiming tax credits at the first possible opportunity, which could be interesting in light of the "we don't claim benefits" boast which has never been true anyway.

Got a bit bored and used turn2us to see what 16 kids on 48k would yield in tax credits and child benefit...results were interesting. Won't say anymore in case I break some rule I'm not aware of!

SaturdayNext

If they really stopped all their media activity they would obviously lose all the freebie product placement goods and really would be solely reliant on income from the bakery. I suspect they would then be claiming tax credits at the first possible opportunity, which could be interesting in light of the "we don't claim benefits" boast which has never been true anyway

Absolutely! Once their freebies and fees from TV advertising have dried up they will be eligible to take from the public purse. And they will!

Lucky taxpayers eh?

@MinorRSole please share! I don't see it could break any rules anyone could look I just can't be bothered

There’s no way they paid for Florida the first time round... for that many people that’s got to be a 50k holiday easy. And they did pricey extras and Disney Springs restaurants.

I’d really worry for the welfare of the children if the tv work dried up, we all know they certainly don’t make a living from pies.

Of course they claim tax credits, they are entitled to them. According to them the bakery employs Noel, Sue (who has been on maternity leave for about 20 years) Sophie, Chloe, Daniel(?) and there was another 2 girls from outside the family and still makes just under £50k? I would be very surprised if the bakery even made £30k, Noel said in 19 Kids that business had gone way done as another 2 bakeries had opened in the area.

I don't care what they claim but their figures have never added up. When the bakery was making £30k they spent £5k a year on birthdays/christmas and another £5k on the annual holiday. Are we really supposed to believe that £20k will feed/clothe/house 16+ children? That doesn't include the new annual pram and personalized baby clothes.

I too think that instead of payment they receive goods in lieu from their media appearances. That would keep them right for TC purposes and they get to give the kids holidays that otherwise they couldn't afford. I'm genuinely pleased for them not that I'm jealous but wish they would stop pretending they are 'self sufficient'.

Are child tax credits not capped anyway? Thought it only applied up to 3 kids or am I wrong?

MinorSRole- do tell! It’s absolutely not breaking any rules to do the calculation (and I’m busy cooking dinner right now!)
Honestly, even if MNHQ post one of their vaguely threatening sounding warnings to try to silence us it really is ok!

AFAIK it isn't retrospective so all of the children pre-law will still receive TC. Maybe only the last 3 dc are not eligible.

I stand by my comment earlier in the thread that at least one of the children may well do a tell all book. Even if its ghostwritten.

I just watched the house tour, aside from the fact it’s obviously massively staged to make it look calm and blissful.. is it okay to put two children in what is essentially a cupboard?? (Legally I mean.. doesn’t it need to have a window?)

And why do so many get their own large room when there are 5 girls crammed into that first room?

I’m sure they love each other and don’t know any different, but it just makes me sad. I feel like I struggle to find enough time for everything just two children need.

On the calculation of 16 kids at a wage of 48000 per annum the results was over £500 a week in tax credits and over £200 a week in child benefit.... I am not saying that they claim this and the figures I used were entirely random and totally theoretical.......that should cover it

I couldn't understand why there were unoccupied bedrooms with up to 5 sleeping in together. Sue said before some of them insist on sleeping together, but I had a friend growing up who was in a very overcrowded house and the children who kicked off the most got their own room and everyone else had to share.