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

Not sure anyone even remotely hinted at such a thing

What a weird idea... it’s not our job to propose anything. And anyway, there’s no neat ‘solution’ to the self inflicted problems. Getting themselves out of the media, focusing on giving their existing children some dignity and privacy and refraining from producing more kids is probably the best to be done now. But that’s not going to put right any damage that’s been done already.

So what do people propose? Send all the younger children to foster homes and forced sterilisation for Mr and Mrs Radford?

Is that how you normally approach questions of morality and ethics, by proposing a completely absurd strawman alternative?

So what do people propose?

Letting their sponsors such as Zanussi know that them condoning an 17/18 year old having a sexual relationship with a 13 year means you don’t intend to use their products.

I think if enough people did that their would be an about turn when it comes to any kind of sponsorship.

Chloe seems lovely - what was it she wanted to train as? I couldn't make out what she said.
Interesting they only showed the girls doing chores to get pocket money.

I think it'd be more interesting if they showed how they cope with the organisation of a family that big - if I had to organise that number of people I'd hope I'd have systems in place. For example:

• do a big monthly shop of non perishables
• big planner with when passports due for renewal, birthdays, doctors appointments etc
• children introduced to certain chores at a particular age
• each teenager assigned a younger sibling to look out for on holiday
• a system for the washing and storing of clothes/bedding
• one-to-one/two/three time with the children.

The only organisation we see is the toothbrushes hung in a row. Them being chaotic, going on holiday and bringing another baby home is, I think, no longer interesting enough for viewers.

Very true Pollyflinderz...

@FloralCup we don't know they don't do this.

It's reality TV. Of course they want things to look chaotic and not to plan.

louise - yes, they may be very organised, but it'd be good to see in my opinion. And I just think the chaos is old hat now.

There was one scene after the kitchen demolition where one of the girls was throwing, what looked like, a laptop on the ground. Wtf! I suppose it ties in with all the smashed up TVs.

I don't propose anything but I would suggest counselling for both of them. Whilst Sue could have another 2 babies (I seriously doubt the latest one will be the last) she will at some point in the near future not be able to have any more. For someone who has essentially had a newborn for the last 20+ years and appears to have a need rather than a desire for more children this will hit her hard. In one episode where Sue had not been pregnant for over a year Noel said she wasn't sending one of the children to nursery as she couldn't cope with only having 2 preschoolers at home. That suggests that the pregnancy/newborn thing is a mental health issue rather than someone who just loves babies.

I have zero interest in knowing how you'd manage a family of this size- she seems to concern herself principally with laundry. I'm sure there's a lot.

@derxa why should anything be proposed, and as any tv programme just airing opinions. However hopefully Noel and sue might just learn something from this thread
Doubt it though

I think it’s more organised than the tv producers want us to think.

I watched the Radford’s own YouTube video tour of the house. It paints a very different picture than the one the tv producers made showing 45 mins of footage from MONTHS of filming.

There was a gap in babies of almost 3 years, between Casper (the first tv baby) and Hallie (because of the stillbirth of Alfie). This was the biggest gap since the 4 year gap between between firstborn Chris and Sophie. They have certainly speeded up the births since then with a new baby every year- Pheobe, Archie and Bonnie. But is this because they need a new baby for each annual tv show?

It’s also a 7 adult household so the ‘staff’: child ratios are much better than nurseries or children’s homes.

I think it’s more organised than the tv producers want us to think.
I watched the Radford’s own YouTube video tour of the house. It paints a very different picture

I thought the house tour was completely set up. She had obviously just totally blitzed the house tidied up and told everyone to be on their best behaviour because she was filming.
It has to be pretty chaotic with that many kids. I've only got four and it's a madhouse 😩

I do enjoy watching them though.

But is this because they need a new baby for each annual tv show?

Perhaps. But I think it’s more likely she knows time is running out biologically.

I wonder why sue has never filmed the birth ? The pie shop no way can sustain the lifestyle they live and Sue seems like she is just addicted to being pregnant and having newborns as that is when all attention surrounds the mother but as soon as kids are older she seems less interested?? How will she cope with menopause and being unable to have more children? She enjoys the attention side of pregnancy and networks and she doesn't get that from her grandchildren as she never talks about them. It's so sad how selfish her and Noel are. Those kids have been brainwashed and none seem remotely interested in getting a good education and making a life for themselves bar the pie shop. How can one pie shop sustain a family of that size ? I don't really think the age thing is an issue as they obviously have a strong marriage and have same view about having so many kids. Im just sick of their bull shit at end of each programme when they say " this is the last and defo no more" . Also this last programme was really boring and no different to the others they have done. I can't see how a show can be sustained as it's same old same old now.

Well yes it is the same old show but plenty of people seem to enjoy it so channel 4 keep them coming. I did notice that C4 are still tweeting adverts of the program, so perhaps not as many viewers now as previous ones? Also there is a very marked decrease in supportive comments in defence of them so I do wonder if as pp's have pointed out the change in climate re consent and age has become an issue for some previous supporters.

I did wonder how they would respond to the media turn and I saw today on their IG a 'I won't apologize for my life choices' type of post.

I've just watched the house tour. Interesting!

One of the boys had some trophies of his bed. It made me rethink the idea that the kids don't have any hobbies (no idea what they were for, but just thought it was a good thing)

Also Noel is a marathon runner who knew?

how does he find the time to run marathons, run a bakery full-time and look after 21 kids?!!!

He doesn't look after any kids.

I have watched all the programmes and to a certain degree I think C4 will just choose a slant or angle that they want to portray and I very much doubt the Radford family will have much(any) input in how it is edited into 45 min from hours of footage. I only have 2 children but I'd be intrigued to know how the logistics work with that many children. What happens if one has a dr/dentist/speech therapy/orthodontist apt...? (do they all go?) How do you keep track of whose clothes belong to who, who needs new shoes or school uniform, when dressing up days, assemblies, school trips, sports days, parents evenings are for each year group at school etc...that in itself must be an admin nightmare! I also find the cost to have a family that big quite mind boggling. Their food bill for the month is similar to my take home pay. Then all the stuff like school uniforms and shoes, phone contracts for older ones school trips etc on top of household bills must really stack up. People have mentioned that Mothercare might have given them the pram in exchange for being shown on the programme, but since they had 15 kids in the first episode on tv they must have spent a small fortune on prams themselves (i think they said they had 30!)

Where does it say Noel runs marathons? Potato Noel seems to be a pivotal point in the family. He comes home from work in the morning to help dress, make packed lunches and then take the children to school. He picks them up from school and then does all of the cooking. Neither Sue nor Noel could run the house single handedly.

In the house tour in the hallway there are some certificates? Medals? That sue makes reference to. Not in the programme on you tube. It's interesting.

I noticed that, in the bedrooms, there seemed to be very little in the way of personal decoration. I think this was the older boys room and the girls about 11-15ish. It just seemed to be beds. I feel sorry for those kids.

I just can't understand any of it, they're bizarre.

The marathon photos are from 1998, yes I was sad enough to pause it for the date .