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Original poster

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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potatoscone · 04/01/2019 00:17

I had to double check this because I wasn't sure if I imagined it or not but one of the kids had her boyfriend move on was she was 18. I wonder if the 17yo is not allowed a boyfriend In her room because the other one ended up leaving and marrying hers?

They like to keep them close.

ChubRubTheStruggleIsReal · 04/01/2019 00:29

This thread has me curious so looked on YouTube. Just watched the house tour... hhmmmm.

-Counted 18 beds- have the others moved out?
-one whole room not used, newly decorated but not inhabited yet 4 girls squeezed in one dorm type room upstairs
-2 toddlers in a tiny room with no windows? Could be wrong but rewound it and everything... is that allowed? Fire risks etc

Sarahandduck18 · 04/01/2019 00:29

They need to move- the house was in serious disrepair. On the outside shots you could see the paint peeling from the windows.

Sue’s hair was also noticibly more grey at the roots than previously.

However I do think there’s too much vitriol against them on these threads.

There are a lot of worse families out there!

ChubRubTheStruggleIsReal · 04/01/2019 00:30

That is true...

MollyHuaCha · 04/01/2019 00:31

A couple having 21 children (who in turn will all have children) is contributing towards overpopulation of our planet.

Have they no concern for global warming?

Schmoobarb · 04/01/2019 00:32

I can’t bear them, awful couple, especially Noel.

Sarahandduck18 · 04/01/2019 00:33

18 beds because Chris and Sophie have moved out and Alfie was stillborn.

ChubRubTheStruggleIsReal · 04/01/2019 00:34

Ah ok

potatoscone · 04/01/2019 00:42

There are a lot of worse families out there

I never understand this as a point. People use it often, for various things.

Just because there are worse families, doesn't make this family good.

ChubRubTheStruggleIsReal · 04/01/2019 00:43

That is also true

slappinthebass · 04/01/2019 00:59

I think they come across really well, very loved and happy. I'd far rather have been brought up in that family than my own much smaller one. Bollocks to maybe they'd like to do 4 gymnastics classes a week and swimming, and other middle class nonsense. A teenager wanting more privacy, is hardly headline news. Find me a teenager that doesn't say that.

ChubRubTheStruggleIsReal · 04/01/2019 01:02

Extra curricular classes shape children as individuals, I think it’s their right to be able to express their identity- even more so when you have 20 siblings. I’m not middle class.

Walney · 04/01/2019 08:13

I refuse to watch shows like this as it would just make me angry. Schools are oversubscribed as it is and from a food production and environmental perspective it is incredibly selfish.

newestbridearound · 04/01/2019 08:33

I’ve watched most of the programmes and I feel like they’ve got more disingenuous as they’ve progressed- the earlier ones seemed more sincere and showed things like the door handle incident whereas now it all seems too perfected. I think they’ve had a lot of help to maintain a certain image since that first one and some of the criticism they received.
I’ll be shocked if this really is the last baby. I think they will try for at least one more if she is able.

bluebellpillow · 04/01/2019 08:45

I definitely think this show was more curated and edited, they are a brand now so I suppose they have to rein things in.
Sue definitely has aged (although looks amazing compared to me and I only have 3) and this will not be the last baby.

They are supposed to be going to Florida in February, she'll probably do a pregnancy announcement after that.

There are certainly worse families to grow up in but I couldn't believe the levels of aggression between the younger children. Mine fought, don't get me wrong, but they seemed as if they could do serious harm to each other. I also couldn't believe the amount of wear and tear on the house, the holes on the wall in every room. This time it came across as a children's care home rather than a family.

ElleyBear13 · 04/01/2019 09:19

Just caught up on this show I enjoyed the previous shows but now as a mum of two I do wonder how you split your time between all the children alongside housework, prepping food, life admin, maintaining friendships/relationships etc - id love to see the show look at this side - surely between 20 kids there is not enough hours to have one to one time with the kids once they’re home from school? What happens if one of them is struggling with MH issues/bullying etc? How do you ring fence the time for older ones when the little ones are so tying? Id love to see a spin off show with the views from the kids 😄

potatoscone · 04/01/2019 09:22

The teens wouldn't tell you much. The teen boy that spoke last night about how wonderful the home was and why none of them want to leave sounded just as brainwashed as Chloe. He was well versed in what to say when the camera was on him.

It's like some sort of cult with big Noel at the helm.

potatoscone · 04/01/2019 09:25

I think they come across really well, very loved and happy.

Some people are not as perceptive as others I suppose.

I'd far rather have been brought up in that family than my own much smaller one.

Why? What was wrong with your family?

Not all small families are dysfunctional.

Bollocks to maybe they'd like to do 4 gymnastics classes a week and swimming, and other middle class nonsense.

And some people are not as intelligent.

PollyFlinderz · 04/01/2019 09:30

What's not creepy about getting someone pregnant at 13 and then subsequently keeping them pregnant in a controlling relationship for the rest of their adult life whilst not meeting the emotional needs of your 20+ children by not letting them have any privacy, space or individual nurturing?

In a nutshell.

derxa · 04/01/2019 09:34

I have written on here before about a family of 13 I knew at one time. The children were intelligent and high achieving. Maybe the Radfords don't value education that highly. Many many parents in this country don't.

BabyNameBook · 04/01/2019 09:50

Interesting article on the Daily Fail

Headline reads:

'Can't help feeling a bit weird that an 18 year old got a 13 year old pregnant': 21 kids and counting viewers are shocked when they realise mother Sue Radford's age when she first fell pregnant to a man who is now father of Britain's biggest family.

bluebellpillow · 04/01/2019 09:57

Well the Fail have changed their tune then as they were the biggest proponents of the Radfords 'refusing' to accept benefits and were the salt of the earth, British hardworking example.

PollyFlinderz · 04/01/2019 10:06

I have written on here before about a family of 13 I knew at one time. The children were intelligent and high achieving. Maybe the Radfords don't value education that highly. Many many parents in this country don't

This could be my extended family where I live as well as other families in the community. For eg one of my sisters in law had 12 children and 5 of them have Phd’s 3 are doctors and the remaining 4 are all educated to masters level and are in high achieving positions.

It’s not unusual where I live.

Ihadacrushoncoreyhaim · 04/01/2019 10:08

It came across very fake yesterday and very forced at times, Noel gives me the creeps, he comes across like a David Brent type character, thinking he is a cool Dad and trying to be funny.

bluebellpillow · 04/01/2019 10:16

Polly are your family Asian? IME Asian families are bigger than average 2.4 children but they have very high educational aspirations. The Saleem family who were on 16 Kids and Counting were the same. Their lives were quite chaotic, very cluttered house but the eldest girl got all A/A*s in her GCSEs.