Noel and Sue Radford, the stars of Channel 5’s hit series 22 Kids and Counting, have revealed the emotional tension that unfolded between them following a deeply personal decision made by Noel – reuniting with his birth mother.
Living in their famous 10-bedroom home in Morecambe with their 22 children and 14 grandchildren, the Radfords are no strangers to the spotlight. But in the new series, viewers will witness a rare, intimate moment: Noel meeting his biological mum for the first time in 54 years.
Noel, who was adopted at just 10 days old, sought the help of an adoption expert and successfully located his birth mother. The reunion, he said, was “emotional” and lasted a couple of hours. “She was lovely,” he shared. “She told me she had no choice at 17 but to give me up, and had always hoped I’d come looking for her.”
However, despite the heartfelt meeting, Noel made it clear that he doesn’t wish to pursue a relationship with her. “I’m glad I met her. But that’s it. My adoptive parents are my true mum and dad.”
His wife Sue, who was also adopted as a child, feels very differently. She confessed, “For me, my mum and dad are my mum and dad. I’ve never wanted to find my birth mum.” The loss of their son Alfie in 2014 solidified her stance. “When you lose a child, you don’t get the option to give it up. That made my mind up. We’ve got our lovely kids and that’s all we need.”
Sue described their disagreement as an “emotional clash”, but not a hurtful one. Noel echoed the sentiment, saying: “We just have different views, and that’s completely okay.”
In 2024, the couple paid tribute to their stillborn son Alfie with a touching Instagram post showing his birth certificate, captioned: “Received Alfie’s birth certificate yesterday. This is going to be framed. So precious,” accompanied by blue hearts.
Despite their differing views on reconnecting with biological parents, the Radfords remain united in their devotion to family – the one they’ve built, and the one that matters most to them now.
