Radfords in turmoil as two family members refuse to speak to each other
For many of us, Christmas is a time when family squabbles are put aside as everyone comes together to enjoy a harmonious Turkey lunch. Or at least try to... But for Britain’s biggest family, the Radfords, it isn’t proving to be quite so easy as mum, Sue, reveals two of her 22 children have not been speaking for nearly 18 months - after Chloe, 28, and Luke, 23 fell out over a shelf of frozen pastry pies at the family’s bakery and an almighty argument erupted.
Only, rather than trying to calm the situation down, both, who openly admit they can be strong willed, wouldn’t back down. Fast forward to today and the pair are still at loggerheads. And now as Christmas Day beckons, down to earth Sue, 48, and husband, Noel, 52, have decided enough is enough. Tired of pleading with the feuding siblings, who were once so close, to patch up their differences, they have taken drastic action by inviting a trained intervention counsellor into their 10-bedroom family home in Morecambe in the hope of finally getting them back on speaking terms.
Sue Radford reveals two of her 22 kids have not spoken for 18 months“To see them not speaking has been really, really hard,” admits Sue in an exclusive interview. “Especially as when we look back over the years and see how close Luke and Chloe were. But they are both very strong willed and stubborn.” "The longer it goes on, the harder it gets,” adds Noel. “There has been no backing down first. It’s not nice to see them not talking to each other.”
Their feud is one of this year’s big stories in the family’s Christmas Channel 5 special of their hit ’22 Kids and Counting’ programme airing this Sunday (Dec 17). For Sue and Noel, everyone speaking is the only present they want this Christmas as they prepare for a mammoth Turkey dinner.
Married for more than 30 years, they are parents to Chris, 34, Sophie, 29, Chloe, 28, Jack, 26, Daniel, 24, Luke, 23, Millie, 22, Katie, 21, James, 20, Ellie, 18, Aimee, 17, Josh, 16, Max, 14, Tillie, 13, Oscar, 12, Casper, 11, Hallie, eight, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, Five and Heidie, three. Sadly, the couple’s 17th child, Alfie, was stillborn on July 6, 2014.
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Given they have so many mouths to feed and presents to buy for, it’s no surprise to discover Sue starts planning for the big day two months early on October 23rd – the day after the birthday of their 15th child, Oscar. “We have a lot of birthdays in October, “she explains. “And so, I usually wait until the last birthday in October which is the 22nd, and then it is a mad rush to get everything organised after then.”
One of the big jobs on her ‘to do’ list is the Christmas Day food shop that costs the family just under £500. During the day, they will get through two turkeys, 60 pigs in blankets, 3 kg of Brussel sprouts, 7.5kg of potatoes, 4kg carrots, and 60 Yorkshire puddings during the Christmas roast alone. It will then be washed down by 16 litres of fizzy drink, two bottles of cream liqueur, four Christmas puddings, 48 mince pies and one yule log as well as two tubs of family chocolates.
Sue Radford said she was forced to call on the help of a counsellor to fix family feud (@theradfordfamily/Instagram)
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford begs for wine after day out with kids following 'meltdowns' (theradfordfamily)Yet it’s the organisation of the gift buying for their 22 children and ten grandchildren that is easily the most taxing. Says Sue: “As you can imagine, organising gifts for so many children is a real task in itself when you have the food shopping as well and you feel there are not enough hours in the day. But I try to do a block for one set of children, and then the next and the next, otherwise it would get crazy.”
Rather than using spreadsheets to make sure nobody is forgotten, Sue reveals she resorts to a more festive approach – by building a Christmas grotto in the family home. Each of the children are then invited to write down on a blackboard what is on their wish list for Santa. “I’d definitely recommend a blackboard,” she chuckles. “It’s been amazing and the kids have loved coming in saying what they wanted for Santa.”
Given some of their children are now parents of their own whilst others, like youngest Heidie are still only three, are presents ever recycled? “We probably wouldn’t get away with that,” Sue replies, smiling as she does. “But they are very thankful for what they get. And none of them have said ‘I don’t know why I’ve got this’.”
Like many of us, the cost-of-living crisis has also added extra pressure on the family. Their weekly food bills have shot up by £100 a week, adding more than £5k to their annual household bills. Yet despite this, they are determined to make sure the children receive some gifts without their budget going through the roof. Black Friday deals have, Noel admits, proved a godsend this year.
“We are on first name names with the Amazon man,” he jokes whilst Sue adds: “Black Friday deals have saved us a lot.” Traditionally, they have spent up to £250 per child but whereas in the past, this has gone a long way, the price hikes mean they don’t get as much for their money now. This year, like last, the couple explain they’ve still decided to keep up their Christmas Eve tradition of presenting each child with a pair of new festive pyjamas and some extra treats including chocolates.
But they’ve now also opted for fewer presents in favour of ‘making family memories’ by going on holiday. Says Sue: “Instead of getting them presents they don’t really need; we’ve decided to get one main and a few little ones and a holiday to make memories. We went to Disneyland Paris and we’ve got something new planned.”
Another tradition they are keen to instil is playing board games. Over the years, they say traditional favourites like Monopoly have been cast aside on the Christmas wish lists for ‘anything with a screen”. “Nobody asks for Monopoly anymore,” says Noel. “They always ask for something with a screen that they can look at!”
“But we do make a point of getting them some games,” stresses Sue. “As it is good to get them off their gadgets!” Once the food and presents are organised, there is then the mammoth challenge of wrapping everything up. For Sue, it’s a task she readily admits she doesn’t particularly look forward to. “The wrapping takes forever,” she adds. “It’s so time consuming but I try to get it done when they are at school. I am so thankful when it’s finished!”
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Not that the couple – who have never claimed benefits - ever complain. Proud of each child, Noel plans to close their family bakery this year for nine days over the festive period to spend quality time together. “And put batteries in new toys,” he jokes. So what is Christmas Day like itself at the Radfords? Amazingly given some of their children are still young, they rise relatively late at around 7am for present opening. Lunch preparation starts in earnest around 11am before they all settle down to tuck into the meal between 3 and 4pm. “But we do always prepare the vegetables the night before as it makes it a lot easier,” stresses Sue.
“It is harmonious. The older kids will sit with the younger ones whilst they open theirs, then the older ones will open their presents. “After lunch, we will watch a bit of telly or get the Monopoly out.” As well as praying Luke and Chloe will finally end their 18-month feud for Christmas Day, Noel and Sue reveal they also want to cherish every moment with one of their sons, Daniel, who is moving to Australia next year. How do they feel about him moving to the other side of the world? Both insist they are happy.
“It’s far and obviously we can’t go and visit him at a weekend,” says Noel. “But we know he will be fine. We can speak to him on Zoom and the older kids can go and have a holiday there. He ain’t going to get rid of us!” And despite the immense organisational challenge in the run-up to Christmas, the couple wouldn’t change a thing. “I am very proud of what we have built up,” Sue adds, smiling. “When everyone is together at Christmas, you take a step back and think ‘wow’. It’s crazy, magical and we wouldn’t swap it for anything….”
The Radfords ’22 and Counting Christmas special will air on Channel 5 on Sunday 17th December at 8pm.
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