The second episode of 22 KIDS and Counting aired tonight and all the viewers were saying the same thing about a confession Noel Radford made.
The Radfords, who shot to fame in 2021 when their reality show aired on Channel 5, have opened their ten-bedroom home to fans of the fifth series.
Tonight’s episode saw Noel, 54, a 22-year-old father, strip off to sunbathe amid a ‘mid-life crisis’ where he lamented losing his lifelong dream of being a truck driver in sunny Australia.
The father, whose family lives in a huge ten-bedroom mansion, confessed that he feels as if his “wings are clipped”.
”Seeing my friends having fun is a real wake-up call. If I wait until all my children have flown the nestI’ll be too old to do the things I want to do.
”It seems selfish, doesn’t it? But yeah, maybe I need to find some time for myself.”
Channel 5 viewers were quick to comment on Noel’s confession, with one saying: “No, sorry Noel, you CHOSE to keep playing so you need to give your younger children the same commitment you gave their older siblings.
“You can’t just run away and run away because suddenly you realize you’re getting old.”
Another added: “I have to feel a little bit for Sue watching #22KidsandCounting every series is about Noel and his dreams and his goals etc. and it’s like she’s forgotten… and her dreams… and her goals?”
A third commented: “What’s with Noel feeling sorry for himself all of a sudden?”
The episode saw the pie master go on a hike with other parents in the same age group.
But unlike busy couple Sue and Noel, their colleagues have already made their children leave the house, leaving them with all the time in the world.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for Noel who admitted that for them “it’s always been work and family, that’s it”.
After a heart-to-heart with Sue, 49, Noel announced he would be stepping down as baking guru and working just two days a week, leaving his children, Chloe and Luke, in charge.
The conversation must have been so exciting that the pie guru even tried to convince the matriarch to get a property down there.
Sue, however, was not at all pleased, completely surprised by her husband’s sudden change in behavior.
Talking to the camera, she said: “Noel has never changed much since I met him. He is definitely a family man.
”He loves to work hard and loves to support us all. He has been a rock for me and the kids. My Mr. Reliable.”
Although Sue knew it’s normal to change your outlook on life as you age, the 49-year-old confessed she was worried about the onset of a “midlife crisis” for her beloved husband.
”’Maybe he wants a fancy sports car or something,” she wondered.
Despite his efforts, Noel’s plan to relocate the brood to Australia for a while didn’t necessarily win Sue’s heart – however, he did come up with an alternative, Dubai.
After embarking for the tourist and influencer spot, the couple in love enjoyed a series of fun activities, such as sandboarding and water slides.
The 53-year-old revealed he was “sold” on the idea – and even the matriarch was starting to “come around to the idea”.
“The distance from family isn’t really ideal, is it?” he said.
”But let’s not have that lifestyle in Morecambe, Lancashire, will we.”
How does the Radfords’ 22-year-old family manage to live?
As Britain’s biggest family, it’s no surprise that Sue and Noel Radford have hefty bills.
Between them, they have 22 children and seven dogs, which often makes some people wonder how they manage their money.
The Radfords support themselves with profits from Noel’s bakery, The Radford Pie Company, which is close to their home.
In yours websitesays: “We’ve owned our own bakery since 1999, which is how we’ve managed to support (and feed) our huge and growing family, as well as the local people of Heysham and Morecambe.”
The family expanded their business to fulfill online orders placed across the UK.
The business is a family affair, with Noel at the helm and some of his children helping out.
Older children, who work at least part time, do not get free rides because they are required to pay a small amount of rent to their parents.
“We, the older ones, pay for some food. Granted, it’s not much, but I’m also trying to save up to buy my own house at the moment.” his daughter Chloe said in a video on Youtube channel.
Sue added: “We’ve always said if you want to buy somewhere, renting is dead money, so we’d rather you save that money and stay at home a little longer.
“I also believe they should pay the pension if they are earning. We were always taught by our parents that we had to pay child support.”
Noel and Sue famously do not rely on benefits for their abundant brood and live off their pie shop for income.
They also revealed that they make money from brand partnerships on social media.
The Radford family star in their own reality show 22 Kids and Counting – which has now run for four series.
Brand expert Andy Barr believes Noel and Sue were paid less than £10,000 for each show.
He told the Daily Mail: “The typical fee per episode will be in the thousands, rather than the tens or hundreds of thousands that people often think is the case with TV shows of this nature.
“If they continue to be contracted for a fourth or fifth season, then they can charge a higher fee.”
He estimates the Radfords earn £5,000 per episode.
By the end of the episode, Noel appeared to have had a change of heart and seemed happy with his family life in Morecambe.
In the next scenes, viewers will see Santa Claus delving into his biological family historydaughter Millie dropping a meaningful personal message Newsand young Casper was heartbroken when his dream of becoming a professional football player was shattered.
Sue and Noel are parents to Chris, 35, Sophie, 30, Chloe, 28, Jack, 27, Daniel, 25, Luke, 23, Millie, 22, Katie, 21, James, 20, Ellie, 19, Aimee, 18, Josh, 16, Max, 15, Tillie, 14, Oscar, 12, Casper, 11, Hallie, nine, Phoebe, seven, Archie, six, Bonnie, five and Heidie, four.
Unfortunately, the couple’s 17th child, Alfie, was born on July 6, 2014.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story