How Noel and Sue Radford keep the romance alive after 28 years of marriage & 22 kids – with date nights & lavish gifts
BEING parents to 22 kids naturally means that Sue and Noel Radford don’t often get alone time together.
But even after 28 years of marriage and a very busy household, the hardworking parents from Morecambe, Lancashire manage to keep the romance alive.
Sue, now 45, fell pregnant with first child Chris when she was 14 in 1989 - with the couple marrying in 1992.
The couple went on to have another 21 children, with Sue admitting she's spent around 16-and-a-half years being pregnant.
But between looking after the bumper brood and running the popular pie business, the loved-up couple still manage to find time for each other.
Here, we take a look at the happy couple's secrets.
Date Night
Every now and again, the busy parents manage to sneak away from the kids for a bit of peace and quiet.
Just recently, Noel and Sue treated themselves to a date night at the Midland Hotel near their home in Morecambe, Lancashire where they sipped on cocktails and tucked into a tasty meal.
They joked on their Instagram page: "Oh my goodness it’s been far too long whooo we are out out and yes these are all ours."
Later adding: "Date night," as fans of the super family joked that baby number 23 might be on the way - but Sue is adamant she won't have another.
The couple even manage to carve out some alone time while the kids have gone to bed with Sue and Noel enjoying some couple time in their backyard hot tub.
Last summer, the couple shared a snap on their Instagram stories as they soaked away the day in their hot tub while taking some time for themselves.
Valentine's Day
The most romantic day of the year often has loved up couples pulling out all the stops to show their love and admiration for their significant other.
And it seems the Radford parents are no different as they have a strict ‘no kids allowed’ policy when it comes to February 14.
Last year, the couple were lucky enough to head out for dinner before the pandemic hit, enjoying a slap up chicken dinner before heading to Kaspas for a chocolate waffle pud.
And this year, despite being stuck at home thanks to lockdown, the couple enjoyed a glass of prosecco each while tucking into a savoury and sweet grazing board.
Noel had also wooed his childhood sweetheart with an enormous bunch of Valentine’s Day flowers in pink and red hues.
But it seems the couple are determined to keep Valentine’s Day to a two-person celebration, even when they’re on holiday with their bumper brood.
The family headed to Florida for a family holiday back in 2019, and on February 14 Sue and Noel broke away from the pack.
Noel wined and dined his wife at local bar Miller’s Ale House, with a “lucky” Sue sharing a sweet selfie of them both.
And it seems that the dad-of-22 is always sure to treat his wife wherever they are, previously paying for Sue’s trip to the salon as well as a huge bouquet of flowers.
“Hubby treat me to the hairdressers this morning and now these (sic)” Sue wrote back in 2015, sharing a snap of the gorgeous blooms she had received.
Expensive gifts on special occasions
You'd think after 28 years that celebrating your wedding anniversary would have lost all meaning - but not for Noel and Sue who still mark the occasion each year.
Last year, the doting husband treated Sue to a cake and balloons on their 28th wedding anniversary, which they shared on YouTube.
He surprised his wife by filling their living room with pink balloons for their special day.
And despite the fact they agreed not to get each other presents for their 28th anniversary, Noel surprised her AGAIN by treating her to a £570 Tissot watch.
What's more, Sue took to Instagram yesterday to share the surprise gift Noel had picked out for her - designer clothes from Ralph Lauren.
She shared a snap of the package on her stories showing a cream sweater and at least one other item, captioning the shot: "Lovely surprise from @noelradford."
Proving he's one for surprises, Noel also gifted his wife with a luxury £30k car for her 46th birthday this month which had her gushing over her "amazing hubby."
Sue shared snaps of the black car, which cost upwards of £30,000, as it was picked up to take home to their 10-bed Morecambe home.
The excited mum wrote on Instagram: “Happy birthday to me. I’m so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing hubby who works so hard for us all. I love you @noelradford.”
Mother's Day
This is the one day of the year we get to celebrate how great mums really are - and all the work they do which often goes unnoticed.
And Noel certainly makes his appreciation for his wife known on Mother's Day each year, and helps the kids shower their mum with love and gifts.
Speaking to in 2015, proud dad Noel opened up about what Mother's Day is like in Britain's biggest family.
Explaining how the younger children get "very excited" in the run-up to the special day, the dad said they'll spend the Saturday before making homemade cards.
He added: "Then on Sunday morning it’ll be breakfast in bed for her – made by the kids. There’ll be presents – chocolates and flowers."
And it seems as though this is a yearly tradition for the Radfords - as on Mother's Day in 2019 too.
Last April, Noel and Sue welcomed their 22nd child Heidie who is just five months older than their granddaughter Ophelia - so it seems her time as a full-time mum is far from over.
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For more stories on The Radfords, Sue Radford revealed she’s spent £25k on prams for her bumper brood as the family prepares to welcome ANOTHER baby.
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And Sue Radford revealed the truth about baby Heidie’s name and how Noel made embarrassing blunder on birth certificate.
Plus Millie Radford showed off her ‘post pregnancy glow-up’ after describing herself as ‘fat & swollen’ on 22 Kids & Counting.