Noel Radford, the father of Britain's largest family, has revealed he is searching for his birth parents. The 53-year-old, who was adopted as a child, has decided to trace his biological family with the support of his wife Sue, 49. The couple, from Morecambe, Lancashire, have 22 children together.
Noel, who regards his adoptive parents as his real mum and dad, started the process nine months ago. He admitted the search could be difficult, but said he is 'curious and nosey' to discover more. Sue, however, does not share his desire to find her own birth mother, describing it as a personal choice.
If the search is successful, Noel's birth parents would discover they have 22 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The couple, who run a bakery and have never relied on state handouts, have ruled out adopting again. Instead, they are looking forward to a new chapter as their youngest child, Heidie, four, starts school in September, giving them time alone for the first time in 30 years.
The upcoming series of their show 22 Kids and Counting will chart the pressures of family life. It will also feature the wedding of their daughter Millie to fiancé Harley Passmore, with the couple joking about costs. Another daughter, Katie, is expecting a boy in October, which will be their 11th grandchild.
Sue, who became pregnant with her first child at 14, said the secret to their 32-year marriage is hard work, adding that they are 'soulmates'. Noel insisted they remain grounded, saying: 'We're just Sue and Noel from Morecambe.'
