This Morning Couple Expecting 14th Child Reveal Staggering Family Costs
Viewers of ITV's This Morning were left astonished as a couple expecting their fourteenth child candidly discussed the extraordinary financial and logistical realities of their supersized family. Natalie and Oliver Jackson, already parents to thirteen children, appeared on the April 14th edition of the popular daytime show, speaking with hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley about their remarkable journey.
A Journey of Miracles and Medical Challenges
Natalie first became pregnant with their eldest child, Elliott, in 2005 and has been pregnant nearly every year since. However, the path to parenthood was far from straightforward. Oliver revealed a significant medical hurdle, explaining, 'Back in 2004, I was diagnosed with stage three testicular cancer. Following the operation and chemotherapy, my fertility was assessed, and I was deemed subfertile.'
This diagnosis led the couple to initially explore IVF, believing it was their only route to starting a family. 'Then, Natalie called me one day at work and said you need to come home and presented me with a pregnancy test. We've kind of not stopped since,' Oliver recounted. Natalie described their children as 'miracles,' emphasising, 'We feel blessed, we don't feel that it's a chore, we don't feel that it's a negative. We just feel very, very lucky.'
Financial Realities and Family Logistics
The conversation delved into the practical aspects of managing such a large household. Regarding finances, Natalie stated, 'Thankfully, Oliver's in a quite well-paid job, so we just have to budget and stretch it to cover.' She added with humour, 'We don't have a choice, you can't send them back.'
Further details emerged about their living situation. The family resides in military accommodation, providing a suitably large house. Notably, six of their eldest children attend a military boarding school, which Natalie described as 'very helpful.' She also clarified their financial position in a previous interview, noting, 'We earn over the £60k child benefit threshold and pay 40% tax.' In a surprising twist, Oliver disclosed that he had a vasectomy around the time of their tenth child, but it was unsuccessful, leading to four subsequent pregnancies.
Viewer Reactions and Social Media Storm
The segment provoked a flurry of reactions on social media, with viewers expressing a mix of shock, criticism, and bewilderment.
- One viewer commented on X, 'Just because you can doesn’t mean you should #ThisMorning.'
- Another questioned, '#ThisMorning two child benefit cap... have a vasectomy or use protection. Unless he’s earning thousands, how can they afford it?'
- A third stated bluntly, 'B****y ridiculous! Who the hell needs that many kids #thismorning.'
- Others made humorous comparisons, with one remarking, 'Vontrap family ain't got a look in #thismorning,' and another quipping, 'Imagine waiting behind them at the airport. #thismorning.'
The episode also featured a separate segment with Sonal Keay, who discussed her severe allergy to sunlight, a condition known as Chronic Actinic Dermatitis. This highlighted the diverse range of personal stories featured on the programme.
This Morning continues to air weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX, showcasing a variety of human interest stories that captivate and sometimes polarise its audience.
