Sue Radford has revealed that her eldest daughter, Sophie, has separated from her husband Joe Bradley after ten years of marriage — confirming that while the couple are no longer together, they are committed to co-parenting their three children.
The TV personality, 50, who shares 22 children with husband Noel Radford, 55, opened up about the family split while speaking ahead of a new series of 22 Kids & Counting.
Although the news marks the end of Sophie and Joe’s relationship, Sue stressed that the pair are focused on making things work for the sake of their children.
Speaking to The Mirror, Sue said:
“Sadly, a lot of marriages do break down, and you can’t fix them.
“They aren’t together anymore, but they are making it work with their three children.”
The upcoming episode of the Channel 5 show will centre on Sophie’s separation, marking the first time both she and her parents publicly confirm that the marriage has ended.
Sue explained that the breakdown had been building for some time, adding that her daughter has since found a sense of relief.
“We realised it had been brewing for a while,” she said.
“Sophie couldn’t live like that anymore. She is definitely a lot happier now.”
Her husband Noel also spoke about the situation, saying that while the family has known Joe for many years, they want happiness for everyone involved.
When asked whether Sophie might move on with someone new, Sue said her daughter is in “no rush” and is currently focused on settling into a new routine as a single mother.
However, she admitted that she and Noel would like to see Sophie find love again when the time feels right.
Sue added that she and Noel were proud of Sophie for choosing to share such a personal chapter of her life on camera.
“We are really proud of Sophie for sharing this,” she said.
“She wanted to show how she was feeling — and how she feels now.”
The revelation comes amid continued public interest in the Radford family, who are known as Britain’s biggest family and parents to 22 children: Chris, 36, Sophie, 32, Chloe, 30, Jack, 28, Daniel, 26, Luke, 25, Millie, 24, Katie, 23, James, 22, Ellie, 20, Aimee, 19, Josh, 18, Max, 17, Tillie, 15, Oscar, 14, Casper, 13, Hallie, 10, Phoebe, nine, Archie, eight, Bonnie, seven, and Heidie, five. The couple’s 17th child, Alfie, was tragically stillborn in 2014.
Elsewhere in the interview, Sue also addressed recent attention surrounding the family’s finances, after reports suggested the Radfords had significantly increased their wealth through a range of ventures.
According to The Sun, Sue and Noel’s net worth stood at £975,000 as of February 2025, following a period of rapid growth across their businesses.
The Lancashire-based family have earned income through six seasons of 22 Kids & Counting, book deals, social media partnerships, brand collaborations, and their bakery business, Radford’s Pie Company.
Although fans have previously accused the family of living lavishly — including claims they spent £7,000 on Christmas alone — Sue and Noel have insisted they are “not wealthy.”
However, Companies House documents reveal that the family’s company, TRF21 Limited, saw its capital and reserves increase by 493 per cent in 2024.
Radford’s Pie Company also reported a 177 per cent rise in value during the same financial year.
Despite the headlines, Sue has previously said she dislikes being labelled an “influencer,” though the family’s online presence remains a key part of their income.
