Sue and Noel certainly have their work cut out with 17 mouths to feed
YOU’D think you’d have it tough trying to raise a couple of kids - the constant bickering, untidiness, requests for food, drinks and money. Imagine what it must be like to raise 17 children? It defies logic!
But that’s exactly what Sue and Noel Radford from Morcambe are doing in Channel 4’s programme, 17 Kids and Counting. And what’s even more amazing is they manage to make it look quite easy!!
The Radfords are Britain’s biggest family. Sue has had a baby every 17 months for the past 24 years and still manages to have a smile on her face! They live in a 10 bedroomed house and Noel runs the family bakery which I suspect is something of a safe haven for a man with that many kids.
The house is run with military precision with the older kids looking after the smaller ones and helping out with the housework. Their grocery shopping alone could feed a small country. 16 pints of milk, 18 yoghurts, 3 sliced pans and 2 large boxes of cereal is what they consume every 24 hours. And that’s probably just breakfast!
‘ They’re going to stop having babies when mum turns 40,’ remarked 18 year old Chloe the second eldest. Then she adds, ‘Mind you they said they were only going to have three kids!’
This family don’t claim any state benefits except for child benefit which they are fully entitled to so you could never accuse them of being scroungers. But the one thing that becomes glaringly apparent is their sense of closeness, their loyalty to one another, despite the minor tiffs and tantrums. This family genuinely love each other and would do anything for each other. That alone must be reward enough for Sue and Noel. Not enough to tempt me to have 17 though!
I honestly can’t even look at Simon Cowell anymore without cringing. Whatever he has done to his face has rendered him immobile, unable to perform the most basic facial expressions and has left him looking like a chipmunk after smoking dope! Not that I really know what a chipmunk looks like after smoking dope but you get my drift.
Unfortunately he has every reason to look smug and self satisfied as he has without doubt got this year’s winner of The X
Factor. With the three finalists revealed on Sunday night - Fleur East, Andrea Faustini and Ben Haenow, it is pretty flippin’ obvious that Fleur is going to take the crown.
Her second song on Saturday night, Uptown Funk, a new release by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson sealed her fate. Most of us had never heard it before but it could have been made for her and although it kills me to say it, it was a genius move on Cowell’s part.
As for Mel B and Cheryl Whatserface all I can say, is did their mother’s never tell them that their bosoms were supposed to go inside their dresses and not outside? Honest to God! Talk about looking for attention! Mel B couldn’t stand up in her dress and spent the entire night trying to make sure her left nipple didn’t pop out. Meanwhile Cheryl sat statue like in her chair, giving Simon a much welcome eyeful of her boobies.
And this is where the X Factor has gone wrong in recent times. It has become more about the Judges and less about the contestants. Who cares if Mel and Cheryl have fallen out, or Simon has declared his undying love for Cheryl. I AM NOT INTERESTED! And either are the falling numbers of viewers who tune in every week. Either give us a talent contest or do a reality show about the judges! And speaking of reality TV Shows, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out
of Here remains my absolute favourite reality tv show EVER. There are so many elements to it to keep you entertained - and most importantly it IS all about the contestants. And they don’t have it easy in there. For three weeks if they stay till the final they’re practically starved, forced to take part in terrifying, cruel and humiliating trials and surrounded by also sorts of horrific creatures and that’s just the other contestants!
And the thing about it is, when you’re dumped in a jungle with none of your usual celebrity paraphernalia to hide behind, all you can do is be yourself. That is the beauty of I’m a Celeb. Your celebrity facade and your fake armour is stripped away leaving you exposed and vulnerable.
It was hard to call it this year as there was a brilliant cast. Who will forget Edwina Curry talking about losing her virginity?! Or former Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson being called the smelliest campmate ever! Any of the three finalists - Melanie Sykes, Jake Quikenden and Carl Foggy Fogarty were worthy winners but in the end the Jungle Crown went to Foggy who burst into tears and dropped to his knees when the results were revealed. He described it as the best thing that ever happened to him. Bless!
ONES TO WATCH
My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas: Tinsel and Tiaras, Tuesday, 9 pm, Channel 4
You have to watch this if you’re up for a laugh because it’s guaranteed to be hysterical! The Big Fat Gypsy brand returns with a Christmas Special packed with weddings, fun and festive spirit. From the bride-to-be planning her own spectacular Christmas themed wedding to the Irish traveller family heading back to Ireland and the young entrepreneur planning a gypsy-only Christmas party. Nobody does Christmas bling quite like the travelling community!
Home from Home, Wednesday, 9 pm TV3
In this, the second episode of the series, we meet the charismatic residents of Glenaulin Nursing Home. One of 84 residents, Frank Coleman was first introduced to the Chapelizod home when his wife of 68 years, Mary moved there after developing dementia. It proved a tough time for Frank as he was lonely living alone but visiting Mary every day, eased his pain. Along with meeting residents, the staff also express their views on their experience of working in a modern nursing care facility. Mary Berry’s Absolute Christmas Favourites, Friday, BBC 2 8.30 pm
I LOVE Mary Berry and who better to give us tips on cooking up the perfect Christmas feast. Our host, it turns out is hopeless at chopping vegetables but that is probably her one and only fault! In this programme Mary gives us tips on cooking dishes that can be prepared in advance such as Beef Casserole, Fish pie and a fruit crumble tart. All normal, ordinary, traditional fare, nom nom!