Sue Radford has been slammed as ‘distasteful’ after Channel 5 aired an episode of 22 Kids and counting which teased she had early onset dementia.
The mother-of-22 from Morecambe, Lancashire, was seen behaving unusually secretively after she learned that one of her close friends had been diagnosed with the illness.
The first part of the show showed Sue, 49, and her husband, Noel, 54, becoming more and more distant as the typically outgoing Sue became more withdrawn. Noel, meanwhile, was seen growing increasingly worried about his wife.
After Noel discovered a leaflet for dementia in the family he feared the worst – but the latter part of the episode then revealed it wasn’t Sue who had been diagnosed.
Viewers slammed the episode as ‘distasteful’ episode of the show that ‘set up’ viewers to believe Sue Radford had a life-changing illness.
During the episode, Noel said: ‘I’m a bit worried about Sue, she’s been really quiet today which isn’t like her. She’s always like chatty, bubbly. Doesn’t seem the usual Sue. So I’m a little bit like ‘What’s going on?’
Desperate to find out the source of her concern, Noel arranged to go for a coffee date with his wife but she failed to make an appearance – which only exacerbated the father-of-22’s mounting worry.
Noel then enlisted the help of the couple’s daughter, Sophie, 31, who took Sue out for a trip to a beauty clinic in the hopes of cheering her up.
Viewers of 22 Kids and Counting have blasted a ‘distasteful’ episode of the show that ‘set up’ viewers to believe Sue Radford (pictured) had a life-changing illness
The first part of the show showed the couple becoming more and more distant as the typically outgoing Sue became more withdrawn. Noel, meanwhile, was seen growing increasingly worried about his wife (Sue and Noel Radford pictured)
Meanwhile, the pie master discovered a worrying leaflet about dementia in the family’s van.
Desperate to discover the source of his wife’s anguish, Noel asked her point blank: ‘What’s been going on?’
Sue then finally revealed that had been bothering her and exhaustively apologised to Noel.
‘I am sorry, it’s been awful. But now she’s told her family, I can tell you, so… she’s got early onset dementia,’ she confessed.
She then revealed the news that one of long-term friends had recently been diagnosed with early onset dementia.
The condition which causes people to lose their memory and cognitive function, is currently the leading cause of death in the UK.
More than 70,800 people in the country are thought to have early onset dementia.
While gutted to discover the news, Noel was relieved that it it wasn’t Sue who had been diagnosed – after worrying the leaflet had been for her.
Sue then finally revealed that had been bothering her and exhaustedly apologised to Noel
She then revealed the news that one of long-term friends had recently been diagnosed with early onset dementia
‘I knew there was something. I had all sorts of things going through my mind, thinking ‘Is it Sue? Something’s seriously wrong,’ he said.
Sue was heartbroken by the news and pointed out that her friend was only her age.
‘It’s really upset me, especially when she’s got youngish children as well. You don’t expect that, do you,’ she said.
‘You kind of think, don’t you, that it’s something you get when you’re maybe 70, 80 – it’s not something you think of in your late 40s, is it?
‘It’s knocked me for six. I feel like ‘Wow, that could happen to anybody, couldn’t it?’
Noel said the news was a reminder of ‘how fragile life is’.
After paying a visit to her friend, she said: ‘She’s very bubbly, a big personality and she’s not the sort of person who will let things get to her.
‘But you can tell that she’s worried about it.
While gutted to discover the news, Noel was relieved that it it wasn’t Sue who had been diagnosed – after worrying the leaflet had been for her
‘If you couldn’t remember, you know, like Heidi, Bonnie, Archie, whoever’s names, it’d just be heartbreaking.’
The grandmother-of-13 said the news was a ‘reality check’ that ‘you don’t know what’s round the corner.’
But viewers were quick to criticise the episode, branding it ‘staged’ and ‘distasteful’.
One wrote: ‘What a load of scripted nonsense, how can Sue just walk out and leave the children and Noel doesn’t seem to be at work.’
A second said: ‘Distasteful ….wanting to make people think Sue had dementia. Scripts need looking into.’
‘Wow the show is really setting this up as though Sue has dementia. She doesn’t. A family friend has early onset dementia,’ a third lamented.
Another wrote: ‘If it’s not all scripted then I think she’s out of order not just telling him she’s fine and it’s someone else. Poor guy must’ve been so worried! Have gone off her!’
But not everyone was so perturbed by the show. One wrote: ‘Stop with the negative comments you don’t like the programme don’t watch it simple.’
It comes after a recent episode of 22 Kids and Counting documented the birth of Katie Radford’s first child, Ronnie Hudson Carter, with her long term boyfriend, Connor Carter.
During last week’s episode, Sue Radford was left devastated after she ended up missing the birth of her 13th grandchild because her husband Noel had taken her on a surprise holiday just three weeks before their daughter’s due date.
But viewers were quick to criticise the episode, branding it ‘staged’ and ‘distasteful’
Katie Radford, 22, from Morecambe, Lancashire – the eighth eldest of Britain’s largest family – gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Ronnie Hudson Carter, in October of last year.
Despite the mother-to-be wanting her parents to be there for the birth, a booking blunder from Noel meant that the parents-of-22 ended up missing the arrival of their 13th grandchild – much to Sue’s disappointment.
Around the time of Katie’s pregnancy, Noel had decided to book a trip to Dubai with wife, Sue, to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary.
But when Noel shared the exciting plans with Sue, the two quickly realised the holiday would fall just three weeks before the birth of Katie’s son – a decision which resulted in the parents-of-22 missing the birth of their 13th grandchild.
Ronnie Hudson Carter was born on October 8, 2024, weighing 7lbs 11oz.
In a sweet Instagram announcement after the birth, Katie wrote: ‘Tuesday 8th October born at 5:03PM weighing 7:11 the day you changed our lives forever little man mummy and daddy love you so much RONNIE HUDSON CARTER.’
The young family were pictured looking exhausted but delighted, as they shared several adorable family pictures.
In one picture, Katie and Connor beamed as they shared a cuddle with their new son. Katie looked radiant as she smiled sweetly for the picture, her cheeks flushed and glowing after having given birth to Ronnie.
