EXCLUSIVE: Sue Radford says daughter Sophie's 10 year marriage is over and 'she's happier now'

Mum of Britain's biggest family - Sue Radford - shares a huge admission ahead of new series of 22 Kids & Counting

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Jackie Annett Features Writer

13:51, 29 Jan 2026Updated 14:10, 29 Jan 2026

[Sue and Noel Radford have the UK's largest family.]

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Sue and Noel Radford have the UK's largest family.

Mum-of-22 Sue Radford has confirmed that her eldest daughter Sophies 10 year marriage to husband Joe Bradley is over.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror ahead of a new series of the familys TV show 22 Kids & Counting on Sunday, she says: Sadly, a lot of marriages do break down and you cant fix them. They [Sophie and Joe] arent together anymore, but they are making it work with their three children.

Sue, 50, and her husband Noel, 51, are famous for their huge family, with children including 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.

Sundays episode of the show on 5 will focus on Sophies marriage split. Sue says: We are really proud of Sophie for sharing this on camera. She wanted to share how she was feeling and how she is feeling now.

It will be the first time Sue, Noel and Sophie have publicly confirmed its over, although mum-of-three Sophie fuelled speculation after writing that she was single on Instagram last May.

Refusing to confirm the split until now, she decided to use the family show as the platform to make things public. Watching her heartbreak was difficult for her parents, who only want her to be happy.

[Sophie Radford and Joseph Broadley]

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Sophie Radford and Joseph Broadley's 10 year marriage is over.(Image: Sophie Radford)

Sue says: Sadly, a lot of marriages do break down and you cant fix them. Some people do decide to go their own way. They [Sophie and Joe] arent together anymore, but they are making it work with their three children.

Sue and Noel, of Morecambe, Lancashire, realised something was wrong during a family holiday to Orlando, Florida, to celebrate her 50th last April.

Sue says: We realised it had been brewing for a while. Sophie couldnt live like that anymore. She is definitely a lot happier now. Noel adds: Weve known Joe for a long time and we want him to be happy as well.

[Sophie with her three children.]

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Sophie with her three children.(Image: sophierose1993/instagram)

Sue continues: Joe was around at Christmas with Sophie and the kids at ours. Joe will go round after school to help with the kids after he finishes work. He is very hands on, which is nice.

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Asked if they would like Sophie to meet another man, Noel replies: Yes. definitely. But when she is ready. She is in no rush and she is getting herself into a routine being a single mum.

Ruminating on their own happy marriage, Noel, who runs a pie company with Sue, jokes: Sue is lucky to have me!

*22 Kids & Counting returns to 5 on Sunday 1st Feb at 8pm. Watch/stream on 5.

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