Fans of 22 Kids and Counting were left in tears this week as Noel Radford finally reunited with his birth mother, whom he’d not seen in over 54 years.
The 54-year-old, who shares 22 children with his wife Sue, 50, announced he had begun to search for his birth mother after being given up for adoption at just 10 days old back in 1971, but explained his time was running out.
After enlisting the help of adoption professionals, fans finally witnessed the life-changing moment Radford was reunited with his mum, a reunion the pair had always dreamed of.
The father-of-22 struggled to hold back tears as he immediately rushed to his birth mother’s side when she walked through the door to meet him, pulling her into a tender hug.
Fans flocked to social media to express an outpour of love and emotion at the family reunion.
“I was crying watching this episode, so glad that you have been reunited though” one user wrote. Another added: “This was so emotional. Really felt for Noel. So glad it all worked out for you”
A third emotionally penned: “Noel is such a lovely man he has such a good soul I’m so happy he’s got this closer it always felt no matter what the whole couldn’t be filled and now it has.
“He’s such a great dad and grandad he deserves it so much”
Fan reactions continued to pour in on X, with one user writing: “Cried at this episode Noel is such a sweetheart as is Sue”
“I’m so happy for Noel and his birth mom. Finally, they can catch up!” another wrote.
The reality star also dropped the bombshell that his mother has 22 grandchildren.
“This is the mum to all our kids”, he tentatively says, motioning to Sue, “We’ve got quite a lot… we’ve got 22!”
It took three years of searching for his birth mother before Noel decided to seek the help of an adoption specialist in hopes of finally being reunited with her.
What some fans may not realise is that both Sue and Noel were adopted as children, however, the family matriarch has expressed she has no desire to find her birth parents.
The couple met as teenagers and welcomed their first child when Sue was just 14 years old, and Noel was 18.
They married in 1993.
Noel had previously opened up about his childhood during a counselling session, saying: “I think I was about seven or eight years old when my mum and dad told me I was adopted.
“I remember going to school the next day saying ‘I’m adopted, I’m special’.
“I guess the older you get, the more curious you get, and the other thing is, the clock’s ticking. I’m not getting any younger and she won’t be getting any younger.
“I can’t leave it another 10 years or so and then find out that she’s died, then have regrets for not doing it.”
The family opened up their home to fans in 2015, after starring in the Channel 4 reality show 15 Kids And Counting, before following up with 16 Kids And Counting, and so on.
Channel 5’s 22 Kids And Counting is the latest series, which first aired in 2023.
