Sue Radford has confirmed that her eldest daughter Sophie Radford has separated from husband Joe Bradley after a decade together — revealing that while their marriage has ended, the couple remain united in co-parenting their three children.
Opening up ahead of the return of Channel 5’s 22 Kids & Counting, Sue, 50, spoke candidly about the emotional family decision, explaining that the split had been “brewing for a while” before Sophie finally chose to step away.
“Sadly, a lot of marriages do break down, and you can’t fix them,” Sue said. “They aren’t together anymore, but they are making it work with their three children.”
The upcoming series will mark the first time Sophie and her parents publicly address the separation on camera — a moment Sue admits wasn’t taken lightly. According to the mum of 22, her daughter reached a point where staying was no longer an option.
“Sophie couldn’t live like that anymore,” Sue revealed. “And she’s definitely a lot happier now.”
Husband Noel Radford also shared his thoughts, stressing that while Joe has been part of the family for many years, the priority now is peace and happiness for everyone involved — especially the children.
Asked whether Sophie might move on romantically, Sue said her daughter is in “no rush,” choosing instead to focus on adjusting to life as a single mum and finding a new routine. Still, she admitted she and Noel would love to see Sophie find love again when the time feels right.
“We’re really proud of Sophie for sharing this,” Sue added. “She wanted to show how she was feeling — and how she feels now.”
The revelation comes amid continued public fascination with the Radfords, known as Britain’s biggest family, who share 22 children and have documented their lives across multiple TV series, books and business ventures. While recent reports have spotlighted the family’s growing finances, Sue has insisted they are “not wealthy,” despite the success of their bakery business and television work.
For now, however, the focus remains firmly on family — and on a quiet but life-changing decision that signals a new chapter for Sophie, built on honesty, relief, and putting her children first. 
