
A mother of 21 children shocked TV viewers when it was revealed that she was just 13 when she became pregnant to the man who is now her husband, who was 18 at the time.

Sue and Noel Radford first shot to fame in 2008, when it emerged the baker and his wife were set to have a 'baker's dozen' of children, 13.

Since then, Mrs Radford has given birth to eight more children, the birth of the latest of which was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, 21 Kids and Counting, which was aired last night.

But while viewers applauded the couple for their hard work and congratulated them on their latest addition, one revelation that emerged in the show provoked comment.

The narrator of the documentary revealed that now-42-year-old Mrs Radford first became pregnant '29 years ago', which viewers worked out would have made her just 13. Her husband Noel would have been 18 when the baby was born.

One viewer Nina Marshall complemented the couple's 'lovely' children, but said the situation around the birth of their first child was 'weird'. She said: 'They are lovely kids but I can't help but feel a bit weird about the fact when he was 18 he got a 13 year old pregnant.'

Sue and Noel Radford, the parents of 21 children, appeared in a Channel 4 documentary last night. But viewers were shocked when it was revealed that Mrs Radford first became pregnant aged just 13. Pictured: The family in May

The couple, pictured on last night's show, have said they met as children and married as soon as they could after the first birth

The documentary showed the couple bringing home their latest addition to the family, to the delight of the other children

Another viewer, Paige O'Neill, said: 'I can't get over the fact that an 18 year old got a 13 year old girl pregnant, I mean that's a crime!'

A history of the Radford family December 24, 1970: Noel Radford was born March 22, 1975: Sue Radford was born 1982: The couple met for the first time when Sue was seven 1989: They welcomed their first child Chris 1993 The couple got married, and their second child Sophie was born. Children followed in quick succession ever since. August 2012: Their first grandchild was born after Sophie gave birth to Daisy July 2014 Son Alfie was stillborn October 2014: Sophie gave birth to her second child, Ayprll August 2015: Sophie married Joe Broadley December 2015: Sophie gave birth to her third child Leo Thomas June 2017: First child Chris welcomes a daughter, Maisie November 2018: Sue gives birth to her 21st baby Advertisement

A viewer called Rebecca added: 'So he first got her pregnant when she was 13 and he was 17/18? Disgusting. Also, no way his pie shop can fund all that'.

Another exclaimed: 'Did he really have a kid with her when she was a child!?#21kidsandcounting.'

The couple have previously said they were determined to keep their first child, Chris, because they had both been adopted at birth. They were married four years after his birth in 1989, and moved into together. Their second child, Sophie, was born when Mrs Radford was 17.

The age of consent for sexual activity in the UK is 16. In England and Wales, the age of sexual consent for women has been set at 16 since 1885, after campaigners fought to raise it from 13 to prevent child prostitution.

The law says it is an offence for anyone to have any sexual activity with a person under the age of 16.

However, Home Office guidance is clear that there is no intention to prosecute teenagers under the age of 16 where both mutually agree and where they are of a similar age.

In last night's programme, the couple children told how they were shocked at the revelation of the latest pregnancy, with the youngsters appearing on camera to state that they hadn't believed their mother when she had first revealed the news.

Daughter Chloe, joked that 'she had obviously stopped taking her contraception', while son James, aged 15 said he had always wondered what went through his parents' minds and said they 'didn't know when to stop'.

The show highlighted the financial plight the family is set to face with another child on the way and showed Mr Radford working in the pie shop that he runs with the help from his daughter Chloe.

Social media users pointed out that Sue Radford first became pregnant when she was 13

The fact that Noel, then her boyfriend and now her husband, was 18 at the time also raised eyebrows

The TV special provoked comment on Twitter both in favour and critical of the outsized family

Mrs Radford and her husband Noel, 47 (pictured), had their first child, Chris, 28 years ago, when Sue was aged only 14. Also pictured are Archie and Oscar

Taking to Instagram, Mrs Radford released a scan of her new baby back in May, expressing her delight

The family featured on the Channel 4 show on January 3. Back row left to right: father Noel Radford, Chloe and Chris, Daniel, Katie, Josh, Archie, Millie and Jack. Second row left to right: Sophie, James, Luke, Casper and Mother Sue holding Bonnie. Third row left to right: Ellie with Hallie on her lap, Aimee and Phoebe. Front row left to right: Tillie, Max and Oscar

However some viewers took to social media to stress the 'burden' they were putting on public services.

One view said: 'I don't get what's inspiring about this family. Pregnant at 13 by an 18yo, continue to breed without a card to the burden they're putting on the environment or public services. No admiration from me. #21kidsandcounting.'

However Mr Radford stressed that the family were not on benefits and that most people just assumed that they were and that the rest of society was 'paying for them'.

Just last year Mrs Radford spoke to This Morning hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford about her easy labour with her last child.

Speaking on the This Morning sofa she said: 'She was very quick she was not hanging around – I think they've got my labour down to about 12 minutes.

'I said definitely no more last time. I think we just love having a big family. Welcoming a newborn into our life. If it's an addiction we're giving it up. We'll always have lots of grandchildren.'

Back row 1. Luke; 2. Chloe; 3. Millie; 4. Katie; 5. Chris; 6. Sophie; 7.Hallie (in her big sister Millie’s arms). Middle row, left to right: 8. Daniel; 9. Ellie; 10. Phoebe (in Dad Noel’s arms); 11. Archie (cuddled by Mum Sue); 12. Josh; 13. Jack. Front row, left to right: 14. Aimee; 15. Tillie; 16. Max; 17. Casper; 19. James; and still very much part of the family in spirit is Alfie, who was stillborn

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE RADFORDS: HOW BRITAIN'S BIGGEST FAMILY SPENDS A TYPICAL DAY After an early start in the bakery, Mr Radford returns home every day at 7.45am to sort out the children and get them to nursery at school. All their uniforms are washed and laid out the night before, while breakfast is staggered into two shifts. Six of the children are at the same primary school ten minutes away and five are at secondary school. Noel drives them in a minibus which, as it carries more than nine passengers, is entitled to use bus lanes. Meanwhile, the three youngest, Oscar, Caspar and Hallie, remain at home with Sue, though Oscar goes to nursery in the afternoons. The family do nine loads of washing a day, get through 30 bottles of washing liquid every month and use four toilet rolls a day. Incredibly they manage to feed the family on £300 a week, feeding them all pasta or a large stew using deals with their local butcher and greengrocer. Bathtime at home begins around 6pm and while the younger ones will be bathed and in bed by about 7pm, the older ones stay up until 9pm. Mr and Mrs Radford say they are in bed by 10pm. Advertisement

The Radford family's budget The couple receive £170 per week in Child Benefit and survive on Noel's just under £50,000 salary. They spend around £300 a week on food shopping and carefully plan their batch-cook to make sure it feeds everyone. The shopping list includes: 18 pints of milk

Three litres of juice

Three boxes of cereal being consumed every day They have a budget of £100 for their children's presents at birthdays, while at Christmas they set aside between £100 to £250. Advertisement

The family now live in a large £240,000 Victorian house, a former care home, that they bought 11 years ago and they pride themselves on having no credit cards or finance agreements. They also enjoy a holiday abroad every year.

They spend £300 a week on food shopping, with 18 pints of milk, three litres of juice and three boxes of cereal being consumed every day.

When it comes to celebrating their children's birthdays they have a budget of £100 for presents, while at Christmas they set aside between £100 to £250.

Her husband had a vasectomy during his wife's ninth pregnancy but had it reversed when they decided to have more children.

In 2013, the couple starred in the Channel 4 show, 16 Kids and Counting and were filmed in their ten-bedroom home.

The following year, Mrs Radford - who does not receive state handouts apart from child benefit, lost a boy, called Alfie, when she was 23 weeks' pregnant.