Noel Radford reveals horrific family murder in 22 Kids and Counting as wife Sue is left squirming over gory details
It is described as 'the murder of the century'Noel Radford learns about a horrific brutal family murder in tonight’s 22 Kids and Counting and the gory details make his wife Sue squirm.
The dad-of-22 is shocked to discover the very gruesome way his relative was killed while researching his family tree.
Noel is keen to find out more about his adoptive ancestors so meets with a historian.
But he really doesn’t expect to hear what she has to tell him.
22 Kids and Counting: Noel Radford’s family murder
Noel is chuffed to learn that one of his ancestors is Nicholas Radford, a member of Parliament in the 1400s. He then discovers Nicholas’ murder was “the major murder of the century”.
Noel admits: “It’s really shocking to find out one of my relatives was murdered.”
Historian Dr Sophie Therese Ambler tells Noel in tonight’s show: “This was the murder of the century. I think we can safely say this was the most notorious crime of the 15th century.”
She goes on to explain that Nicolas Radford was very wealthy. He was an MP and represented lots of aristocrats. He also had a worth in today’s value of £2million.
But over time, Nicholas got involved in a feud with another rival family. In an account presented to Parliament, it states that Nicholas’ house was targeted by a group of men “armed for war” as a result.
The property was ransacked and the men stole valuables including money and jewellery. One of the men then turned on Nicholas Radford with a glaive. Sophie explains this is a single-edged bladed weapon.
“It was used to strike a hideous deadly stroke over his face and felled him to the ground,” she reads from the account.
Dr Ambler goes on to explain how he was attacked again from behind. She says the man “gave him another stroke upon the head and the brain fell out of the head”.
Yuck!
Noel Radford makes Sue squirm
Back at the house, Noel sits down and relays what he’s been told about Nicholas Radford to his wife Sue.
He tells her: “I’m going to tell you this. It’s quite gory. This guy got a big glaive and slashed it down the front of his face, right?”
Sue immediately starts wincing and puts her hands over her eyes. Her hands then move to cover her ears as Noel continues.
“They chopped the back of his head off and then his brain fell out,” he says.
His horrified wife, with her eyes screwed shut and hands still over her ears, pleads: “No, no, stop. No. His brain fell out?”
Noel replies: “Yep.”
Gore aside, Noel learns that Nicholas’ murder actually played an extremely significant role in history. It was the very opening stage of The Wars of the Roses, according to Dr Ambler.
Noel admits: “When I first started researching my family history, I didn’t expect I’d come across wealthy landowners and murders of the century!”
