Sue Radford, star of Channel 5's 22 Kids and Counting, has revealed that a close friend has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 49. The news came to light during Sunday's episode, in which her husband Noel became concerned by her unusual secrecy.
Noel discovered a leaflet about early dementia in the family van and confronted Sue at home. She initially hesitated to share the information, as her friend had wanted to keep the diagnosis private, even from her own family. Sue later explained that her friend had now told her family, allowing her to disclose the news.
Speaking directly to the camera, Sue said: 'Gradually her memory will get worse, it's a reality check, it could happen to anyone and you never know what's around the corner.' She admitted the news had 'knocked her for six'.
The emotional revelation comes after the family appeared on This Morning earlier this month, where their youngest grandchild Ronnie caused a stir by crying during the interview. Presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard handled the situation with humour, with Deeley remarking: 'I love this mayhem!'
