Our TV appearance has challenged stigma, say Lossie parents of 11
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A LOSSIEMOUTH family of 13 have enjoyed an "amazing" local response after they were the subjects of a no-holds barred TV series looking at life in big families.
The Sullivan family – husband and wife Ben (45) and Zoe (41) and their 11 children aged 15 months to 14 years – were one of six UK families to be filmed last year by Channel 5 for the second series of Me and My 10 Kids.
Ben and Zoe made the "big decision" to let strangers into their lives in a deliberate bid to challenge the stigma often attached to large families – and they believe the show has really helped to change perceptions. Tuesday, February 11 was the last in their TV story – but the family hope to keep up a public presence.
They have grown accustomed to onlookers, having launched their own YouTube channel a year ago, now posting twice-weekly videos as The Sullivan Family, and a Facebook page offering glimpses into their bustling and boisterous day-to-day existence.
The children – eight girls and three boys – include two sets of twins. The family hit national headlines in 2017 when their second set of twins were born on the first set of twins' birthday.
They are 15-month-old Joseph, Agnes (two), four-year-old twins Leah and Erin, Toby (six), Eva (eight), Noah (10), twins Charlotte and Isabelle (12), Olivia (13) and Elisabeth (14).
RAF aircraft engineer Ben said the family have upped their output on social media since appearing on the show. He said: "We're very pleased with how the show has gone. I think it has shown us in a good light. Obviously we're normal human beings – we swear sometimes – and that was picked up on because we were mic'd up all the time.
"We wanted to break the stereotype of large families sitting back on benefits. That is a massive stereotype – people just assume that you're on benefits.
"It is hard work and financially it's hard-going sometimes – but it's so rewarding.
"We wanted to show people who we really are, and it's really worked.
"The support we've had from the local community has been brilliant. Really amazing. What's been really nice is going down to the Co-op and chatting to people who have seen us on TV.
"What we'd like to do following on from the show is for people to keep up with us by checking out our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
"We'd definitely do it again."
Zoe said their social media output had helped build a supportive community around the family. She said: "People have always asked us questions about our family life or said things like 'I'd love to see what it's like inside your family'. And we just thought 'why not then?'
"The idea has grown and grown. It was a big decision to do the show – as it put us out there for everybody to judge.
"I think we've shown that stigma doesn't have to be there."
In one recent video the children gave their parents the low-down on video-sharing social network Tik Tok and another charted the twins' double-double birthday.
The couple try to stick to a "keep it in" policy in video-editing. Ben added: "Normal life is not dressed up. We hope people appreciate that and enjoy it."
