Two years after Our Yorkshire Farm stars Amanda Owen and Clive split, they're reuniting for new TV series Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids.
As they make their comeback, the exes admit it was fame - and inevitably Our Yorkshire Farm - that was the downfall of their 22-year marriage. They became beloved reality stars on the set of their fly-on-the-wall series Our Yorkshire Farm, with their nine children - Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clementine and Nancy.
Despite their amicable split, the Owens may not be reuniting romantically, but they have been busy filming a new series about renovating a farmhouse - known locally as Anty John's - in a remote location with the whole family.
Since their marriage broke up and Our Yorkshire Farm came to an end, their son Reuben was given his own breakthrough series, Life In The Dales, with Channel 5. It put the spotlight on the young farmer and he invited the cameras into his life when he first went to France with his then girlfriend Sarah. Their relationship also broke down after filming.
Read more: Inside Our Yorkshire Farm star Reuben Owen's romance with girlfriend before splitNow that the Owens are back in the spotlight as a family, we look at what the couple has said about their new TV show Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids and the breakdown of their marriage.
Cameras have returned to the Yorkshire Dales for a new ob-doc series following the Yorkshire Shepherdess and her family, including her ex-husband, as they tackle the renovation of their neighbouring farm property. The story will span 10 thrilling episodes and will be on our screens on More4.
All the Owens - Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda, Clive and their nine children - are working with a team of local craftsmen to renovate the property. They face many challenges along the way, including the changing seasons as they restore the listed building. The series will also explore the history of the remote farm, its former owners and local history.
Amanda said: "It's fantastic that More4 have given us the opportunity to show what we do best - working together as a team and braving the elements as we try to restore the farm next door to its former glory. It's no exaggeration to say that filming outdoors on an exposed Swaledale hillside was at times a huge challenge for the Wise Owl film crew, but their dedication and enthusiasm never wavered. This new project has been a huge undertaking for the whole family and we're delighted to be able to share it with viewers at home."
Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Jayne Stanger said: "We are delighted to welcome Amanda back to More4 and it is an absolute pleasure to have been given such incredible access to Amanda, Clive and their wonderful family as they embark on such a challenging renovation. I have no doubt our audiences will enjoy sharing this fascinating journey with them and enjoying the beautiful Yorkshire countryside captured so brilliantly by the talented team at Wise Owl."
Mark Robinson, Executive Producer for Wise Owl Films, said: "Filmed over two years, this is the incredible past and present story of a house with a significant and fascinating history, lovingly brought to life by a family who are Yorkshire Dales through and through. We have been privileged to witness the rebirth of 'Anty John's' tile by tile, brick by brick, across all four seasons in a beautiful but unforgiving location where that painstaking work is often at the mercy of the elements."
In 2011, the Owens' farm made its debut on ITV's The Dales, setting in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to the end of the couple's 22-year marriage. First, Amanda put pen to paper to write books and give talks about the farm. Then, the whole family became stars in their own reality series, Our Yorkshire Farm, which aired on Channel 5.
Reflecting on the failure of their marriage and their steady climb to fame, Amanda said every conversation began with her saying that Clive looked after their brood while she was there and that they didn't care who changed the nappies or "who sheared the sheep".
"But honestly, it did matter to Clive," she wrote in a new column for The Daily Mail. Amanda said it was "hard" for her husband that talking about farming was more profitable than actually doing it. "Clive never liked me not being on the farm, and that led to arguments. I went home not knowing what to expect or what his reaction would be. I could feel the tension in the air and waited for it to explode."
Behind the scenes, Amanda said she tried to "overcompensate" whenever she felt Clive pushing her away. By Clive's own admission, he was "jealous" and even "angry" with his wife for her career success.
During the Covid pandemic in 2020, they began spending more time apart and found it worked better for them. The Owens decided to split up and live in two different homes within walking distance of each other, allowing the children to spend time wherever they wanted.
Amanda began a new romantic relationship with Rob Davies, an old friend of hers and her estranged husband. The shepherdess said the media "shattered" the romantic relationship and they are now no longer in touch.
It was Amanda and Owen who chose to end Our Yorkshire Farm following their split, meaning the Channel 5 show was never axed. Following the failure of their marriage, they felt their farm was "under siege" by the media, with reporters knocking on their doors and leaving messages.
They both see each other as "survivors" and great parents. Now, after everything, they've reunited for their new TV show, although they're not romantically together. Clive wrote for the paper: "It's been tough going through all of this in the public eye, and who knows what the next chapter will bring. But that's the beauty of life."
