Amanda Owen, star of the hit Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm, has faced a series of personal challenges, including a severe eating disorder that she says left her fearing for her life. The 50-year-old Yorkshire Shepherdess rose to fame in 2018 on the show, which chronicled her life at Ravenseat Farm alongside her ex-husband Clive and their nine children. The programme became one of the broadcaster's most-watched offerings, leading to a spin-off series on Channel 4 titled Our Farm Next Door, now in its third series.
Heartbreaking Losses on the Farm
The Owen family has endured several painful losses over the years. In 2022, they said goodbye to their beloved dog, Kate, who died peacefully in her sleep. Amanda expressed her grief on social media, calling Kate her "faithful workmate, companion, colleague and friend" and adding, "I miss her." The family also mourned the death of their treasured horse, Little Joe, with Amanda reflecting on the fragility of life: "Eventually, all life will come to an end, right? Anything can die; life is a truly fragile thing."
In a previous episode of Our Farm Next Door, Amanda struggled to contain her emotions after discovering that their family dog, Chalky, had passed away. She recalled: "It was really clear and obvious that Chalky was fading away. When the children came running out of the house saying that Chalky had passed away, they were absolutely bereft, and they knew it was coming, and I knew it was coming."
Health Struggles and Recovery
Amanda has been candid about her struggle with an eating disorder that left her fearing for her life. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: "I just shut down. Physical and mental health are intertwined and anxiety, depression, paranoia, agoraphobia and an eating disorder were all smooshed into one." She added: "I remember sitting in the sheep pens in the dark, just hiding. It's the price you pay for living your life in the open, for being observed. It's like having a post mortem before you're dead."
The television star revealed that she was repeatedly in and out of hospital during what she described as a "critical time", with her former partner Clive even worrying that Amanda might not make it through to the following morning. She has since reassured her followers that she is "out of the woods".
Recent Medical Emergency
More recently, Amanda found herself back at hospital after her son, Miles, suffered a medical emergency on the farm due to his type one diabetes. She wrote on Instagram: "It's been a hard few days but we're all here to tell the tale. I'm super proud of you @milesowen86," prompting an outpouring of support from her devoted fans.
Our Farm Next Door Returns
As Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids prepares to air a repeat episode this evening (Friday, June 26), viewers can catch up on the family's journey as they renovate a 200-year-old farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales. The series, originally commissioned by Channel 4 as a ten-part series, has been a hit with audiences, with a further instalment already on the way.
