Famous as the Yorkshire Shepherdess from Channel 5's hit series, Amanda Owen looked strikingly different during her first-ever television appearance from 17 years ago.
A Different Name, A Different Look
Long before Our Yorkshire Farm made her a household name, Amanda Owen was featured on a BBC documentary. Appearing as Amanda Livingstone-Owen, the farmer greeted presenter Julia Bradbury at Ravenseat Farm during an episode of Wainright Walks: Coast to Coast.
The scene shows a world away from the shepherdess fans know today. With a baby in a carrier on her chest and her long hair swept back, she offered Julia a cream tea service. The series, which focused on nature walks, saw Julia travel across the Eden Valley and climb the Pennines.
The Chaotic Rescue Behind The Scenes
In a 2014 interview with the Independent, Amanda recounted the dramatic events that unfolded during the filming of that BBC show. She explained that Julia Bradbury and her crew had gone missing in atrocious weather in September 2009.
"The lovely Julia was doing the walk herself for TV in the most atrocious weather ever," Amanda said. When the presenter failed to arrive for their scheduled cream tea, Amanda's husband, Clive, set out on his quad bike to find them.
He discovered Julia and her crew about two miles away, where one member had twisted an ankle. Clive came to the rescue, ferrying them back to the farm one by one on his bike, with Julia clinging on for dear life.
From BBC Documentary to Channel 5 Stardom
Amanda described Julia's arrival at the farm, looking tired and covered in mud. "When she took her hat off, she had hat-head, and I thought, 'You're the same as me – you're normal,'" Amanda recalled. She commiserated with Julia about the difficult walk, and the presenter sat among the chaos of Amanda's many children and terriers.
This first TV meeting was a precursor to Amanda's later fame. She and her family, including her nine children, went on to star in the reality series Our Yorkshire Farm on Channel 5.
The show followed life on their remote sheep farm in the Yorkshire Dales and ran for five popular seasons. Its end coincided with the announcement that Amanda and Clive Owen had split after 22 years of marriage.
