Reuben Owen has made his return to Channel 5's Life in the Dales, offering viewers a glimpse into the triumphs and tribulations of his agricultural life at Ravenseat in the Yorkshire Dales. The 22-year-old farmer, who runs a machinery business on the 2,000-acre family estate in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, learned his trade from his parents, Clive and Amanda Owen.
A Fiddly Job
In the first episode of the new series, aired on Tuesday evening, Reuben quickly finds himself grappling with a challenging task. While constructing a new sheep pen, a gate post causes difficulties, with Reuben admitting it's a "fiddle" to get everything aligned correctly. "It is quite a fiddly job, as the pens have to have the right gaps to shut properly and not too much gap that the sheep can get through," he explains.
As he calculates the dimensions, he declares, "I'm going mad." Comparing his frustration to snow blindness, he tells his friends, "You know when you're like snow-blind, I'm like that but with gates now."
Mistakes and Frustration
The situation worsens when one of the posts is positioned incorrectly. "There's quite a lot of messing around, two have had to be cut down so Sonny is on cutting them and welding them," Reuben says. As the team attempts to hammer in a post using a large machine, they are baffled when it refuses to go in, stuck on a stone.
The narrator explains: "Their measurements are way off, and after spending hours lining up, Reuben's frustration is starting to show." With Sonny and Jessica both struggling to align the post, Reuben's irritation becomes evident. "Jesus Christ, you two," he tells them, as Jessica retorts, "Don't blame me."
Joking About Sacking
With the project off to a rocky start and Jessica wondering how big the "problem" will be if the post is stuck on a rock, Reuben looks for someone to blame. He quips, "Have we decided who made the mistake, Jess or Sonny here? Because we're going to have to sack someone here." Jess fires back, "I didn't have the tape measure," but continues to work with Sonny to find a solution.
Eventually, Reuben brings his digger to the site, using it to dig up the soil around the post and insert it properly. He celebrates with his team: "There we go, one more metal post and we're about there."
Fan Excitement
Ahead of the new series, Reuben took to Instagram to urge excited viewers to "tune in," prompting a flurry of comments from fans eager to watch. One wrote, "We'll be watching to see what you all get up to! We've missed you on our screens." Another commented, "Fabulous news, can't wait. All of you are so natural in front of the camera," while a third added, "Lovely wholesome entertainment.... lovely people all!"
Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales airs Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 5.
