Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda Owen opens up on children leaving Ravenseat as fans divided by new series

The beloved Owen family were back on screens on Monday night, but fans were left divided by the new series titled Our Farm Next Door: Amanda Clive and Kids.

During the first episode of Our Farm Next Door: Amanda Clive and Kids, Amanda Owen and her family were hoping to breathe life back into a derelict farmhouse, battling against unforgiving Dales weather on one of the most remote building sites in Britain.

The family were granted permission to convert the property, and historian Derek delved into the building's colourful past - discovering that it was once home to famous 19th-century Swaledale mapmaker and diarist Anthony John Clarkson.

During the programme, Amanda opened up about the renovation work and how she wants some of her children to move away from Ravenseat Farm and into the new home one day. Reuben also shared his desire to move out of the family home sometime in the near future.

"When Anty John's was put up for sale, it was a dream come true, really," Amanda admitted. "It is a little farm cottage with a barn attached, just short of 40 acres."

Clive chipped in: "It is nice to own a piece of this wonderful valley, and because there are so many of us, a house is certainly going to come in handy because who will live there? We haven't even thought about that; we have no idea, but somebody will."

"This is for the future," Amanda explained before adding: "Because of course, with all these children, they all need a place they can call home."

Later on in the episode, Reuben admitted to the camera: "Other than Ravenseat, it is probably one of the only places I'd consider living happily."

Fans were also delighted about the Owen family's return to screens and how grown up the children looked.
Taking to X, formerly known as , one wrote: "So good to see the family back on our screens tonight - easy viewing."

Another agreed: "So happy to see the Owen family back on TV with #OurFarmNextDoor, got their work cut out trying to rebuild that farmhouse!"

Someone else commented: "Abso adore this." Another went on: #OurFarmNextDoor It’s lovely to see the family back again, clearly involved in their new venture."

However, not all viewers were thrilled about the new series, with one claiming the show had "lost its spark". They penned: "Sorry, it’s lost its spark somewhere..."

"Been waiting for #OurFarmNextDoor but this is a pedestrian start. Don’t think Amanda works as a narrator … Bit flat and mannered so far, I fear," another complained.

One added: "#ourfarmnextdoor turns out to be quite literally #clarksonsfarm you couldn't make it up ..." (sic)

Ahead of the first instalment, Amanda appeared on Lorraine to speak about what fans could expect from the new series, as well as her split from Clive.

She told the host: "There is enough work to go round times a zillion, so actually it's working out really well. I say working out really well, it's tough don't get me wrong, to spin all of the plates and keep everything going in the right direction.

"It's hard but do you know what I feel like that is why this programme is relatable, that's what people have always enjoyed and loved about watching us.

"You know, you don't always get the happy ending that you want and things go wrong but that's life, isn't it and that's what it's all about. It's how you get through it, it's how you negotiate it. So I'm hoping people enjoy a taste of the countryside and watching us and the kids."

Our Farm Next Door: Amanda Clive and Kids returns to More4 next Monday at 9pm.