Amanda Owen Welcomes Daughter Raven Back to Yorkshire Farm as Ratings Battle With Clive Intensifies

Life on the farm is never quiet, and for Amanda Owen, the “Yorkshire Shepherdess,” this week brought both personal joy and professional scrutiny. The 48-year-old star of Our Yorkshire Farm shared her delight as eldest daughter Raven returned to Ravenseat to lend a hand with the latest round of work — pregnancy scanning the flock. But the family reunion comes against a backdrop of headlines about a ratings rivalry with her estranged husband Clive and son Reuben, whose own spin-off series has outperformed her latest project.

Raven Back in the Fold

Amanda proudly posted updates from the farm, showing Raven — who recently graduated from university — diving straight back into the demanding tasks of sheep farming. “Raven is back in the thick of it this weekend,” Amanda wrote. “Everyone’s hands-on getting the yows [ewes] through the pens for ultrasound pregnancy scanning. A lot of hands make light work. It didn’t take long to get the sheep through the pens and scanned. A smooth operation with little stress for everyone.”

In photographs shared with fans, Raven and one of her sisters were seen checking on a cow before holding a sheep steady for the ultrasound procedure. The images highlighted the family’s teamwork and the continuation of traditions that have defined Ravenseat’s identity — children rolling up their sleeves to help keep the farm running.

Amanda’s followers responded warmly to the update, praising Raven for returning to help out. “Lovely to see her back on the farm,” one fan commented. Another wrote: “Family is everything, and Raven is a credit to you.”

A Ratings Challenge

But while Amanda’s family life remains the heart of her public image, her television career is under scrutiny. Earlier this year, her new Channel 4 series Amanda Owen’s Farming Lives debuted to respectable but modest figures. Industry insiders described the launch ratings as “solid,” with a peak of 610,000 viewers and 329,000 watching live on More4 when the first episode aired on January 25. The program also topped ratings for the channel that week, nearly doubling the audience share of its next most popular show, Grand Designs.

By most measures, the performance was a success for More4. Yet it paled in comparison to the numbers delivered by Beyond the Yorkshire Farm, the spin-off series fronted by Clive Owen, 68, and son Reuben, 19. That show, which premiered in December, drew an impressive 1.7 million viewers — more than double Amanda’s peak figures.

“Not What Was Expected”

The disparity has prompted speculation in the Dales and beyond. A source close to the farming community suggested that the reversal of fortunes had surprised many. “This is not what was expected,” the source said. “Amanda is the TV star, the one who built a following, while Clive is a farmer who somehow ended up on the telly. I don’t think anyone expected his and Reuben’s show to do better of the two — least of all Amanda.”

For years, Our Yorkshire Farm captivated audiences with its portrayal of Amanda, Clive, and their nine children balancing rural life with the challenges of raising a large family. But since Amanda and Clive confirmed their separation in June 2022 after 21 years of marriage, the family brand has splintered into separate ventures. Fans now find themselves choosing between Amanda’s solo projects and Clive and Reuben’s father-son journey.

Farming First

Despite the ratings chatter, Amanda appears focused on the work at hand. Her posts about Raven’s return were less about television than about the farm’s needs during lambing preparations. Ultrasound scanning the ewes is a vital part of the farming calendar, allowing shepherds to plan for births and manage the flock’s health.

For Amanda, involving her children in these tasks is as important as the outcome. “It’s about teaching them responsibility, resilience, and the rewards of hard work,” she has often said. Raven’s willingness to pitch in after university illustrates the deep ties between the family and their land.

The Bigger Picture

Amanda’s supporters argue that ratings numbers don’t capture the full picture. While Beyond the Yorkshire Farm may have had the benefit of novelty and curiosity — seeing Clive and Reuben step into the spotlight — Amanda’s series focuses on the broader farming community, telling stories of resilience and innovation. “She’s shining a light on rural life beyond Ravenseat,” one fan noted. “That’s valuable in its own right.”

Still, for a television personality whose brand was built on balancing family drama with pastoral beauty, the numbers are difficult to ignore. Media analysts suggest the competition between the two shows reflects viewers’ enduring fascination with the Owens — both together and apart.

Conclusion

For Amanda Owen, the week encapsulated the dual realities of her life. On the one hand, she enjoyed the simple joy of welcoming Raven back to Ravenseat, seeing her eldest daughter once again immersed in the rhythms of farming life. On the other, she faced the harsher realities of television — where ratings are scrutinized and personal rivalries can play out on screen.

Yet if Amanda’s words are any guide, her focus remains firmly on the work and her children. As she put it, “a lot of hands make light work” — whether that means scanning sheep in Yorkshire or shouldering the weight of public scrutiny.