Reuben Owen took on a vintage tractor challenge as he turned 21. (Channel 5)

What did you miss?

Reuben Owen suffered a setback when his tractor broke down and smoke started pouring out of it during a special trip to mark his birthday.

The Life in the Dales star — who found fame alongside his mum Amanda Owen and farmer dad Clive Owen in Our Yorkshire Farm – now has his own Channel 5 spin-off following his journey building his machinery business. In the latest episode, he and his girlfriend and some friends hit the road in vintage tractors, with the plan of driving over 100 miles for a 21st birthday party for Owen.

However, disaster struck when Owen’s tractor overheated and broke down, with the star stranded by the side of the road as smoke billowed around him.

What, how and why?

The episode aired on Tuesday, 1 July and followed as Owen and his friends Sonny and Tommy and girlfriend Jessica Ellwood set off to travel from their home in the Yorkshire Dales to the coast. The plan was to drive tractors all the way to Whitby – despite the fact they could only do around 16mph – as Owen was keen to celebrate his 21st birthday on the beach with some fish and chips.

However, he soon ran into problems as his 1950s vintage tractor started to overheat.

Reuben Owen set off on the trip with balloons attached to his tractor. (Channel 5 screengrab)
“Something smells rather hot!” shouted Ellwood as she drove along behind him. “Reuben you have got a massive leak,” she added, as she spotted water pouring from the tractor.

Owen and his friends quickly determined that they needed antifreeze and water to cool the tractor down, but they had forgotten both, so the TV star ended up using his drinking water. He also decided to change the fanbelt to help the rest of the journey go more smoothly.

They got back on the road but there was more trouble ahead when the group had to drive up Sutton Bank – a hill in North Yorkshire with one of the steepest roads in the country.

“I am not confident here – this is going to take some doing,” Owen confessed as he started the climb. “I am very nervous.”

“It’s very, very hot, it’s very hot,” he said as they reached one of the steepest parts of the single carriageway.

Minutes later the tractor rolled off to the side of the road, with Owen climbing down as smoke poured out of it. “I think that’s the end of my road,” he admitted, exclaiming: “So close, so close!”

The star’s tractor broke down. (Channel 5 screengrab)
Luckily, Tommy came to his rescue as he had a tow rope and pulled Owen’s tractor off the road.

“It’s not gone well for the old lass,” said Owen, saying it could be the tractor’s “final” journey.

However, after it had cooled off for a while he managed to get it going again, which left the star feeling more positive.

“I don’t think many fellas will get to spend their 21st birthday riding around the countryside on a vintage tractor with all their friends,” he said.

“Hopefully we will make it to Whitby. We’ve had a few setbacks but hopefully we will make it there in the end. Fingers crossed.”

However, he had yet another setback when it turned out that his tractor had an oil leak, meaning he and his friends had to change its head gasket overnight.

What happened?

Despite the rocky journey, Owen, Ellwood and their friends did end up making it to Whitby, where they drove their tractors onto the beach and through the surf. “We made it!” exclaimed the star as they drove in circles on the sand.

The star’s girlfriend got him a cake. (Channel 5 screengrab)
Ellwood also presented the TV star with a cake decorated with a picture of his face. However, he wasn’t too impressed with the snap she had chosen.

“What an awful picture!” Owen laughed, as Ellwood and his friends giggled.

Owen went on to thank the group for the ride, saying that the journey had given him a 21st that he would “always remember”.

Reuben Owen and his friends drove their tractors on the beach. (Channel 5 screengrab)
“It’s been brilliant, thank you,” he said. “We have gone right across Yorkshire, from one side to the other, on our tractors.

“It has been the adventure of a lifetime really, thinking about it. I couldn’t imagine spending my 21st in a better way.”

Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales airs on Channel 5 at 8pm on Tuesdays.