Reuben Owen and girlfriend Jessica Ellwood, who are the stars of the Channel 5 TV series ‘Life in the Dales’(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Reuben Owen has revealed his mum’s verdict on his new girlfriend as their sweet relationship plays out on-screen.

The 21-year-old and his girlfriend Jessica Ellwood, also 21, have seen their relationship grow on Channel 5 show, Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales.

And Jessica is also a Yorkshire shepherdess who has more than a little in common with his famous mum Amanda Owen. “Mum and Jess get on well, they talk about sheep together,” Reuben, who fans saw grow up on his family’s TV show Our Yorkshire Farm, told the Mirror.

“They all approve and they all get along really well.” Fans of the show have taken Jessica to heart after watching her help Reuben fix potholes and quarry stone, in return for his help catching wayward ewes and bottle feeding lambs.

But their 10-month romance almost never got off the ground with Reuben losing his wallet the day before their first date after having agonised about asking Jessica out.

“It took me a while to ask her out, I wasn’t that brave but I just asked her one night,” Reuben shared. “We went out for some tea one night and I’d lost my wallet and she had to pay for my dinner!”

Luckily the missing wallet didn’t take the shine off the evening, and before long Reuben and Jessica fell in love. “She bought my tea but I’ve made up for it since then. She’s brilliant,” Reuben said. “She’s an absolute star.”

Reuben and Jessica have big plans(Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Joining a reality show is a big decision and although they’d only been together a few months when filming began, Reuben knew asking her to be on the show with him was the right choice.

“She was working on a lot of jobs with us and I thought it would be nice for her to be on and I just want people to see how lovely she is,” Reuben said. “She’s just such a great character and such a lovely person.”

One day, Reuben dreams of owning a farm where there’ll be space for his machinery, alongside Jessica’s flock. “We’re just waiting for something to come up,” Reuben revealed.

“I’ve got to try and get a nice place, get a bit of a farm somewhere one day. It would be ideal to have a farm where I can park my diggers and she can have her sheep and cows.”

Reuben’s parents Amanda and Clive(Image: (Image: CHANNEL 5))

Marriage and children isn’t on the cards just yet, but Reuben is keen to get there “eventually”. But he’s not sure he wants nine children like his parents Amanda and Clive.

Reuben laughed: “I don’t think I fancy nine of them, I don’t fancy nine at all. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The show has made Reuben a household name, but it doesn’t mean he fancies swapping his hard hat for celebrity glitz. And if a casting director from Strictly came calling he’d give them short shrift. “No chance!” Reuben said.

“I don’t plan on going on there. That’s not for me, I’ll stick to what I know, diggers and farming, I’m not bothered about Strictly Come Dancing.”