Our Yorkshire Farm returns for fourth series on Channel 5

A “fly-on-the-wall” documentary about life on a Yorkshire farm is returning to Channel 5 for a fourth series.

Twenty new hour-long episodes of the hit series Our Yorkshire Farm will be shown on the channel this spring – with the first on Tuesday 13 April at 9pm on C5.

Our Yorkshire Farm documents the lives of Yorkshire shepherdess Amanda Owen, her husband Clive, and their nine children.

See also: Our Yorkshire Farm tops prime-time TV ratings

The documentary series, narrated by Ben Fogle, is filmed on the Owen family’s 809ha tenant farm, located three and a half miles west of the village of Keld, in Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire.

The couple manage a flock of 1,000 sheep, 40 cows, six dogs and four ponies, and they also run a B&B.

Channel 5 has announced a two-year deal with the Owen family following the huge success of the series during the coronavirus lockdown.

Our Yorkshire Farm was the broadcaster’s highest-rated factual programme in 2020. During the spring lockdown in 2020, an average of 3.2m viewers tuned in to watch each episode, surpassing programmes on the BBC and ITV at the 9pm time slot.

Sad event

Speaking ahead of the first airing of fourth series, Mrs Owen told her 156,000 Twitter followers of a sad event on the farm, on the same day as the death of Prince Philip (9 April).

Her sheepdog Kate had given birth, but the pup did not survive.

There’s so much sadness today and I don’t like to add to it, but sadly I must share the news that sheepdog Kate’s pup was stillborn,” said Mrs Owen.

A shepherd is nothing without a dog.🐶🥲
Was going to leave Kate at home, didn’t think that she’d want to come gathering.
Thank goodness she did !
Her hearing & senses are a million times better than mine so she can find what I cannot.🥲
*Needle in haystack*#sheepdog #devoted pic.twitter.com/4XxEL8LucJ

— YorkshireShepherdess (@AmandaOwen8) April 10, 2021

A spokesman for Channel 5 said: “The series, which first aired in 2018, has garnered immense popularity over the years for its heartwarming and refreshingly honest portrayal of family life in the countryside.

“Viewers and critics have praised Amanda and Clive Owen’s unique parenting style as they raise their nine ‘free-range’ children on their 2,000-acre remote hill farm in the Yorkshire Dales.

“Our Yorkshire Farm demonstrates Channel 5’s continued commitment to the nations and regions, particularly in Yorkshire, where it has invested over £20m since 2015.”

Daniel Pearl, commissioning editor, Channel 5 added: “Our Yorkshire Farm is such a special programme. It’s more than just a heartwarming documentary, it is a deeper exploration of family bonds, parenting styles and the desire among so many of us to live closer to nature. The Owens are a true inspiration and I can’t wait to see what these next two years will bring.”