Clive Owen has opened up about his “worries” ahead of departing the farm for a journey to Ireland with sons Sid and Miles.
The farmer, who has nine children with Amanda Owen, features in eldest son Reuben’s Channel 5 programme, Life in the Dales.
Having shot to prominence on Our Yorkshire Farm, the family continues to document the ups and downs of farming life, with the most recent episode tracking Clive’s venture beyond the Dales for a special trip to Ireland.
He travels to Donegal for an uncommon family expedition, where he and Miles and Sid dive into the world of sheep shows at the All Nations Shearing Championships.
Yet before setting off on the lengthy drive, Clive confesses he’s somewhat anxious about the voyage ahead. He tells Reuben: “I’m going to take Miles and Sid because they’ve never been on a ship and they’ve never been overseas.”
View 4 ImagesClive shares his worries for the long journey(Image: Channel 5)
Speaking to the camera, he reflects: “I used to skive off school and go and watch these famous sales and watch these great men sell these wonderful sheep and dream that maybe one day it might be me. For me, to eventually breed a Champion myself, that’s pretty amazing, actually. We called him Glory and sold him for £28,000 which was amazing.
“Fellas that go and judge like myself, know how hard it is to breed these things. So I see it as a great responsibility and a great honour to judge. It’s a tough thing to do because you don’t make everybody happy when you judge sheep.”
Before departing, Miles and Sid can barely contain their enthusiasm about the ferry trip, with Miles admitting: “Yeah, they reckon it will be a bit stormy.”
View 4 ImagesThe farmer takes his sons abroad for the first time(Image: Channel 4)
“Hope you don’t get sea sick,” Reuben cautions, while his girlfriend chips in reassuringly: “You’ll be fine!”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
When asked whether Sid has ever ventured abroad, he responds: “No I haven’t, this will be the first time.” Clive notes, “It’s quite a journey,” before voicing his apprehension about navigating the Irish Sea ahead of the sheep competition.
“Tomorrow, there’s a big storm passing through so I’m quite worried about the crossing, how rough it will be. Whether we’re ill or anything, I would not like that to happen but we shall see.”
Reuben replies: “Well have a good time you three,” as they set off, with Clive saying, “Have a good time you three.” “Miss you already,” Reuben calls after them.
View 4 ImagesReuben Owen: Life in the Dales has returned for a new series(Image: Channel 5)
This comes after Clive’s emotional admission about getting older in the first episode of the new series of Life in the Dales. Celebrating his milestone birthday, he confesses:, “I can’t believe I’m 70.” He adds: “I can’t do anything about it, I am 70 whether I like it or not, and I don’t like it.”
Clive then turns to his loved ones, and says: “Well, here I am for my 70th birthday. I can’t believe that I have got to 70. It just seems five minutes since I was on my push bike, and you know, life just goes so fast, doesn’t it?
“I’ve been coming down here for a fair old while, we always came on a Sunday night. There were always a few characters, a few locals who would sit around that fire. Sadly, they are all gone now, but I am still here, and so there you go.”
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Reuben then interjected, “Thanks, Dad, for keeping us three on the straight and narrow.” As Clive shook each of his sons’ hands, he concluded, “It has been great fun, top men. Thank you all for coming and cheers.”
Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales is available to watch on Channel 5.