OUR Yorkshire Farm star Amanda Owen has revealed how she was left “choking” after making a bombshell decision about their family home.
The shepherdess and her husband Clive, 66, live on Ravenseat Farm with their nine children, and a whole host of animal family members.
But it’s not all been smooth sailing for Amanda, 46, who opened up about the troubles of being tenants rather than owners of the huge farm.
In her book The Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess, the mother-of-nine detailed the difficulties of purchasing a farmhouse of their own.
She revealed how she “nearly choked” when the family received a tantalising offer to buy one of their own properties in exchange.
Dreaming of owning a family home of their own, Amanda and Clive live as tenants on the farm, as well as owning a flat in nearby Kirkby Stephen.
With no where near enough space for the family, Amanda hoped to sell the flat and use the money to purchase something more suitable.
In the book, published in 2019, the TV star detailed how they struggled to find a buyer when a perfect but unattainable home came on the market.
The couple knew they wouldn’t be able to afford the property, despite being friends with the owners of The Firs, Susan and Graham.
Amanda wrote: “I told [Clive] that they too were having difficulty finding a buyer, although for different reasons than ourselves.
“I said, ‘I don’t think Susan likes what the potential buyers what to do with the house, and she’s trying to put them off’.”
Clive then jokingly suggested the couple part-exchanged their flat in Kirkby Stephen to the couple, to which Amanda “doubted” they would agree.
“I said: ‘They’re already bought a house there and what would they want with a pokey little flat anyway?’” Amanda wrote of the situation.
“I thought that it was a ridiculously stupid idea, there was no way that I was going to put that suggestion to Susan, ever.
“‘It’s no good Susan putting folks off thinking that if she waits long enough we’re going to buy it,’ Clive said. He was right, it needed sorting out.”
Amanda and Clive arranged to go over and visit the couple when their eldest daughter Raven was home to look after the younger children.
“Susan and Graham welcomed us with tea and biscuits and I couldn’t help but wonder whether they thought that we had good news for them,” Amanda added.
“I’d decided that Clive should do the talking but just to make sure there were no crossed wires, I thought I’d be clear from the outset.”
Amanda revealed that the couple asked if she would be willing to include their flat in the deal before they had even offered up to them.
“I nearly choked on my tea, I could not believe my ears, my despondency evaporated,” Amanda added.
“I had a complete turnaround from despair to elation.”
Graham revealed that he and his wife planned to transform Amanda and Clive’s apartment into a holiday rental for another income source.
The deal was done, and Amanda and Clive went on to purchase The Firs – which they rent out to holidaymakers while they live at Ravenseat Farm.
Our Yorkshire Farm airs Wednesday nights on Channel 5 at 9pm.
