Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales | Series 3 Preview (5)

Reuben Owen is back, joined by his mates, family and girlfriend Jess. Now in the fourth year of his burgeoning heavy machinery business, Reuben and his nearest and dearest continue to enjoy work and their traditional way of life in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales.

We’ve seen Reuben grow up with his eight siblings on his parents Clive and Amanda’s remote sheep farm. Now 22, Reuben is blazing a trail for his like-minded friends, who have all chosen to live and work in the wild and rugged hills they grew up on.

And there are tasks aplenty for the young crew. Passionate about preserving tradition, they build sheep pens for a fellow Swaledale farmer and dig an epic Cumbrian nature pond to encourage local wildlife. And the banter of mischievous mates Capper and Sonny always offers respite from the hard work.

Dad Clive, and brothers Miles and Sid, also lend Reuben a hand when their busy farming calendar allows. And likewise, Reuben encourages his younger brothers when summer sees them learn to shear the flock. Girlfriend Jess has a sheep and dairy farm to run, so Reuben happily helps tend the herd, and clip the flock in between jobs.

While they all love restoring vintage tractors, the friends also make time for adrenaline-filled fun, from riding restored vintage motorbikes, to racing renovated road sweepers across the Dales. And when spring brings the sunshine back, as a reward for jobs done across the hard winter, they take a hot air balloon glide above their idyllic home.

In the first episode, it’s the height of summer and Reuben and the team are building a brand-new sheep pen for a local farmer. But when sinking a gate post proves trickier than expected the young boss, his girlfriend Jess, and workmates Capper Sonny are left scratching their heads.

Meanwhile, Reuben’s younger brothers Miles and Sidney sweat it out on an arduous sheep shearing course. Attempting to clip three sheep in under 30 minutes and win the prestigious Blue Seal Shearer’s certificate, dad Clive lends his expert eye and hopes his sons can make the grade.

Over on girlfriend Jess’s farm, she and her dad David are also trying to shear their 300-strong flock for summertime. Though a shepherd’s son himself, Reuben has never learned this traditional skill, preferring driving machines not clippers. But under Jess’s tutelage, it’s not long before he picks up the knack, and lends his 6 foot 7” might to the shearing operation.

Reuben and Jess are on a mission to throw Clive a 70th birthday party to remember, so armed with a truck-load of balloons they head to their local, the highest pub in England, where friends and family have gathered to celebrate.

Reuben Owen: Life In The Dales begins Tuesday 5th May at 8pm on 5.