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Amanda Owen, the beloved “Yorkshire Shepherdess” and star of hit reality shows like Our Yorkshire Farm and its spin-off Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, has long captured the hearts of viewers with her resilient, no-nonsense approach to life on the remote Ravenseat Farm in the Yorkshire Dales. As a mother of nine, a working shepherdess, author, and television personality, Owen has built a public image of unbreakable strength amid harsh rural challenges, family dynamics, and personal upheavals. However, in recent months—particularly heading into early 2026—social media users and fans have grown increasingly concerned about her appearance. She has appeared noticeably thinner, with some describing her as looking “lacking energy,” “gaunt,” or even “unrecognizable” in photos and video updates shared on Instagram and during television appearances.

The question circulating widely online—”What is really happening with Amanda Owen?”—has fueled speculation, worry, and at times, unkind commentary. Today, amid this swirl of concern, we address the heartbreaking reality: Amanda Owen has openly discussed struggling with an eating disorder intertwined with severe mental health issues following her high-profile separation from husband Clive Owen in 2022. While she has not “tested positive” for a new acute illness like a virus or disease in the latest reports (contrary to some dramatic rumors), her battles with anxiety, depression, paranoia, agoraphobia, and disordered eating have been profound and ongoing. These challenges, amplified by public scrutiny, media intrusion, and the demands of farm life, have contributed to her visible weight loss and periods of low energy.

TV & Video

The Roots of Concern: Social Media and Public Appearances

Fans first began voicing alarm in 2024 and 2025 when Amanda returned to screens for Our Farm Next Door, a Channel 4 series where she, ex-husband Clive, and their now-grown children renovate a derelict neighboring farmhouse called Anty John’s. Viewers noted her slimmer frame during episodes aired from October 2024 onward, with comments flooding social platforms like Instagram, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter). Posts described her as “so thin” or “almost unrecognizable,” with some speculating about illness or overwork.

By late 2025, these concerns escalated. In interviews and social media posts, Amanda appeared distracted or subdued at times, such as during a 2025 appearance on Lorraine where viewers felt “something doesn’t seem right.” Trolls and well-meaning fans alike commented on her weight, with one cruel remark calling her a “bag of bones.” Amanda has repeatedly addressed this directly, often with defiance. In a September 2025 Instagram video, she appeared in a bikini while horseback riding, captioning it to “ride out the storm of any negativity or concerns for my health,” emphasizing that happiness and confidence matter more than comments, even if insect bites “hurt far, far more” than online criticism.

Despite her pushback, the pattern persisted into 2026. Recent Instagram updates from Ravenseat Farm—showing her battling “seriously cold conditions” in ice and snow while searching for lost sheep—have shown her looking fatigued, bundled against the elements, and admitting she can “only do my best.” These glimpses into her daily grind, combined with the physical toll of hill farming in Yorkshire’s brutal winters, have only heightened fan worry.

The Deeper Struggle: Mental Health, Eating Disorder, and the “Price” of Fame

In candid interviews toward the end of 2025, Amanda opened up about the “devastating health battle” that followed her split from Clive after 22 years of marriage. Speaking to the Daily Mail, she described how “physical and mental health are intertwined,” revealing that anxiety, depression, paranoia, agoraphobia, and an eating disorder were all “smooshed into one.” She admitted to “just shutting down” during the darkest periods, a coping mechanism that involved isolating herself and clearing her mind—yet this often gave anxiety too much space to dominate.

Amanda has long had “issues” with food and eating, which she says became “amplified” during her multiple pregnancies (she gave birth to nine children, including a home birth for her eighth child, Clementine). The stress of the separation, ongoing co-parenting and co-farming with Clive, single-handedly managing much of Ravenseat’s workload, and constant media attention exacerbated these problems. She described the “critical time” involving frequent hospital visits, with Clive confessing in joint interviews that there were nights he feared she “wouldn’t be there the next morning.”

The “price” of stardom has been steep. Fame from Our Yorkshire Farm (which ran on Channel 5 from 2018 to 2022 and drew millions of viewers) brought book deals, public speaking, and scrutiny—but also intrusion. Amanda noted how media interest shifted dynamics on the farm, where she and Clive once worked as equals. Post-split, she faced trolling about her appearance, which she has called out as body-shaming. Yet she remains determined, stating in responses to fans that she’s “happy and healthy” in her own way, prioritizing her well-being over external judgments.

Family Dynamics and Life on Ravenseat Today

Despite personal challenges, Amanda continues thriving in her core roles. She and Clive, now amicably separated, co-run Ravenseat and co-parent their nine children: Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clementine, and Nancy. The family dynamic remains central to their TV presence. Reuben has launched his own show, Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales, focusing on his heavy plant machinery business, while others contribute to farm life or pursue education and jobs.

Our Farm Next Door has been renewed for third and fourth series (filmed May to December 2025), with episodes returning to More4 in January 2026. The show captures the family’s highs and lows—restoring the derelict farmhouse amid Yorkshire weather, delving into local history, and balancing renovation with daily farming. Amanda has shared optimistic updates, expressing hope for the project as “a good home.”

Clive underwent hip surgery in late 2024, described as a “nightmare” with him being a “terrible patient,” but the family managed without him initially. Their continued collaboration highlights resilience, even as Amanda navigates her health privately.

Addressing the Rumors and Looking Forward

No recent reports confirm Amanda “testing positive” for a specific new condition like COVID, cancer, or another acute illness in 2026. The “heartbreaking news” teased in viral posts appears to stem from misinterpretations of her past disclosures about mental health and eating struggles, combined with ongoing observations of her thinner appearance. She has not publicly announced any new diagnosis but has emphasized self-care amid farming demands.

Amanda Owen’s story is one of profound strength amid vulnerability. From remote shepherding to national fame, she has faced life’s harshest elements—literal and figurative—while raising a large family and maintaining authenticity. Her recent openness about mental health and body image challenges serves as a reminder that even the toughest among us need support.

As fans continue to rally with messages of encouragement, Amanda persists on Ravenseat, tending sheep, updating followers, and embracing whatever comes next. In her words, she can “only do my best”—and for many, that’s more than enough. The Yorkshire Shepherdess remains an inspiration, proving that true resilience often shines brightest in the quiet battles fought far from the cameras.