Former England striker Michael Owen has opened his Cheshire home to cameras for a new Prime Video documentary series titled Meet The Owens.
The fly-on-the-wall show, which premieres on Friday, sets out to answer whether the former footballer is as boring as his public reputation suggests. The series follows in the television footsteps of previous sports documentary projects centering on the Beckhams, the Rooneys, and the Vardys.
Owen candidly addresses his image in the opening episode of the series. "Even my kids say everyone sees me as dead boring," he says, before contemplating a snack at the fridge door and choosing a single triangle of Dairylea cheese for his toast after asking, "How many (triangles) do you have to have?"
Reflecting on his past sporting achievements, the former Liverpool forward remains confident in his accomplishments. "Without sounding big-headed I was exceptionally talented at football and broke every record," Owen says. Liverpool FC is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England, that plays in the top tier of English football.
Family life in Cheshire
The documentary introduces viewers to Owen's family, including his childhood sweetheart and wife Louise, alongside their four photogenic children. Among them is his oldest daughter Gemma Owen, a former contestant on the British reality dating show Love Island who has accumulated 1.6 million followers on Instagram.
The family resides in a stunning Elizabethan manor house located in Cheshire, a ceremonial county in North West England. Owen now owns and runs a commercial racing stable on the grounds, surrounding the horse-mad family with thoroughbred horses.
Tension arises when Gemma rescues a little Shetland pony named Bert. Owen affects to be upset about paying for food, farrier, and veterinary bills before nodding at Bert and declaring, "My favourite horse," quickly adding, "That was sarcasm."
Owen conducts his interviews in a wood-panelled room reminiscent of a Guy Ritchie movie character. "I'm either really happy or just happy," he confides on camera. Guy Ritchie is a British film director famous for crime movies such as The Gentlemen.
Broadcasting career and family bonds
Following his retirement from professional football, Owen struggled to find a purpose until horse racing filled the void. He reveals that his subsequent career as a television football pundit was hindered by a monotonous intonation that he could neither avoid nor hide.
Owen explains that he was unable to convey excitement he did not actually feel during matches. "If West Ham scored against Burnley, with all due respect, I just couldn't care," he says.
Despite his commentary struggles, the series showcases the close relationship within the family as they attend horse races, host owners' parties, and bid at horse auctions. Louise highlights their connection by stating, "I can honestly say Gemma is my best friend."
Gemma is as much the focus of the documentary as her father as she pursues her own television career. In one scene, she presents the Horse Of The Year Show for Channel 4, a major British public service television broadcaster, but experiences a mild camera error.
Speaking to the camera, Gemma introduces her co-presenter by saying, "I'm here with Carol and Wayne." The presenter next to her gently corrects her by saying, "I'm Fiona," before encouragingly adding, "You're doing a great job."
Personal habits and future plans
The documentary also uncovers several unusual personal quirks, including Owen's fondness for marine life programs. "I'm an orca pervert," Owen reveals, noting that orcas are actually dolphins rather than whales or sharks. He also admits to struggling with basic kitchen rolls, asking, "How do you tear it off?" when handling greaseproof paper, while maintaining, "I wake every morning and bounce out of bed."
Owen shows a lighter side at home when he puts down his plate of chips and Kaiser, one of the family dogs, wolfs them down to Owen's amusement. Louise also recalls how Owen was reading the Racing Post while she was in labor, to which he swiftly replied, "I offered you a read of it!"
Standing at the freezer door, Owen displays what he considers prime repartee. Pulling out a box of ice cream, he announces, "These are world-class," before taking out a second box and adding, "These are also world-class."
While portraying a genuinely delightful and loving family, the show concludes by teasing what lies ahead for the household. Viewers are informed that a celebrity travelogue featuring the family is expected next.
