Kelvin Fletcher ended up becoming a farmer by ‘accident’ after quitting his life as a soap actor on Emmerdale.
The actor, 39, who played Andy Sugden in ITV serial Emmerdale for 20 years and lifted the Strictly glitterball in 2019, and his actress wife Liz, 38, best known as Cold Feet’s Rosemary, bought a 120-acre farm on the edge of the Peak District in 2020.
They look after 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, six chickens, a cat and a dog on their farm while they are parents to four children, Marnie, six, Milo, four, and one-year-old twin boys, Maximus and Mateusz.
Having just won Strictly in 2019, Kelvin seemed to have the entertainment world at his feet and was actually planning with Liz to move to Los Angeles, California to take his acting career to the next level.
But then lockdown hit, the diary emptied and one day Kelvin spotted a farm with a ‘for sale’ sign, and fell in love. Life lurched in the most unlikely direction… by ‘accident’.
Unexpected: Kelvin Fletcher, 39, ended up becoming a farmer by ‘accident’ after quitting his life as a soap actor on Emmerdale
New life: Kelvin lives on his farm with wife Liz and their four children, Marnie, six, Milo, four, and one-year-old twin boys, Maximus and Mateusz
Liz told the Mirror: ‘It was Kelvin’s idea. We had two children, no real responsibilities, they weren’t at school, we had no jobs… then all visas got stopped, but we were in the mindset for change.
‘Kelvin saw this farm on Rightmove and said, “Liz, what about buying this?”‘
Kelvin added: ‘We didn’t do it because we wanted to be farmers. We wanted something different.
‘We looked at all sorts of places but the thought of this quiet, idyllic life got us. Then, lo and behold, it’s not as quiet as you thought. There are sheep, so you think, “I’ll get some more sheep”. Then it snowballs.’
In January 2021 Kelvin was mulling over some programme ideas with a TV producer and mentioned the farm, almost in passing.
The producer thought it sounded like a sitcom – a modern-day The Good Life – and suggested this should be his next television project, having cameras follow the couple’s progress. A BBC series, Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure, duly followed, with the programme first airing in January last year.
However, Kelvin insists he would ‘never say never’ to an ‘Emmerdale’ return.
Kelvin starred as Andy Sugden on the ITV1 soap opera from 1996 until 2016 but is still a big fan of the serial and is open to the idea of making a comeback.
Soap star: Kelvin played Andy Sugden in ITV’s Emmerdale from 1996 until 2016 (pictured on the show with actress Louise Marwood in 2016)
Asked if he would film scenes again, he told Metro.co.uk: ‘Never say never!
‘It’s an incredible show, it’s got an unbelievable fanbase, since I left it’s gone from strength to strength…maybe that’s a sign I should stay away!
‘I’ve just finished a drama, I left to go and explore other things artistically and not only that, have a bit of adventure!’
Last year Kelvin appeared opposite Sheridan Smith in Channel 5 drama The Teacher but admitted in 2021 that he had faced a lot of rejection since leaving his signature role.
He told OK! Magazine: ‘A friend of mine, an actress, just messaged me and said, “I can’t even get a f***ing self-tape.”
‘So I know how frustrating those little selfies are, because I’ve been that person thinking, “Even they are working now.”
‘Let me tell you, I’ve had about 10 nos in these last few months. So, keep the faith. Patience is key, as I always say. It’s only a little gig, so don’t be getting too bothered.
‘For all those out there who, like me, are sick of hearing the nos, I’m sure I’m going to get a lot more nos after this one.’
Content source – www.soundhealthandlastingwealth.com