22 December 2023 , 15:53
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Seven years after departing Emmerdale, actor Kelvin Fletcher is clearly embracing his new career with his wife, Elizabeth.
The 39-year old rose to fame after joining the ITV soap in 1996 as Andy Sugden - the foster child of Dales icon Jack Sugden and his wife, Sarah. After quitting the soap in 2016, Kelvin went on to star in Strictly Come Dancing and lifted the Glitterball Trophy with his professional dance partner, Oti Mabuse in 2019.
Since then, however, he has largely shunned the limelight, instead opting for a new life in the country alongside Elizabeth and their four young children. The family are now the proud owners of a 120-acre holding on the edge of the Peak District, where they are responsible for 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, six chickens, a cat and their dog, Ginger.
The Fletcher family star on their own show, Kelvin's Big Farming Adventure (ITV)In a segment on Friday's Good Morning Britain, meanwhile, Kelvin gave viewers an insight into farming life, introducing three adorable eight-week old piglets. Discussing the career change, he admitted: "We didn't plan on this, but sometimes the best things in life are those that are unplanned really."
Co-host Ranvir Singh responded: "I know that wasn't scripted - it sounds like you really know your stuff. People will just assume its a home from home for you, Kelvin." Nodding, Kelvin joked: "I wish! Obviously the last two years for us as a family moving to the countryside and trying to farm - and get your head around farming - has been a whirlwind."
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He continued: "It's been a little overwhelming at times if I'm honest, but that's the beauty of this... adventure. It's a new chapter for us and there's nothing relatable or transferable from my time in Emmerdale unfortunately! I always tell myself Rome wasn't built in a day."
Kelvin and Elizabeth's farm sits near Macclesfield on the edge of the Peak District (Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)Together Kelvin and Elizabeth front Kelvin's Big Farming Adventure, which returns for a new series next year. Elizabeth then offered viewers an exclusive preview, showing off the farm's newly acquired Jacob sheep. Co-host Ben Shephard then joked that being so-called it was in his blood too to handle sheep.
The married pair previously revealed Covid boredom played a part in their decision to buy a farm. Elizabeth said in October: "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."
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