Kelvin Fletcher has swapped acting for agriculture and after five years of mud, muck and family chaos, he admits there is no turning back. The former Emmerdale star, known for playing Andy Sugden, has built a new life on the farm with his wife Liz and their four children – Marnie, Milo, Mateusz and Maximus – while letting cameras capture the highs and lows for ITV's Fletcher's Family Farm.
Now the Fletchers are preparing to take viewers into series six, proving their rural adventure is showing no signs of slowing down. It means even more farming drama, family mayhem and plenty of moments that simply cannot be scripted.
Shared ground with Clarkson
That is something Kelvin has discovered he shares with fellow celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson, whose Prime Video hit Clarkson's Farm has turned rural life into must-watch telly. But despite finding themselves in much the same boat, Kelvin admits the pair have never actually sat down to compare notes.
"No, we haven't yet," Kelvin told the Daily Star. "We haven't had the opportunity for that to happen yet." Still, there are plenty of similarities. Like Clarkson, Kelvin has discovered that farming provides enough drama without anyone having to dream up a storyline. As he puts it: "I think that's the beauty of the show and the beauty of farming as no two days are ever the same."
A rare night out
Kelvin, 42, and Liz, 43, were in unfamiliar territory themselves when they arrived at the National Television Awards to chat with the Daily Star. No mud. No muck. And, most importantly, no wellies. Kelvin joked: "It's good to be here and get the wellies off and get a nice suit on." Liz was quick to admit that dressing up was hardly their natural habitat. "It isn't our normal attire, we always feel so overdressed when we're not in wellies," she said.
But while the couple were enjoying a rare night away from the farm, their rural TV adventure was already moving full steam ahead. They have finished filming series five and are about to start work on series six, meaning the cameras will soon be following the Fletcher family into 2027.
Cameras as family
What began as a huge leap of faith has now become simply part of everyday life. Kelvin admits he once wondered whether having a film crew constantly around his family would prove difficult. Instead, the crew have become almost as familiar as the farm itself. "I think this was a big leap for us five years ago to let the cameras into our lives," he said. "It's been an amazing experience. It's still new territory for us in many ways and when you've got a film crew there one might think it would be a bit of an issue, but it's the opposite. We can't imagine them not being there now. They're part of the family and I think that comes across in the show."
Rather than simply watching Kelvin and Liz learn the ropes of farming, viewers get an unfiltered look at their family life – from bringing up four children to dealing with everything the land throws at them. Kelvin is also delighted that shows such as his and Clarkson's are bringing agriculture to audiences who might never normally get a glimpse of life on a farm. He said: "There are so many great agricultural shows but I think we can all agree that it is great for the industry, that we are taking agriculture to the everyday people and to be part of that is quite the privilege really."
New ventures and next steps
And despite the inevitable Clarkson comparisons, the Fletchers have no plans to simply copy anyone else's formula. They have already been finding their own ways to bring people through the farm gates. Liz said: "We've had a couple of pop-up seasonal events, we recently created a 'maize maze' and held a farm feast in the middle of it and cooked some amazing food." But when it comes to adding even more TV projects to their already packed schedules, Kelvin knows there is one major obstacle – the family. "We just don't have the time to do anything else between running after four kids and looking after the farm," he said.
However, there is a new Fletcher following in her parents' footsteps. Their daughter Marnie, 8, is already making her own mark in the acting world as Lexi Roscoe on Hollyoaks. For Kelvin, watching his daughter take her first steps into the industry is a hugely proud moment. "We are supportive parents," he said. "My advice to her is just work hard, show up on time and know your lines. That's it."
