Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz have shared a major and emotional update, marking a significant step forward after a "devastating" year following a fire at their family farm.
A Long Road Back to the Farm
The couple, who star with their four children in the ITV series Fletchers' Family Farm, faced a huge setback in October last year. While the family-of-six were away, a neighbour alerted them to a serious fire at their farmhouse. The blaze left the property uninhabitable, forcing them into temporary rented accommodation for over a year.
In the season three finale of their documentary series, Kelvin revealed the pivotal moment of their return. "As far as big days go, this one's huge," he said. "We're taking delivery of our new lodge, the final step in getting us back living on the farm after a year of renting following a fire in the farmhouse."
The Emotional Toll and a "Posh Caravan" Solution
After the first section of their new temporary lodge was delivered, Liz opened up about the challenging aftermath. She explained that dealing with the consequences of the fire had become a "full-time job," involving endless surveys and logistical hurdles. The family had not even begun the process of clearing out the damaged house or starting the rebuilding work.
"So this just feels, although it's temporary, like it will help us make those steps a bit more efficiently," Liz shared, relieved at no longer having to be "in two places at the same time."
Kelvin emphasised the personal impact, stating, "After everything we've been through this year, the hardest part has been feeling so disconnected as a family." He added that being back on their farm land was reuniting them, saying, "We couldn't be happier."
Liz jokingly referred to their new lodgings as a "posh caravan" and admitted "a weight is lifting" with this progress. "The thought of being back at the farm 24/7, it just feels like the best feeling," she said.
A New Chapter and Fresh Challenges
Despite the joy of returning, the Fletchers are under no illusions about the work ahead. In a voiceover, Kelvin acknowledged that adapting to "lodge living" with four young children presented a "whole new kind of challenge."
Liz agreed, noting, "It's not your average caravan but there's six of us." However, her excitement was palpable as she looked to the future: "It'll just take the edge off of the upset of the fire I think and when we do the renovation, we're here, we're on site, we're back. We're back on the farm."
The family's journey back to their beloved farmstead, over a year after the traumatic fire, was documented in the finale of Fletchers' Family Farm, available to watch on ITV and ITVX.
