Liz Fletcher, known to ITV viewers alongside husband Kelvin Fletcher on Fletchers' Family Farm, has a background in acting that predates her rural life. The couple, married for more than 10 years, manage a 120-acre working farm on the edge of the Peak District National Park with their four children.
The ITV programme follows their successes and setbacks over the past five years. Last year, they shared one of their most difficult periods after a fire at their home left it unliveable. Liz has said their next project is rebuilding and refurbishing the property, explaining: "It'll be nice to put this energy and effort into the house now and build a home for the kids."
Acting career before the farm
Born Elizabeth Marsland in Royton, Lancashire, Liz trained at the Manchester School of Acting and the London School of Musical Theatre. Since 2016, she has appeared in small roles in programmes including In the Club, Cold Feet, Pace and True Calling. Three years ago, she played Alex Burton, Cindy Cunningham's bank manager, in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
She has also performed on stage at the Manchester Opera House alongside Coronation Street's Jodie Prenger in a Gypsy charity concert.
Childhood romance with Kelvin
Liz and Kelvin have known each other since they were eight years old, having grown up just a few streets apart and sharing their first kiss as youngsters. They had a brief romance as teenagers and separated temporarily in 2010 when Kelvin rose to fame in Emmerdale as Andy Sugden.
They reunited and married in November 2015, later welcoming their four children: Marnie, Milo, Matias and Maximus.
Plans that changed course
The family originally planned to move to California, but the coronavirus lockdown halted their visa process. Liz told The English Home: "Originally, we were due to move to California, but [the coronavirus] lockdown halted our visa process."
She added: "With our house already sold, we found ourselves unsure of where we would end up. Then my husband spotted the farm and the idea began to take shape. I had never imagined living on a farm, let alone running one, but sometimes life takes you in wonderfully unexpected directions."
Fletchers' Family Farm continues every Sunday at 11.30am on ITV and ITVX.
