Former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher has delivered a worrying health update to fans, revealing a significant injury that has thrown his family farm into disarray. The news came in the latest episode of his ITV reality series, Fletchers' Family Farm, which aired on Sunday, November 23.
A Costly Tackle on the Rugby Pitch
The incident occurred during a charity rugby match where Kelvin Fletcher was playing alongside professional athletes Gareth Ellis, Mark Flanagan, and Danny McGuire. The event was in aid of the David Lewis Centre, a charity supporting individuals with complex needs.
Initially benched, Fletcher eventually joined the game, where he was tackled. He immediately expressed concern, stating at the time, "I'm hoping, fingers crossed, I've not, but it feels like I've torn my bicep." A subsequent scan confirmed his fears, diagnosing a torn bicep that has left him unable to perform his daily duties on the farm.
Farm Duties Thrown Into Uncertainty
The injury could not have come at a worse time, coinciding with the upcoming Royal Cheshire Show where Fletcher was due to show his prized Lincoln Red cows. Faced with his physical limitations, he was forced to find a replacement.
Turning to his wife, Liz, he proposed she step into the ring. "My arm is killing me still. My arm's really sore and I'm just thinking whether it's best you taking them. You'll be fine," he said on the programme, adding, "Let's just see, but just on standby. How do you feel about that?"
Liz's response was less than enthusiastic. "Well not great, obviously," she replied, though Kelvin remained determined, reassuring her that "despite the adversity, despite the hiccups we're still going to go."
Wife Liz Steps Up Under Pressure
Later in the episode, Liz shared her anxiety about the unexpected responsibility. She confessed to the cameras, "Where I thought I was just going to be having a lovely day at the Cheshire show with the kids, no pressure, no worries, I'm now told I'm going to have to step it up and potentially be the one that's in the ring with the cow because of Kelvin's injury."
She admitted feeling "underprepared, more than last year" and expressed concern about how the bull would react to others in the ring. Despite the pressure, she concluded with resolve: "But we're in it now, what can we do? We're going."
In a lighter moment, the farm chaos was compounded when Kelvin also suffered a paper cut, prompting his wife to affectionately joke that he was a "delicate flower" before giving him a tight hug.
Fletchers’ Family Farm continues to air on ITV1 every Sunday, with all episodes available to stream on ITVX.
