Kelvin Fletcher opens up as Fletcher’s Family Farm airs on ITV

Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2019 with his dance partner Oti Mabuse, was due to move to California with his wife, actress Liz Marsland, before the pandemic struck and forced them to consider other options.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 the couple talked about life on their new 120-acre farm in Wincle, near Macclesfield, and whether his role as farmer Andy Sugden, which he played for 20 years on the soap, prepared him.

The 39-year-old said: “Zero preparation, there’s nothing transferable, there’s nothing that I ever thought once on our three-year journey here where I was like 'oh I remember that from Emmerdale' – no.

“Ninety-five percent of playing a farmer on a fictional serial drama was talking about who you’re getting in bed with – mind you we’ve had two more kids since we’ve been here, so maybe!

“You played a farmer for 20 years but I don’t see that connection; I played a farmer but I was an actor, what I was playing was irrelevant.

"I’ve not seen that connection there so I’m now living my character's life – but not fully because he was in and out of prison and all sorts!”

The couple moved into their farm on the edge of the Peak District in 2020 with their two children Marnie, now aged seven, and Milo, now aged four.

Kelvin Fletcher with wife Liz Marsland, seven-year-old Marnie and four-year-old Milo

They look after 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, six chickens, three alpacas, a cat and a dog on their farm, and have since had one-year-old twin boys, Maximus and Mateusz.

Speaking on the On Your Farm segment of the show, Liz said: “We were originally meant to be in California.

"We said 'listen let’s go to California for a few years, we’re actors, let’s just go see what happens and be free for a little bit'.

“And then lockdown happened, visas got stopped and it put a bit of curveball into everything and then we had one of those moments – I always say I’m a true believer in the universe – Kelvin was on the train going through the Peak District he was on Rightmove saw this farm and said ‘what about moving to a farm’.”

Now, a film crew has followed their family around which has been live each Sunday morning on ITV1 show Fletcher’s Family Farm.

The couple talked to host Caz Graham about leaving the soap and how Strictly was good preparation for catching sheep.

Kelvin added: “I think we knew subconsciously we wanted to live somewhere different, just pick up and drop somewhere new, and this idyllic farm was an idea and we got here and Liz thought it was beautiful.

“It wasn’t us we’re not farmers, outbuildings, fields and I said 'why not', Liz probably thought I was crazy, our family thought I was crazy. Why would you want to do that? But why would you not?

“I’m an outdoor person, and I just think it’s our natural habitat as human beings, we’re just nomads, we’re feral, we’re meant to be and for me getting a bit closer to nature felt like a bit of a reconnection.”

He added: “I can’t explain it, other than that I felt this was going to be our home. It felt like a beautiful place to be home as a young family.

“We took a bit of a punt, people probably thought we were crazy, stupid, naïve, but we’re determined. I back myself and my family and what we set out to do. We’re three years in and I’ve never looked back.”

Residents wishing to listen to the full episode should visit BBC Sounds and search Farming Fletcher Style.

Got a story? Email me at joe.yates@newsquest.co.uk or direct message me on Twitter @JMYjourno