Former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher has opened up on the “accident” that led him to become a sheep farmer in the wake of his exit from the ITV soap. The 39-year old departed the Dales in 2016 following a 20-year stint as Andy Sugden before going on to win the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball trophy alongside Oti Mabuse three years later.

Since then, however, the star, who is married to Cold Feet actress, Liz Fletcher (nee Marsland), swapped the Dales set for a 120-acre farm on the edge of the Peak District in 2020. That wasn’t part of the plan, however, as Kelvin admitted the family had hoped to move to Los Angeles in a bid to take his career stateside – only for the Covid-19 pandemic to hit and change the course of their lives dramatically.

As lockdown hit, Kelvin, who shares Marnie, six, Milo, four, and one-year-old twin boys, Maximus and Mateusz with Liz, spotted a for sale sign, resulting in that “accidental” turn of events. The family are now responsible for 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, six chickens, a cat and a dog.

Liz explained: “It was Kelvin’s idea. We had two children, no real responsibilities, they weren’t at school, we had no jobs… then all visas got stopped, but we were in the mindset for change. Kelvin saw this farm on Rightmove and said, ‘Liz, what about buying this?'”

Kelvin added: “We didn’t do it because we wanted to be farmers. We wanted something different. We looked at all sorts of places but the thought of this quiet, idyllic life got us. Then, lo and behold, it’s not as quiet as you thought. There are sheep, so you think, ‘I’ll get some more sheep.’ Then it snowballs.”

The Fletcher family starred in Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure, which aired on BBC last year

Kelvin said a chat with a TV producer in January 2021 over ideas for new programmes ultimately led to the BBC’s Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure series – which aired last year after he mentioned farming in passing. Asked whether there is any prospect of a return to Emmerdale in the future, meanwhile, Kelvin told Metro in 2021: “Never say never!

“It’s an incredible show, it’s got an unbelievable fanbase, since I left it’s gone from strength to strength…maybe that’s a sign I should stay away! I’ve just finished a drama [The Teacher – with Sheridan Smith], I left to go and explore other things artistically and not only that, have a bit of adventure!”