Kelvin Fletcher played Andy Sugden on Emmerdale for 20 years before leaving in 2016. After winning the Strictly Come Dancing trophy, he has now shared his true feelings about his exit.
Former Emmerdale star-turned-farmer Kelvin Fletcher has opened up about his personal life and new journey in farming. Best known for playing Andy Sugden, the 41-year-old discussed his decision to leave the soap on the Who We Are Now podcast with Richard and Izzy Hammond, reflecting on his acting roots and the major lifestyle shift he took with his wife, Liz Marsland.
He shared, “Performing is incredible to me, and I actually discovered it by accident. I just fell in love with the idea of becoming someone else, improving, and everything that comes with it. It was the one thing I truly excelled at.
Kelvin joined Emmerdale in 1996 and stayed for two decades before leaving in 2016 to pursue new opportunities, including a successful stint on Strictly Come Dancing. Reflecting on his decision, he shared on the Who We Are Now podcast that after 20 years in the same role, he felt it was time to move on.
“When I decided to leave Emmerdale, after 20 years in a secure job, it seemed like such a bold—maybe even foolish—move. My dad was like, ‘What are you doing, Kelvin?’” he admitted.
Despite initial doubts, the decision has paid off. Now, he and his wife, Liz Marsland, run a 120-acre farm in Macclesfield, which has even become the setting for their own TV show.
After leaving Emmerdale, Kelvin didn’t stay away from the cameras for long. He, his wife Liz Marsland, and their children now star in their own ITV series, Fletcher’s Family Farm.
Their daily life is a far cry from the soap set, as they manage a bustling farm with 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, and six chickens. Reflecting on the drastic lifestyle change, Kelvin shared, “We often wait for opportunities to come to us, but in our experience, you have to get out there and make them happen.
Podcast co-host Richard Hammond asked Kelvin if taking this leap had involved any risks, to which he replied, “Oh, huge! As a couple, oh my. As a family, yes.”
Hammond then brought up the couple’s plans to move to California, curious about what happened. Kelvin explained that after leaving Emmerdale and competing on Strictly Come Dancing, their original plan had been to move to America.
“At the time, we only had one child,” he shared, with his wife Liz joking that “we couldn’t afford them all on the visa anyway, so they’ve done us a favour.”
Ultimately, they traded the Californian dream for life on their Macclesfield farm—a decision that has paid off, with their hit ITV show Fletcher’s Family Farm allowing them to fully embrace their new adventure.