Kelvin Fletcher, best known for his role as Andy Sugden in ITV’s Emmerdale, traded the Dales for a 120-acre sheep farm on the outskirts of the Peak District two years ago.
The 39 year old former Emmerdale actor now leads a drastically different lifestyle with his wife Liz Marsland, and fans will soon have a peek into their world, which includes 100 sheep, 30 pigs, 10 horses, six chickens, a cat and Ginger the dog – not to mention their four children who are all under seven.
Their rural adventure will be documented in their upcoming series, Fletcher’s Family Farm. The couple described the dramatic change in their surroundings as a ‘rollercoaster ride’.
“Navigating farming life with four small kids is certainly a challenge but one full of laughter and unforgettable memories,” Kelvin and his actress wife announced when their new show was first revealed in August this year. Kelvin first met Liz, 40, when they were just eight years old, but they officially became a couple later in life after reuniting in 2009.
They subsequently tied the knot six years later in a grand ceremony at London’s One Mayfair. “I knew I wanted to marry Liz the day I met her. Deep down I knew she was ‘the one,” Kelvin confessed to Hello! Magazine at the time, reports the Mirror.
Kelvin and his wife are enjoying their idyllic life on the farm with their children and a menagerie of animals, celebrating 14 years of marriage. They’ve found peace in the tranquil countryside, a stark contrast to the earlier years when the former ‘Emmerdale’ actor’s career caused unrest due to the limelight and his romantic roles on-screen.
Back in 2010, Kelvin’s marital life hit a rough patch when he received suggestive texts and images from fans, which led to a separation. An insider revealed to The Sun: “Liz has always been jealous of the attention Kelvin receives.
“He is always getting stopped by girls wanting his autograph when he’s on nights out. Kelvin assures her nothing goes on but over the years it has worn her down and she decided that she just couldn’t continue seeing him.”
After a period of separation, Kelvin and Liz worked through their issues and got back together, despite the challenges that came with his on-screen kisses.
Kelvin spoke openly to the publication about how they handle such situations, saying, “I do ring her up and say, ‘I’m kissing so-and-so today’ and make a joke about it,” and shared, “That’s how we deal with it. But Liz won’t watch the show because she gets too jealous. To me, though, it’s just work.”
The accountant recognised that his interactions with ardent fans could be unsettling for his partner, but Liz had come to terms with his public persona, and it was no longer an issue between them.
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