Our kids are completely feral – they run about with no shoes on and lick everything, says Kelvin Fletcher’s wife Liz
LIZ Fletcher and her actor hubby Kelvin swapped showbiz parties for pig pens when they bought a 120-acre farm.
The couple had no agricultural experience, but while the 39-year-old actress and mum of four has little regret about their new lifestyle, there are some aspects of city life she is not ready to let go of.
- Dress and Earrings, Karenmillen.com
- Rings, Sorujewellery.com
- Boots, Next.com
Liz, who used to live in Oldham, says: “We still get glammed up for awards shows and parties.
“We went to Strictly at Blackpool for the last series, which was amazing.
“We went to the RTS Awards, so we still have a good mixture.
READ MORE ON KEVIN FLETCHER
“It makes me appreciate the glitzy side of life that little bit more. When I do get glammed up I make the most of it.
“The next day I’m home, covered in baby sick or sheep muck.”
Liz, who is mum to Marnie, six, Milo, four, and nine-month-old twins Max and Matheus, says that no matter what, farming comes first.
She adds: “When we were about to go to Blackpool, we were all dressed up.
Most read in Celebrity
“My mum, who was round to look after the kids, suddenly said, ‘Are those sheep supposed to be out there?’.
“Two of our sheep were running outside the window.
“I was like: ‘Kelvin!’ So he’s there in his suit, I quickly threw my heels off and stuck Kelvin’s trainers on and next thing I know we’re trying to herd these sheep back into the field.
“Kelvin had left the gate open. Anyway, we got them in, I changed my shoes back, grabbed my handbag, got in the car and off we went.”
So proud
With such a busy life Liz, who appeared on telly in Cold Feet and In The Club and has a host of theatre credits, needs to be on her toes, not least when it comes to raising their children on the farm.
She and 2019 Strictly winner Kelvin, 39, who have been married for seven years, bought the Peak District farm and its 80 animals just before the first lockdown.
- Earrings,
- Blazer and top, Reserved.com
- Belt, Reserved.com
- Dress, Karenmillen.com
- Rings,
- Boots, Next.com
- Blazer, Primark.com
- Dress & Boots, Next.com
Marnie was three and Milo was a baby. The twins arrived in April last year. Liz says: “The kids are completely feral.
“They run about with no shoes or coats on and they love it. But they’re never out of our sight.
“Milo’s just got out of the phase of licking everything.
“I was so paranoid but he’s not as dangerous around the farm any more now he’s a bit older.
“Marnie knows how to spot a lamb in distress or dying. It didn’t scare her or put her off, she understood it was our responsibility to sort it.
“She gets the circle of life and I’m so, so proud.”
But Liz admits juggling baby twins with the farm is tougher than she first thought.
She says: “The one thing I was told about twins is that they’d do everything the same and in sync.
“They do nothing at the same time! There was a moment when I didn’t go without a child in my arms at some point.
“As soon as one would wake up, the other was asleep.
“Having one awake is easier than both. I’ll stick one on the hip or in the baby carrier and I’ll just get out there. It’s survival mode.
“You just have to make it work so everyone’s sorted. The main thing is to fill kids with security.
“I’m not a perfect parent. They might have gone to school with messy hair and un-ironed uniform, but as long as they’re happy, that’s all that matters.”
Liz jokes that Kelvin, who played Emmerdale’s Andy Sugden for 20 years and was also in Death In Paradise, is like her fifth child.
“When the kids are playing up, Kelvin just comes in as Mr Tumble, the life and soul, and I have to be good cop and bad cop.
“When I’m trying to get everyone wound down for bedtime, being all softly, softly, with my nice, calm routine, he’ll charge in, wrestling everyone, trying to tickle them.
“I’ll then be telling him off, like he’s a child.” Nevertheless, Liz makes sure she and Kelvin have time for romance, even if it’s not all champagne and roses.
She says: “The kids come first. But as soon as they’re sorted, we make sure the animals are fed and watered and then it’s ‘us’ time.
Picking up poo
“So if we get a date in there somewhere, that’s a bonus.
It was our anniversary in November and all we managed to get in was a little breakfast at the garden centre.”
Liz says friendship is the foundation of their marriage. The pair have known each other since they were eight.
She says: “There’s no real secret, but liking each other is a start. We always make each other laugh. The fun is the one thing that doesn’t change.
“We don’t have to be romantic all the time. We feel so lucky and blessed to have four kids, a farm and each other.
“We don’t need candlelight. Once we get the kids in bed we can enjoy the evening together.
“Like everyone with children, you’re short on time so you just do it when you can.
“Whether it’s just us sitting and having a cuppa at the end of the night, that is all we need sometimes.”
After working in fashion before retraining in musical theatre at the age of 28, Liz has fully embraced farm life and the couple have now written a book, called Fletchers On The Farm: Mud, Mayhem And Marriage.
The family also appear in Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure on BBC1 and regularly document their adventures on social media.
She says: “There are no bad bits. Even when I’m mucking the pigs out, I’m loving it. And I can’t believe I’m saying that.
“There’s something about being with nature and being surrounded by animals, I’m so happy. Even when picking up poo.
“Kelvin’s totally at peace while farming. He oozes it.
“He loves nothing more than having his wellies and overalls on and getting out there. We both do.”
READ MORE SUN STORIES
- Fletchers On The Farm: Mud, Mayhem And Marriage is available from major supermarkets and book stores, £8.50.
Stylist: Lynne McKenna
Makeup: Sara Bowden
Hair: Ben Sweatman