Celeb pals turn out as soap star opens farm to public
FORMER Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher and wife Liz opened their farm to the public at Christmas for the first time - just as snow began to blanket their home.
The couple have created a magical Santa’s Village on their Peak District farm which is now open on weekends throughout December to ticketholders.
The Fletchers’ Farm is currently featuring on a Sunday morning ITV documentary exploring how first time farmers Kelvin and Liz are getting to grips with their new life.
They moved to the farm in 2022 with their four young children.
On Saturday night a host of the couple’s famous pals headed out to Wincle to get the first look at the festive transformation.
And the snow started to blanket the farmland just as guests began to arrive.
Famous friends of Kelvin and Liz’s turned out to support the first night of the winter wonderland.
That included former Corrie star Shayne Ward and actress wife Sophie Austin enjoying the experience with daughter Willow.
Sophie even posted on her Instagram page that it was the “best Christmas event we have been to”.
She posted a series of videos from inside the
event, which includes a visit to Santa, a giant snowglobe and largerthan-life piano.
Sophie said: “Well tonight was pretty special, what a way to start Christmas! Hands down the best Christmas event we have been to!”
Kelvin’s former Emmerdale co-stars Laura Norton and husband Mark Jordan also joined the revels on the real-life farm on Saturday night. They wrapped up warm with their children to check out the festive event.
Whilst parents caught up and chatted, enjoying the Fletchers On the Farm food and drink on offer, the children made reindeer food to leave out on Christmas Eve, met the farm animals and played in mini-Land Rovers and giant snow globes.
The littles ones also had the chance to meet Father Christmas and secure their place on the nice list.
Sports stars also headed along with Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess and partner Lucy Graham spending their first night out with baby daughter Robbie. Former rugby player Rob Burrow and wife Lindsey, campaigners for MND Awareness, also joined the event.
Former Brookside star Jennifer Ellison was also at the farm with her husband Rob Tickle. They were pictured enjoying the farm attraction with their sons.
Meanwhile Kelvin greeted Manchester United player, Amad Diallo, who took a country break of sorts with his young family for the evening.
Kelvin and Liz have been working hard to create their Santa’s Village for the first time this year. And their endeavours will be seen in a NEW ITV special to be aired on Christmas Eve on the channel.
Families can book tickets to attend the event on selected dates in December on the Santa’s Village website. Tickets for children (aged from 12 months to 12 years) for the experience are priced from £48 to £54, while adult tickets are from £24 to £28 depending on which date you choose in December.
The event includes food created by ITV This Morning chef Marcus Bean, using pulled pork and lamb from the Fletchers’ own livestock. The Fletchers have also got their own farm GIN that parents and carers can sample on their visits.
Kelvin says: “Liz and I are excited to welcome everyone to the farm this December.
“As a family we’ve put our all into making this experience as magical as we can and we hope visitors have the best time.
“Not only is it a bit of festive fun, but it’s also a chance to come and see a working farm, something some kids may never have done.”
Liz added: “Santa’s Village has been so much fun to put together. If families have half as much fun as we did setting it up when they visit, it’s going to be a blast!
“The kids have been amazing. Santa has his little helpers; we definitely have our own too.”
Oldham-raised Kelvin made the move from city living to the countryside for his new farming life. It followed his victory on Strictly Come Dancing
back in 2019 as the glitterball champion with dance partner Oti Mabuse.
He and wife Liz took on the farm in the Peak District national park in 2022 and now combine farming with raising their four young children - Marnie, seven, Milo, four, and oneyear-old twins Mateusz and Maximus.
The 120-acre farm is not open to the public day-today, but Kelvin and Liz wanted to host the special Christmas events to allow people to book and experience the place on selected dates through December.
It follows on from a successful lambing event they held earlier in the year which was open to the public.
The Fletchers Family Farm Christmas Eve Special is set to go out on the 24th December on ITV.