Emmerdale legend Kelvin Fletcher reveals how he overcomes ‘daunting lower days’ with mental health
Since leaving his role as Andy Sugden in Emmerdale back in 2016, actor Kelvin Fletcher has had an eclectic career, starring in a number of television and stage roles.
In recent years, Kelvin and his family have taken on an entirely new challenge after buying a farm in the Peak District – a journey that they have documented on popular ITV series Fletcher’s Family Farm and Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure on the BBC.
He’s also backing a campaign by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies) to raise awareness for poor mental health among farmers.
The Mind Your Head campaign aims to raise awareness of the various challenges facing the UK’s farming industry, break down the stigma attached to poor mental health in the farming sector, but recognise that there are steps being taken to address it.
A study undertaken by the charity revealed that 95% of farmers under the age of 40 agreed that poor mental health is one of the biggest hidden problems currently facing the industry.
On top of this, the latest Office of National Statistics figures showed 36 suicides were registered in England and Wales among the farming and agricultural industry in 2021.
In an exclusive interview with Metro.co.uk, Kelvin revealed how he came to be involved in the campaign, and how a positive mindset has helped him through his ‘daunting lower days’.
He also discussed how playing a farmer on Emmerdale impacted his real-life work, as well as teasing what’s ahead for him in the future.
Can you tell us about the Mind Your Head campaign and how you came to be involved with it?
I think it was last year that I became involved. I’d like to think that I can represent their initiative in the sense of me as an actor, farmer, young male – and with my own family as well, and juggling many things, especially as a new entrant into farming, like many farmers there’s a lot going on.
I’m spinning a lot of plates in an industry where you don’t know what’s around the corner, so naturally, we’re all susceptible to that getting a little bit too much and your mental wellbeing being affected.
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So, I think for me hopefully is just having that positive mindset, and valuing what you’re doing, and putting everything in context and in perspective. Whether that’s being out in the fields and looking at a lovely backdrop, spending time with the children, amongst this ever-changing climate.
Farmers are going through a hugely transitional stage, and whether you’re a small owner like us or a big commercial endeavour, farming wise, I think we can all embrace change and embrace the unknown, and hopefully I’ve demonstrated that.
Yes, I’ve got bags of enthusiasm, but me, myself, I’ve encountered some lower days. Some days when it’s tough, when it is a challenge. It is daunting. There are things out of my control, out of our control as a sector that does worry. That does have an impact. You consider your own impact of how you’re farming. How is that impacting your community, the environment? There’s so many things to consider, it can sometimes feel daunting.
So, naturally, Mind Your Head is all about keeping a positive mindset, and trying to really hold onto the good things in farming, the good things in agriculture – and there are plenty! And really focusing on that and encouraging people to be open with their worries, be open with their mind in that sense. It’s that old tale, isn’t it? A problem shared is a problem halved.
Were you aware of the statistics linked to mental health and farming before getting involved with the Mind Your Head campaign?
I had no idea, and I think that’s quite telling. I wasn’t involved in agriculture and had no idea, then I became involved in agriculture and still really had no idea, and maybe felt that those feelings were felt by just myself, and it’s quite reassuring when you realise that there’s other people that probably feel the same.
And I’m quite different, I’ve come at this with enthusiasm as a new entrant, and still somewhat in the honeymoon period. So, I’ve got overwhelmingly a positive experience of farming. But I’m acutely aware that there are many farmers out there that are really feeling the pinch, and at times feel like this lonely road that they’ve chosen is too much to tackle.
Being aware of that, it’s a big shock. And a bit disappointing, as you would learn of any industry. Forget farming, but as young men we are unfortunately susceptible to poor mental health. The suicide rates and figures are nothing short of a disgrace, really. Heart breaking. So, any way that you can try and revert that and change that, then I think we can all take a bit of a duty.
Agriculture does have its place within that, and unfortunately, it’s not alone. It too has an issue with some poor mental health, and now being a farmer, I can understand why. But I want to focus on the good stuff and spread the message that a strong mental mind is fundamental, and has huge benefits, massive benefits, in everything else, really.
So, it’s got to start with yourself, with your own headspace, and if you get that right, it might be tough, but if you get that right, the implications can be fantastic elsewhere, with your productivity, your relationships, your friendships really can get off to a good start. But it’s got to start with yourself.
As well as being a farmer, you’re also a working actor and father to a young family – how do you balance all of those things?
You know what, balance is like the unicorn, isn’t it? Does it really exist? Because we’re all chasing it, and I’m chasing it more than most maybe! I want to be a great father, a great farmer, a great actor, a great husband, and a great friend! I’m sure at times something’s got to give, and you don’t want it to give because you want to do it all, but you’ve got to be realistic. So, I think it’s that never ending search of that balance, and I’m on that journey.
At the moment, we’re farming with enthusiasm and real scope. Lavish ideas, to think that this is the life for us, but it’s that sense of variety that certainly keeps me upbeat and engaged. One minute at the Olivier Awards, the next minute mucking a pig pen out! That’s the variety. I know it wouldn’t be for everybody, but that’s what I love. And for me, it’s a way of life.
There’s something, those pockets of joy that you can’t really describe. It would be an injustice to try. I’ve not got the vocabulary to describe the feeling it gives you. And that’s what I want. That’s what I’ve felt, and that’s what I’ve witnessed, and I just want to give that to my family.
So, at the minute I’m juggling my acting, and juggling fatherhood and juggling being a farmer. Jack of all, master of none, but I’d like to think I’m doing alright at every one and just enjoying the journey.
Having played a farmer on Emmerdale, did you learn anything that you’ve been able to apply to your actual farm work now?
You’d think so, wouldn’t you? You’d think that if I’d done it for 20 years that I’d have actually picked something up, but I don’t think there was a single thing! There’s an obvious connection there, I’m aware of that, but genuinely it never feels like there is a connection. That was another life. It was a fantastic chapter – probably a few chapters – of my life, 20 years in a fantastic show.
Serial drama is a real institution in Britain and, hopefully, long may it continue. It’s given me a great life, given me some great grounding. Artistically, I’ve learnt my craft in front of millions of people every night, so it’s a real honour to have done what I did with Emmerdale. But that was seven years ago now, and my life has very much moved on, and the only thing that I think is transferable is my passion and my love for the outdoors.
I lived in the city, but back then I remember looking out on the green fields and thinking ‘Ah, just beauty.’ You can’t help but admire the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. And still to this day, that’s the only thing that’s consistent.
What can you tell us about filming Fletcher’s Family Farm?
What a whirlwind! As an actor, to let the cameras into your home to film you being yourself, with your family, you can’t help but feel a bit vulnerable there, because I’m not playing a character. I’ve got nothing to hide behind! And not only that, but I’m in a situation that I’m not very good at, and I’m learning. Farming is still a new thing for us as a family. It’s a big undertaking!
Credit to ITV and to Daisybeck Studios, it’s never felt like a huge undertaking. It felt seamless, it felt fantastic. When the crew left, we’ve missed them. The kids have missed them. It doesn’t feel the same without them! The whole thing felt just right, and the product we got, we were all so proud of what we captured, because it felt like it was us on TV. When you watch an observational documentary, you don’t know how it’s going to be cut or edited, and what you got was literally how it was.
It was so genuine, and we enjoyed it, and we like to think that many people could relate to it, whether you’re in an agricultural background or not. Whether you’ve got a family or not. Old, young, single – it didn’t really matter. It was just a bit of wholesome, feel-good TV where you learn a little bit, there’s a beautiful backdrop and it’s somewhat reminiscent. Whether it’s a family dynamic or me and Liz bickering, hopefully there was something in there for everyone.
It just shows us as a real family, and that’s all we are. We’re nothing special, we’re just a normal family. Yes, we might have some crazy jobs, but ultimately, we’re just going about our lives as best we see fit. And to have people watch that and be on that journey with us, has been incredible, really.
And finally, would you ever consider a return to Emmerdale if the opportunity came up?
Like I say, Emmerdale was an unbelievable part of my life. I think the show is fantastic, and as a young actor I learnt so much there. And since then I’ve performed in the National Theatre, on the back of a reality entertainment show, so hopefully demonstrating my appetite to do different things. For me, the hunger is there to still do acting in different mediums, whether it’s drama, comedy, theatre.
Emmerdale was a fantastic chapter, but for me at the minute it’s all about looking forward and on the horizon there’s some exciting projects that are coming up! As an actor, it’s funny because in some sense I’m being myself, Kelvin, as this little farmer with his family, and then in the next breath I’m doing a drama for the BBC in the 1950s, playing a shin kicking champion, in some kind of village Olympics.
So, that’s the joys of being an actor, you never know what’s around the corner, really, and I’d like to think that there’s an array of characters I could play. And I’m just as comfortable doing that as I am being myself, on the farm with my family.
