Kelvin Fletcher has never been one to court controversy for the sake of it, but when the former Emmerdale star and Strictly Come Dancing champion opens up about fellow celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson,

fans are guaranteed an honest, entertaining, and surprisingly revealing take. In a world where comparisons between TV farming stars have become inevitable, Fletcher is now setting

the record straight—offering warmth, wit, and a refreshing dose of perspective about life on the land and the man often dubbed its most outspoken ambassador.

At 41, Fletcher has quietly but confidently carved out a new chapter for himself, far removed from the dramatic storylines of soap village life. Since leaving Emmerdale, where he became a household name, Fletcher has reinvented himself as a farmer, businessman, and family man. Alongside his wife Liz and their four children—Marnie, Milo, Maximus, and Mateusz—he took a bold leap in 2021, purchasing a 120-acre farm in rural Cheshire. What followed was not just a lifestyle change, but the beginning of a deeply personal journey that has resonated with viewers across the UK.

That journey has been documented in ITV’s Fletcher’s Family Farm, a series that captures the highs, lows, chaos, and quiet triumphs of learning agriculture from the ground up. Inevitably, comparisons soon followed—particularly with Amazon Prime’s smash hit Clarkson’s Farm, which chronicles Jeremy Clarkson’s often chaotic attempts to run Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds. While the two shows share a common setting and theme, Fletcher has made it clear that the similarities largely end there.

During a recent appearance on the Motorhome Matt podcast, Fletcher was asked—tongue firmly in cheek—about being described as “the good-looking Clarkson of the farming world.” Rather than bristling at the comparison, Fletcher responded with his trademark humor and humility. “I think Clarkson is pretty good-looking anyway,” he laughed, before adding that he sees himself as “the shorter version of him really, with a lot less ground and probably maybe a little bit less abrasive.”

The banter didn’t stop there. When host Matt jokingly interjected with “and better teeth,” Fletcher chuckled along, brushing off the comment with good grace. It was a light-hearted exchange, but one that revealed something deeper about Fletcher’s attitude. Rather than competing with Clarkson, he seems content to exist alongside him—on his own terms.

This is not the first time Fletcher has addressed the inevitable comparisons. Speaking on ITV’s This Morning last year, he offered a thoughtful and measured response that spoke volumes about his respect for the genre and the people within it. “Clarkson’s Farm is fantastic,” Fletcher said at the time. “Matt Baker’s as well. We’ve seen Our Yorkshire Farm. There are so many shows like that. They all represent informative TV. It’s escapism. They’re all unique in their own way.”

What truly sets Fletcher apart is his refusal to frame farming television as a rivalry. Where Clarkson’s series thrives on large-scale commercial ambition, political clashes, and his famously abrasive humor, Fletcher’s project is intentionally smaller, quieter, and more intimate. “Clarkson’s got a huge endeavor there—a massive commercial business—and it’s hilarious as well,” Fletcher acknowledged. “Whereas this is just a little family farm. For us, it’s all about living.”

That distinction lies at the heart of Fletcher’s philosophy. His show is not about spectacle or provocation; it’s about adaptation, resilience, and family. Viewers watch as he and Liz juggle parenting with unpredictable weather, livestock mishaps, and the steep learning curve of modern farming. The emotional stakes are different too. This isn’t a celebrity experiment—it’s their home, their livelihood, and their children’s future.

Clarkson, by contrast, approaches farming as a grand, often combative challenge—one that pits him against bureaucracy, nature, and his own impatience. The comedy comes from conflict; the drama from scale. Fletcher doesn’t criticize that approach—in fact, he openly praises it—but he is clear that it isn’t his story to tell.

What makes Fletcher’s comments so compelling is their authenticity. In an industry where public figures often feel pressured to draw battle lines, he refuses to play that game. Instead, he champions diversity within the genre, recognizing that audiences can enjoy multiple perspectives on rural life without needing to crown a single “winner.”

There is also a deeper cultural impact at play. Shows like Clarkson’s Farm and Fletcher’s Family Farm have sparked renewed interest in British agriculture, shining a spotlight on the realities faced by farmers today—from red tape and rising costs to mental health struggles and community resilience. Fletcher understands the responsibility that comes with that visibility. His tone is gentler, his focus more domestic, but the message is no less powerful.

As he prepares to appear at Fletcher’s Country Workshop this weekend, Fletcher remains firmly grounded—both literally and figuratively. Farming, he admits, has humbled him in ways fame never did. It has taught patience, respect for nature, and the value of teamwork. These lessons are reflected not only in his show, but in the way he speaks about others in the same space.

In the end, Fletcher’s “shocking thoughts” about Jeremy Clarkson are shocking only because they’re so refreshingly kind. There’s no jealousy, no rivalry, no attempt to diminish Clarkson’s success. Instead, there’s humor, respect, and an understanding that rural storytelling has room for many voices.

For fans, that may be the most satisfying revelation of all. In a media landscape often driven by conflict, Kelvin Fletcher proves that you can build a compelling narrative without tearing someone else down. Whether viewers tune in for Clarkson’s larger-than-life clashes or Fletcher’s family-focused charm, one thing is certain: farming television is thriving—and there’s more than enough land for everyone to grow.