Yahoo News Keep dancing? Why 'Strictly' winner Kelvin Fletcher doesn't see a future in the West End
Kelvin Fletcher may be celebrating a triumphant win on Strictly Come Dancing, but he has no plans to follow previous stars of the show into a life in musical theatre.
The former Emmerdale star wowed viewers and judges of the BBC contest with his skill on the dancefloor, but doesn’t want to keep dancing – instead, he’s hoping to use his success as a springboard back into acting.
Read more: Celebrity Strictly fans cheer on Kelvin Fletcher
Past contestants including Jay McGuiness, Louis Smith, and Kimberley Walsh have headed to the West End stage after starring in Strictly, but Fletcher said his heart still lies with acting.
"It's just been an absolute privilege."
HUGE congratulations #Strictly 2019 winners Kelvin and Oti! @kelvin_fletcher @OtiMabuse #StrictlyFinal pic.twitter.com/jdbm7ZZsfH— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 14, 2019
He told PA News: “As an actor I’ve loved dancing, but for me drama and film is where I want to be and what I want to do, and hopefully this has been an opportunity for people to see me in a different light, and I’m hopefully confident that I can get back into the acting world.
“Who knows what the future brings?”
He added: “I think the West End is fantastic, but for me TV and drama is where I want to be.”
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Fletcher, 35, spent 20 years playing Andy Sugden in Emmerdale and since leaving in 2016 has been following his passion for motor racing.
He joined Strictly as a last-minute stand-in, when Oti Mabuse’s original celebrity partner, Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing, had to drop out after being injured during the launch show.
In Saturday night’s final, Fletcher and Mabuse won with a trio of performances including two of the competition’s toughest dances, the Rumba and Samba, as well as a Showdance that scored a perfect 40.
This Showdance makes us wanna Shout! 🙌 What a marvellous mash-up of @kelvin_fletcher and @OtiMabuse's greatest hits. #StrictlyFinal pic.twitter.com/vSXDXN9d5a
— BBC Strictly ✨ (@bbcstrictly) December 14, 2019
They beat finalist pairs Karim Zeroual and Amy Dowden and Emma Barton and Anton du Beke in the public vote.
He described himself as “pretty shy” and said it “always takes a few beers” for him to get on the dancefloor at parties.
Dad-of-two Fletcher has said he now plans to go on a family holiday with wife Eliza and their two children.
