HE is best known for playing lovable EastEnders market trader Martin Fowler. But after being brutally killed off from the soap earlier this year, James Bye has announced a surprising career move into farming.

However, his exciting new venture has raised eyebrows, with fans quickly drawing comparisons betweenJames and ex-Emmerdale star-turned-farmer Kelvin Fletcher. Soap insiders tell us Kelvin is well within his right to feel furious about it all, insisting it’s not the first time James has copied him. Here, we reveal how this is just the tip of the iceberg for Kelvin – as their bubbling feud is laid bare for the first time.

 

The copycat antics are all part of the actor’s desperate bid to remain relevant after his shock exit from the BBC soap.

A source told us: “Kelvin isn’t the first person to buy a farm and he really encourages others to give it a go, but people were surprised when his ‘rival’ James Bye and his wife announced they had done the same.

“When you leave your long-term job as a soap actor, it can be hard to find where you fit in and Kelvin has really made farming his thing.

“He’s even had a TV show off the back of it, the last thing he will want is someone stepping on his toes.

“Everyone is telling him it’s OK to feel annoyed by it – and have pointed out that James’ career is starting to look quite similar.

“But James and his wife Victoria are very determined and have realised people like watching their real lives, so will do what they can to keep interest up – even if it’s completely encroaching on someone else’s turf.”

Earlier this year, James and his wife Victoria – who share four sons, Edward, Louis, Hugo, and Rufus – stunned fans by revealing they had sold their house and moved into a caravan in a field.

Of course they knew he has a farm, they have been following their journey for a while

A Source

Then earlier this month the couple took to Instagram to reveal they had bought a farm – despite Victoria not even owning a pair of wellies and James being clueless about how to start the farm’s tractor.

Victoria wrote: “Yep, we’ve gone and bought a small farm. Yes, a farm. Despite the fact I don’t even own a pair of wellies and we have absolutely no idea what we’re doing.

“It’s a huge change, it’s terrifying, it’s exciting, and it felt like now or never. This year was a big one, and something in us just said: go for it. So here we are – slightly mad, slightly overwhelmed, dreaming big and winging it bigger – about to restore a long-empty little farmhouse that’s far too small for our family of six, wrangle chickens, attempt to drive a tractor, and somehow build a new future for our boys in the middle of a field.

“You know, as you do. And because life has a sense of humour, James heads off on tour with his new play in January (so if anyone is offering tractor lessons for a slightly knackered mum of 4, please form an orderly queue!)”

Victoria’s cry for agricultural assistance didn’t fall on deaf ears, with fans flooding the comments by suggesting Kelvin might be able to lend a hand.

One commented: “Ask Kelvin Fletcher. I’m sure he’ll have some words of advice and good luck”

Victoria replied: “I’ll get James on the case, think they did the Weakest Link together.”

Another fan wrote: “Kelvin Fletcher did the same. Please make a programme on it. Fletchers Farm is one of my favourite things to watch”

One posted: “Speak to @kelvin_fletcher, I’m sure he can give you some tips!”

Another social media user wrote: “I’m sure @kelvin_fletcher would only be too happy to give you advice!”

We’re excited, terrified, and mostly just hoping we’re not completely unhinged

Victoria Bye

Victoria replied: “Right Kelvin, get yourself over here for a cuppa. We need some advice [crying laughing emoji]”

Kelvin might even be up for that cuppa, because he commented on the post: “Amazing! What a chapter you’ve started. You can do this!”

James replied: “Cheers mate! can I have you on speed dial?!!! [crying laughing emoji]”

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But insiders have told us that Victoria and James’ apparent social media shock to discover Kelvin is a farmer may not be as innocent as it seems.

The source added: “Everyone finds it funny that James and his wife are acting surprised that people are suggesting they ask Kelvin for help.

“They are incredible switched on and have really been looking at what other soap stars do when they are out of work, particularly at Kelvin because there have been a fair few parallels between them.”

Kelvin and his wife Liz forked out on a 120-acre plot of land near Macclesfield, Cheshire in 2021.

Their farming efforts have been documented on BBC series Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure, and more recently on ITV’s Fletchers’ Family Farm, which began its third series in October.

‘Copycat’

But buying a farm isn’t the first time James has followed in Kelvin’s footsteps, and the former EastEnders star is said to count his fellow ex-soap star as a “secret inspiration”.

After leaving Emmerdale in 2016, Kelvin landed some acting roles before putting himself firmly on the map again in 2019 when he won Strictly Come Dancing‘s 17th series, despite only being a late replacement for injured Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing.

Three seasons later, James took part in Strictly, but he couldn’t match Kelvin’s fancy footwork on the dancefloor, and he was the fifth star to be eliminated from the series.

 

 

 

However, insiders have told us James would love to follow in Kelvin’s muddy footsteps and land an agricultural-based TV show when he gets his farm fully up and running.

The source said: “Kelvin has been a secret inspiration for James really – doing Strictly after the soap and of course getting their own telly show about the farm would be the dream.”

SHOW RIVALRY

Kelvin and James also crossed paths on a Strictly special of game show The Weakest Link in December 2024.

Was this when James had the seed of an idea to emulate Kelvin by buying his own farm?

The soap stars both did well in the contest, making the final three.

But when down to the final four contestants, the soap rivalry was apparent when James voted Kelvin as the weakest link, despite pro dancer Michelle Tsiakkas getting more questions wrong.

Fortunately for Kelvin, he survived, and he wreaked his revenge in the following round by voting for James, who was sent packing, meaning he narrowly missed out on a place in the final two alongside Kelvin and eventual winner Lauren Oakley.

James will no doubt come across plenty of pressure to succeed as a farmer, and there could be added tension if he starts following further in Kelvin’s muddy welly prints.

The source added: “James’ move has certainly got people talking and has a real whiff of soap rivalry about it. It’s the battle of the Emmerdale and EastEnders farmers by the looks of it.”

I know who my money is on.