ITV Emmerdale's Billy Fletcher's boyband fame, huge TV role and tragic past
Emmerdale's Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) has had to weather a fair few difficult periods during his time in the village, from a tense hit-and-run storyline to being blackmailed by Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham). Away from the Dales, actor Jay has also had to deal with plenty of pain in his own life but believes the challenges he's faced have ultimately helped to "build [his] character".
The 33-year-old father-of-three has managed to thrive despite suffering life-threatening injuries and an enormous loss in his early life, with his impressive career spanning everything from boyband fame to a role in a hit comedy-drama.
Devastating loss
At the age of just three months old, Jay and his mother Louise were struck by a car while on a pelican crossing, and his pram was sent ploughing through the window of a shop. Louise was seriously injured, while "miracle baby" Jay also suffered critical injuries, including a skull fracture.
Just a few years later, when Jay was four years old, mum Louise died in a car accident while travelling to DJ at Manchester's iconic Hacienda nightclub. She was only 21 years old. Following his mother's death, Jay was raised by grandparents Ann and Mike Kontzle, and believes his early loss helped shape the person he has ultimately become. In a 2019 interview with the Manchester Evening News, revealing: "I believe all these negative things help to build your character."
In a separate interview with OK! magazine, Jay praised his grandparents for the fantastic job they did raising him, stating: "My mum was the best person in the world, but my grandparents have done a really good job. I really appreciate everything they've done for me."
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Jay has described his mother as 'the best person in the world' (PA)
The actor suffered serious injuries as a baby (PA)Boyband fame
Emmerdale fans may not be aware that Jay has a talent for music as well as acting, with his boyband The Mend getting through to the finals of the 2012 series of Britain's Got Talent. Although they missed out on the top spot, with dancing dog Pudsey being that year's champion, The Mend continued to play for some years afterward, changing their name to Race the Horizon before finally going their separate ways in 2016.
Speaking with fondness about his time in the band, Jay told Cheshire Live: "Being part of The Mend was a huge life experience for me and some of the best times of my life. Obviously being on tour and performing live on TV gave me so much experience but as we grew older we realised that as a boyband that catered for teenagers, we couldn't keep re-inventing ourselves."
Jay's band made it through to the final stage of Britain's Got Talent (jkontzle/Instagram)TV success before Emmerdale
Jay had already enjoyed plenty of TV success before setting foot on the Emmerdale set, including a part in the university-set comedy-drama Fresh Meat, which follows six hapless students as they navigate life at the fictional Medlock University. The Crewe-born thespian has also appeared in ITV's Diana & I, before joining the cast of Emmerdale in 2018. Speaking of his joy upon getting the role, Jay told Cheshire Live: "It wasn't until I went that everything fell into place and the role really suited me. It's been a very busy and exciting time since then and I am very happy."
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