Kate Ritchie makes emotional return to radio after six-month break: ‘Sydney has missed you'
The beloved radio personality returned to her co-hosting gig on Nova's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Friday morning with co-hosts Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald excitedly announcing she was back in the studio.
'We've missed you, Kate. It's so good to have you back, mate, it really is,' Wipfli said on air. 'Sydney has missed you. I've had so many people stop me and say, 'How's Kate? When's she coming back. We miss Kate.''
'That is lovely,' Ritchie replied. 'And I have heard much the same.'
The former Home And Away star was last on radio in late January before announcing in a statement in early February that she was taking break from the show to focus on her mental health.
At the time, invasive paparazzi photos that showed Ritchie appearing distressed as she spoke on the phone in a park where published by tabloid outlet Daily Mail.
In her statement, Ritchie called out the paparazzi for their 'relentless stalking' of her.
'The images of me taken last week show that I wasn't OK on that day,' she wrote in her statement at the time. 'My struggle is not helped by the relentless stalking of the paparazzi, in fact they are making it much worse.'
'Due to their constant harassment, they significantly add pressure and make my recovery that much more difficult.'
Although upon her return she did not share details on her time away from Nova HQ, Ritchie said it was good to be back, telling he co-hosts and the entire crew that she 'missed you very much'.
But the formalities ended there with Wipfli and Fitzgerald itching to playfully roast Ritchie for her absence.
'To go on a six-month holiday … like Italy was great, you sent me photos from Indonesia, round-the-world trips,' Wipfli joked.
Ever the good sport, Ritchie replied, 'I've been everywhere, man. I've been everywhere.'
'No, it was very exciting to be back this morning. [Producer] Tommy [Ivey] met me in the car park in case somebody was parked in my spot because we didn't want to kick off with me having a tantrum down there,' she said,
'No, that's why you left last time,' Wipfli chimed in.
Ritchie said that there were so many changes made in the building since she left, from the carpet to a news glass door. But after some 'really awkward … small talk' as she made her way to the studio, she has nicely settled in again – albeit while battling a cold.
'The fact that you went and got a cold so you can fit in with the rest of the team, it's wonderful commitment to the team,' Wipfli told her.
Ritchie revealed that she 'nearly rushed back' sooner after seeing a series of worrying videos on Wipfli's Instagram Stories.
'I have to say, I think everything happens as it's meant to happen, and I love that I'm back here this morning,' she said. 'I've missed you and blah blah blah … but I was going to rush back a few weeks ago because I thought I was going to have to conduct a linguine intervention.'
'I was watching your socials thinking I've got to get back there because no one is looking after this guy,' she told Wipfli.
When he replied that 'someone has to stop this mouth,' Ritchie quipped, 'That includes the talking.'
Jokes aside, Wipfli and Fitzgerald remained Ritchie's biggest supporters this past year.
They had her back when she stepped away from the show in January, saying at the time they respected her decision while also calling out the Daily Mail for publishing the photos of their 'beautiful colleague and close friend'.
'Thank you for all the calls and all the messages that we've received and Kate's been receiving,' Wipfli said on air in February 'We've all been chatting with her and checking in regularly. Mental illness is tough and what was portrayed in the media was not right. There was an option to help and that was not taken, rather it was filmed and sold for commercial purposes.'
Fitzgerald agreed, saying: 'What you saw last week, obviously visually she was very distressed.'
'In a time like that when you see someone who is visually struggling, like she was, our thought is to extend your arms and go over and try and support that person.
'Unfortunately, Kate felt like she wasn't supported, and now the whole world knows about it.'
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