Nova stars Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli reveal their show may soon be cancelled - following Kate Ritchie's departure: 'We've got to hang up the mic'

Daily Mail​

30-07-2025

Nova radio stars Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald have hinted their long-running breakfast show may be coming to an end.
Fitzy, 48, made the shock admission on their show on Tuesday morning, saying the co-hosts' contracts with Nova may not be renewed by the end of the year.
During a discussion about the program's future, Fitzy said: 'I don't think they are being renewed. I'm gonna miss it, but we gotta hang up the mic at some stage.'
The long-running breakfast show premiered in January 2011, with actress Kate Ritchie joining the programme as co-host in March 2023.
Daily Mail has reached out to Nova Entertainment for comment.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
Fitzy and Wippa, 45, have been without their co-host Kate, 46, since the start of the year after she took time off to deal with personal issues.
Despite Kate not appearing on the show since late January, it is still promoted as Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Nova's website and social media.
Last month, a segment on the program fuelled more speculation the Home and Away star was not returning to the show.
Fitzy and Wippa shared some details about their annual Singles Party, but there was one glaring omission.
The duo revealed they would host the ball for the singles of Sydney, but made no mention of whether their absent co-star Kate would be attending.
'It's back, Fitzy, Wippa and Kate Ritchie's Singles Party returns! One night, one room, 100 chances to find the one,' a promo played on the station said.
Co-host Wippa then chatted to Kate's fill-in presenter Chrissie Swan about the event, and said it would be a great night aboard a luxurious yacht on Sydney Harbour.
'Chrissie, last year you weren't even there! You are not going to believe it, before the Slow Dance took place, a couple already held hands and wandered off because they were having such a good time together,' Wippa began.
'This is the power of the Singles Party and it is back again for 2025, bigger and better!'
Veteran presenter Fitzy then jumped in to discuss how diverse the event would be, but failed to mention if Kate would be attending.
There has been ongoing speculation over when she'll return to co-host Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Nova 96.9 following her sudden departure in January after a troubling public incident in a Sydney park.
Kate's Instagram bio doesn't mention Nova anymore; instead she is simply 'actor, radio and broadcaster', which may point to her making a quiet exit.
Kate has been receiving ongoing support at a rehabilitation facility since the incident, which saw her photographed in tears and appearing visibly distressed shortly after picking up daughter Mae from school.
At the time of Kate's departure, Nova's co-hosts had promised their audience the absent Kate would return after one day off, but that timeline was soon dropped.
Nova has remained tight-lipped on any potential comeback date and did not respond to questions about whether the embattled star had continued to receive pay during her absence.