Latest news with #FitzyWippa
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Glaring detail in Nova announcement strongly hints at Kate Ritchie's future at the network
A segment on Nova's Fitzy, Wippa and Kate Ritchie has fuelled more speculation the Home and Away star is not returning to the breakfast radio show. On Friday, Fitzy and Wippa shared some details about their upcoming annual Singles Party - but there was one glaring exception. The duo revealed they will be once again hosting a ball for the singles of Sydney - but made not mention if 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 Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli then chatted to Kate's fill-in presenter Chrissie Swan about the event and told her it was going to be a great night aboard a luxurious yacht on the Sydney Harbour. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. '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 Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald then jumped it to discuss how diverse the event would be - but failed to mention if Kate would be attending. 'It was such an eclectic group of people we had [at last year's event]. A weird mix, ladies who had been unlucky in love, older men, private school boys, it was all over the ship and an amazing night,' Fitzy said. An excited Chrissie then said she needed to 'get in on this' and asked if she could attend, to which Fitzy responded: 'Yes... we need you here.' Kate was not once mentioned in their entire conversation about the upcoming event, although her name is still featured on station promos. The radio network first shared the news of the event on Thursday, alongside a promo image featuring Fitzy, Wippa and Kate, who has been absent from the show for several months. Confused listeners demanded to know if Kate will be returning to the radio program after appearing on the event poster. 'Where is Kate? She has been absent all year and nothing has been mentioned about her coming back, is she returning or not?' one person asked. 'Hope Kate is going well, will she be returning this year?' another concerned fan said. 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, Kate released a heartfelt statement on social media explaining her decision to step away from the show. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she began. 'So I have decided to take a break from the show and the team who I love to focus on my health. I want to thank all of those who are helping me through this very difficult time. Thank you Nova for being there when I need you.' At the time, Nova's co-hosts had promised their audience that 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.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nova listeners demand to know where Kate Ritchie is as radio station makes a major announcement after star's months long absence
Nova FM has announced it will be hosting its annual Singles Party. The radio network shared the news on Thursday alongside a promo image featuring hosts Ryan Fitzgerald, Michael Wipfli and Kate Ritchie, who has been absent from the show for several months. And now, confused listeners are demanding to know whether Ritchie will be returning to the radio program after appearing on the event poster. 'Where is Kate? She has been absent all year and nothing has been mentioned about her coming back, is she returning or not?' one person asked. 'Hope Kate is going well, will she be returning this year?' another concerned fan said. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'When is Kate back?' a third questioned. 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. Despite her absence, the breakfast radio show has continued to thrive with just Fitzy and Wippa at the helm, recently recording its highest ratings in almost a year. The duo pulled in an impressive 8.7 per cent share of the audience in the latest survey, putting pressure on Nova bosses to make a decision about the show's future direction. 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 Mae up from school. At the time, Kate released a heartfelt statement on social media explaining her decision to step away from the show. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she began. 'So I have decided to take a break from the show and the team who I love to focus on my health. I want to thank all of those who are helping me through this very difficult time. I love you. Thank you Nova for being there when I need you.' Kate went on to address the images taken on January 29. 'This is also a problem many others are struggling with. They know what it's like. The images of me taken last week show that I wasn't okay on that day,' she continued. She went on to thank her friends and fans for their support. 'Thank you to my wonderful family, all the Nova listeners, and many others who are sending their love and support. I appreciate it more than you can imagine,' she wrote. Footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia then showed the former actress crying while on the phone, wiping tears from her eyes and burying her head in her hands. A witness, who saw Ritchie get out of the car at the park, said the star 'looked really distressed'. 'She walked around a bit in the park while talking and then suddenly she sat down and started rocking her whole body back and forth and crying,' they said. 'It was really confronting – she looked so upset. When she turned around her eyes were all red and puffy and she looked absolutely devastated.' The actress was then seen struggling to get up from the grass. 'After the call ended, she tried to stand up but lost her balance and sort of fell over again,' the bystander added. 'When she finally managed to get to her feet, she started making another phone call... she looked much happier during that call.' Kate then walked around to the back of the vehicle – holding an arm out on the car as she got into the driver's seat and drove home. At the time, Nova's co-hosts had promised their audience that the absent Kate would return after one day off, but that timeline was soon dropped. This isn't the first time Kate has stepped away from her duties at Nova. In 2022, she took an extended hiatus from her drive-time program with Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey, citing exhaustion and burnout. She never returned to that show either. 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.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Ritchie looks stylish as she carries a $5,500 Louis Vuitton handbag during morning coffee outing with her daughter Mae
Kate Ritchie looked effortlessly stylish on Saturday as she stepped out for a low-key morning coffee run in Sydney with her daughter Mae. The former Home and Away star, 46, turned heads in a casual yet chic ensemble, pairing a cream short-sleeve T-shirt with beige trackpants featuring bold red side stripes. But it was her arm candy that truly stole the spotlight – a $5,500 Louis Vuitton Dauphine MM crossbody bag, complete with the brand's signature monogram print and gold hardware. Kate finished off the look with oversized black sunglasses and slicked her brunette locks into a low ponytail. She enhanced her beauty with a natural makeup palette as she clutched a Campos takeaway coffee cup and her car keys. Walking alongside her was daughter Mae, 10, who was dressed comfortably in a navy oversized T-shirt and grey trackies. The sighting comes amid 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. Despite her absence, the breakfast radio show has continued to thrive with just Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli at the helm, recently recording its highest ratings in almost a year. The duo pulled in an impressive 8.7 per cent share of the audience in the latest survey, putting pressure on Nova bosses to make a decision about the show's future direction. 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 Mae up from school. At the time, Kate released a heartfelt statement on social media explaining her decision to step away from the show. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she began. 'So I have decided to take a break from the show and the team who I love to focus on my health. I want to thank all of those who are helping me through this very difficult time. I love you. Thank you Nova for being there when I need you.' Kate went on to address the images taken on January 29. 'This is also a problem many others are struggling with. They know what it's like. The images of me taken last week show that I wasn't okay on that day,' she continued. She went on to thank her friends and fans for their support. 'Thank you to my wonderful family, all the Nova listeners, and many others who are sending their love and support. I appreciate it more than you can imagine,' she wrote. Footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia then showed the former actress crying while on the phone, wiping tears from her eyes and burying her head in her hands. A witness, who saw Ritchie get out of the car at the park, said the star 'looked really distressed'. 'She walked around a bit in the park while talking and then suddenly she sat down and started rocking her whole body back and forth and crying,' they said. 'It was really confronting – she looked so upset. When she turned around her eyes were all red and puffy and she looked absolutely devastated.' The actress was then seen struggling to get up from the grass. 'After the call ended, she tried to stand up but lost her balance and sort of fell over again,' the bystander added. 'When she finally managed to get to her feet, she started making another phone call... she looked much happier during that call.' Kate then walked around to the back of the vehicle – holding an arm out on the car as she got into the driver's seat and drove home. At the time, Nova's co-hosts had promised their audience that the absent Kate would return after one day off, but that timeline was soon dropped. This isn't the first time Kate has stepped away from her duties at Nova. In 2022, she took an extended hiatus from her drive-time program with Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey, citing exhaustion and burnout. She never returned to that show either. 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.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chrissie Swan's shock confession as she admits to four-year secret: 'I'm tired of hiding'
Chrissie Swan has spilled the beans on a secret she has been hiding for four years. The Nova star joined colleagues Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli, on their Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show on Thursday to make her shock confession. The former Big Brother star, 51, revealed she has been dealing with the effects of a midlife crisis. 'Here's the thing, midlife crisis, right? I recommend them to everybody,' Chrissie began. 'Something has happened and I want to know, from your standpoint, if this is a new evolution of my midlife crisis or if I'm just... being the person that I wanted to be as a teenager?' Admitting she was 'four years deep' into her midlife crisis, Chrissie added it was something she welcomed. 'I think it's like your whole world opens up into a glittering opportunity,' she said. 'That's why I don't really like the word crisis because that implies there's a problem. It should be renamed "midlife awakening".' Wippa then suggested that Chrissie may have misdiagnosed her 'condition'. 'I'm not a doctor but I would suggest you've been completely nuts since the day you were born,' he joked. It was an assessment with which Chrissie agreed, adding she was keen to embrace her 'nuttiness'. 'I can't hide. I'm exhausted from hiding the fact that I'd be nuts. I've just gotta be nuts and make no apologies for it,' she said. Chrissie then admitted her midlife crisis had manifested in her buying things that she missed out on during her youth. She asked Fitzy and Wippa to rattle off the items of clothing she was wearing, which included a Benetton jumper, a Swatch watch and a pair of Reebok sneakers. 'I am wearing classic '80s things. These were huge in 1988,' she said. 'Is this just the next phase of my midlife crisis or am I doing all this stuff that I couldn't do in 1988 because I was only working two mornings a week at Baker's Delight?' 'Maybe you're just angry you missed that period, so now you're trying to bring back 1988?' Wippa surmised. Chrissie's admission comes after she shared a remarkable sobriety milestone in February, admitting her decision to put down the bottle was the best she's ever made. She posted a short video that featured what appeared to be a clip art image of a sobriety chip featuring the phrase '4 years sober time'. Captioning the celebratory post, Chrissy admitted that she does not miss indulging in alcohol. 'Four years no booze today,' Chrissy wrote. 'One thing I have learned is this: there is not a single thing that alcohol makes better. 'It is still the best decision I have ever made (and followed through) for myself.' The Nova radio star revealed in 2021 that she quit drinking alcohol following Melbourne's harsh 112-day lockdown in 2020. Chrissie has also lost a reported 90kg in three years and has .
