Latest news with #KateRitchie
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Much-loved Nova star returns to radio after months off
Radio star Kate Ritchie has returned to the airwaves following a six-month mental health break, telling fans she's 'incredibly grateful' to be re-taking her breakfast seat despite her sudden departure in February. The former Home & Away actress has become a radio stalwart on the Nova network and was welcomed back with open arms by her Nova colleagues Fitzy & Wippa, Tom Ivey, and Jess Francis on Friday morning. After being re-introduced in a cheeky rollcall, the 46-year-old appeared refreshed as she coyly shouted 'present!' before addressing listeners. 'It is so good to be back, and I didn't want to really kind of stop down and talk too much about everything,' she began. 'But I just have to say, in all honesty, I have felt such gratitude, I think.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Earlier this year, the star announced she'd be taking a break to 'focus on my health', thanking those in her corner for assisting throughout the difficult period. Her official departure followed several days of absence from the air and mounting speculation that her mental state was suffering. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she told fans in a statement at the time. Kate Ritchie alongside co-hosts Fitzy and Wippa. Credit: Kate Ritchie/IG / IG In her return, Ritchie reassured listeners that she was in a much better place. 'I'm not going to hit you with a hashtag blessed or anything like that, but I feel so incredibly grateful for the period of time that I have had away from the studio, and not only away from Nova, but away from lots of things,' she added. But it wasn't just those immediately around the star that had offered words of support, with the host thankful for the kindness and respect she was shown by strangers. Kate Ritchie has returned to Nova radio in Sydney. Credit: Supplied 'The amount of people who have reached out to me over this period of time, and since earlier in the year, has been absolutely mind-blowing,' she said. 'For people to bother to actually say, without being intrusive, 'Hey, it's really nice to see you, hope you're doing well. Can't wait to hear you back on radio'... 'What has been the most important thing and the most different thing for me this time is that despite all of the love that I feel, I didn't do it for anybody else, I did it for me.' Fans and friends of Ritchie have expressed their support on social media, with former Home & Away co-star Lynne McGranger leading the chorus of well-wishes. 'That is wonderful news!! Welcome back love!! 🩷🩷🩷,' the newest Gold Logie winner said. Perth's Nathan, Nat & Shaun also sent their love, offering three love heart emojis in wake of the positive news. WA's Nova breakfast stalwarts have experienced a similar absence from their regular line-up, with long-time host Nathan Morris yet to return on a permanent basis following a similar months-long stint off air. Ritchie has not gone entirely off-grid, however, returning to her TV roots to promote her parenting docuseries The Role of a Lifetime, starring alongside Amanda Keller, Maggie Dent, and Nazeem Hussain.
Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Kate Ritchie returns to Nova breakfast radio after six-month break
Don't miss out on the headlines from Entertainment. Followed categories will be added to My News. Kate Ritchie has made a welcome return to breakfast radio after six months off the airwaves. 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. Never miss the latest entertainment news from Australia and around the world — download the app direct to your phone. Kate Ritchie makes surprise radio return Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. X Learn More Loaded : 21.40% 0:00 Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 00:46 SUBSCRIBER ONLY Kate Ritchie makes surprise radio return to...... more more the airwaves - and copped a roasting about her "six-month holiday" The radio host finally made her return ... more MORE: Rich Aussie radio stars' secret millions exposed At the time, invasive paparazzi photos that showed Ritchie appearing distressed as she spoke on the phone in a park here 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 go into details about her time away from Nova HQ, Ritchie said it was good to be back, telling her co-hosts she was grateful for the hiatus. 'It is so good to be back and I didn't want to really like stop down and talk too much about everything. But I just have to say, in all honesty, I have felt such a gratitude,' she said. 'I'm not going to hit you with a hashtag blessed or anything like that, but I feel so incredibly grateful for the period of time I have had away from the studio and not only away from Nova, but away from lots of things.' Kate Ritchie is back on air at Nova after six-month break. Ritchie said the support from Nova from the top down has been 'amazing', and so has the support she received from strangers. 'The amount of people who have reached out to me over this period of time, and since earlier the year, has been absolutely mind-blowing for people to bother to actually say without being intrusive, 'Hey it's really nice to see you. Hope you're doing well. Can't wait to hear you back on the radio.'' For Ritchie, the time away was something she needed to do for herself, not anybody else. 'What has been the most important thing and the most different thing about things for me this time is that despite all of the support and the love that I feel, I didn't do it for anybody else, I did it for me,' she said. Co-host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald welcomed Ritchie back with open and arms and a back of jokes. Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli joked it was nice to have Ritchie back after her 'six-month holiday'. Wipfli and Fitzgerald shortly lightened the mood by playfully roasting 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. Fitzy and Wippa address Kate Ritchie's absence Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. X Learn More Loaded : 15.13% 0:00 00:00 / 00:00 Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 01:05 SUBSCRIBER ONLY Fitzy and Wippa address Kate Ritchie's absence more more Ritchie taking leave from the show to deal with her mental health. Her radio colleagues spoke out about...... ... more 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.' The duo had Ritchie's back this past year. Picture: Justin Lloyd. 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.' Originally published as Kate Ritchie makes emotional return to radio after six-month break: 'Sydney has missed you'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Kate Ritchie makes emotional return to radio after six-month break: ‘Sydney has missed you'
Kate Ritchie has made a welcome return to breakfast radio after six months off the airwaves. 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.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Ritchie makes surprise return to airwaves after taking time off to focus on her mental health following public meltdown
Kate Ritchie has made a triumphant return to the airways, months after taking a hiatus to work on her mental health. The Nova 96.9 Sydney breakfast radio host, 46, had been absent from the show since January after she was spotted visiting a bottle shop and breaking down in tears in a park. Joining her co-hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli in the studio on Friday, Kate gushed: 'It was very exciting to be back this morning.' She went on to joke: 'It was really awkward, and it felt like small talk. I noticed there's a glass door where there wasn't one before, and we have new carpet.' 'Can you believe it? I was going to come back this week, and then I got a snotty nose… but I have to say, I think everything happens as it's meant to happen. 'I love that I'm back here this morning and I've missed you.' Fitzy and Wippa lavished Kate with praise, telling her how much they and the listeners had missed her over the past six months. Kate also joked that she'd forgotten how to do her job after so long away from the studio. 'We just had a quick word during the song, and he was just running through a few of the rules that perhaps I may have forgotten while I was away,' the mother-of-one mused. Fans were delighted to hear Kate's voice again, with one commenting on the radio show's Instagram page: 'So glad you're back Kate, I've missed you!' 'I couldn't believe my ears when I turned on the radio this morning!!! I've been waiting for this day! Welcome back Kate so great to hear your laughter back with us!' another exclaimed. Someone else noted it was 'noble' of Nova to 'hold down Kate's spot' on the show 'despite everything going on'. Fans had grown worried that Kate would never return to the airwaves following her public meltdown in January. Kate has been receiving ongoing support at a rehabilitation facility since her public meltdown, which saw her photographed in tears and appearing visibly distressed shortly after picking up daughter Mae from school. Kate had released a statement to Instagram in February addressing the concerning photos and explaining why she was taking a break from her radio 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 over the past week. '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. 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 had 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.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
NSW police officer reveals why cops touch your car
A highway patrol officer who has served with NSW Police for two decades has revealed exactly why police touch your car after they have pulled you over. Sergeant Steven Planinic, who works in NSW's Auburn Highway Patrol, appeared on Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie to talk about a Beat The Blue event, an organise that aims to reduce road trauma by educating car enthusiasts. Ahead of the event, Sergeant Planinic, who has worked in the force for 20 years, busted some myths people had about driving rules. Gemma, from Parramatta, called in to the program to ask a question that many Australians had been curious about. 'I'd like to know why is it, when you pull someone over, that you tap the car and leave your fingerprints as you walk off back to your police car,' Gemma asked. The sergeant said there was a reason why police did this, but they didn't love to advertise it. 'We don't really like to tell people why we do it, because of the reason why we do it,' he said. 'And it's about, like you said, your fingerprints on the car. So I will let you use your imagination as to why we'd leave bits of ourselves on someone's car. 'Because, if something doesn't go well, and that person drives off, you've left a mark on that car that they can't refute.' Wippa then asked whether it was deliberate, and Sergeant Planinic confirmed that it was 'very much deliberate'. 'It's a couple things — it's making sure the boot is secure, so no one jumps out of it, and leaving a marker on the car.' Sergeant Planinic confirmed there were many similar procedures in NSW Police's Highway Patrol unit. He said the training was 'extensive' and designed to make sure officers got home safely. Social media users were stunned to learn the reasoning behind the car tap. 'I was today years old when I learnt this,' one said. Another added: 'Police over here in the UK are quite open why they do it. If they, god forbid, were to be shot in the line of duty while carrying out a check on a vehicle. It's so if they catch the offenders in the car, they have the police officers fingerprints, and DNA on the back of the car.' 'I never knew this never took any notice but there you go you learn something new everyday,' another said. In addition to his work as a police officer, Sergeant Planinic is also the president of Beat The Blue, which was founded in 2016. The organisation is holding its fifth event on August 9, where 99 civilians will go head to head with NSW Police officers on a wet skid pan. Sergeant Planinic said in the last five years, officers have won 80 per cent of the match-ups — proving how important safe driving is. All money raised goes to NSW Police Legacy.
