Following weeks of industry speculation, Nova Entertainment has announced that Kate Ritchie will return to breakfast radio, joining Nova’s Sydney breakfast team Fitzy & Wippa, from Monday 13 March.
Ritchie is joining Fitzy and Wippa as co-host of Nova 96.9’s breakfast show which, from Monday will be called Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie. A talented broadcaster, actor and author, Ritchie has spent 10 years as a part of the Nova Network’s on-air line-up, the last eight years as co-host of the Drive show alongside Nova’s Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey. No stranger to breakfast radio, Ritchie also co-hosted Nova 96.9’s Sydney breakfast show alongside Merrick and Rosso for several years.
On Thursday, Nova confirmed that Ricki-Lee would be joining the drive team in Ritchie’s absence, in a new show called Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel.
See Also: Nova welcomes Ricki-Lee as a permanent member of the national drive show
Kate Ritchie said, “I am so excited to be joining Fitzy and Wippa in the very competitive breakfast slot. I’m a huge fan of the show and I’ve been great mates with the boys for years. The past eight years on Drive has been an important part of my life but I’m thrilled to take on this new challenge by returning to breakfast radio in my hometown. I can’t wait to wake up Sydneysiders beside two of the industry’s much loved breakfast announcers.”
Over the past 11 years, Fitzy & Wippa have built a loyal audience with their high profile interviews, charity backyard cricket matches with Prime Ministers and Premiers, Rap Battles with recording artists and celebrities, numerous World Record attempts, as well as raising millions to help those doing it tough.
Peter Charlton said, “Kate is a respected announcer and has spent over a decade with the Nova Network across two of our most successful shows. Her engaging personality, natural rapport and quick wit, has resonated with listeners and advertisers alike. Fitzy & Wippa are incredible talents with a unique approach to entertaining their loyal audience. Matching them with Kate has created a dream line-up and we can’t wait to see and hear what they get up to.”
Fitzy & Wippa said, “We’ve been annoying Kate around the office for over ten years, now we get to do it every morning. We are excited for our audience to hear how funny Kate thinks we are. Nova listeners have always loved Kate and now she’ll be served up every weekday. Please enjoy your breakfast.”
A Gold and Silver Logie TV Week Award winning actor, Ritchie is renowned for her two decades on Home and Away and has continued her work with roles including the upcoming series The Claremont Murders. Most recently Ritchie appeared as a judge on the Seven Network’s Australia’s Got Talent alongside David Walliams, Alesha Dixon, and Shane Jacobson, and co-host Ricki-Lee. She has released three children’s books – I Just Couldn’t Wait to Meet You, It’s Not Scribble to Me, and the recently released Everyday Play by Kate Ritchie.
Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie launches on Monday 13 March from 6am on the Nova 96.9 in Sydney and will be heard around the country on the Nova Network around the country from 6pm to 7pm. The show can be streamed live via the Nova Player or you can catch up with the show’s daily podcast.