Kate Ritchie Explained

Kate Ritchie
Birth Date:14 August 1978
Birth Place:Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality:Australian
Alma Mater:Hurlstone Agricultural High School
Children:1
Awards:Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (2007 & 2008)
Home and Away
Yearsactive:1986–present

Katherine Leigh Ritchie (born 14 August 1978) is an Australian actress, radio presenter, and children's author. She is best known for her long-running role as original character Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away, for which she won two Gold Logie awards. She played the character for 20 years, appearing from the pilot episode in 1988 until 2008. She currently co-hosts Nova 96.9's breakfast show Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie alongside Ryan Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli. Ritchie was part of Nova FM's national drive show, Kate, Tim & Joel with Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey from 2014 until 2023.

Prior to her retirement from Home and Away, she shared with fellow original cast members Ray Meagher and Norman Coburn the record (recognised by Guinness World Records) for the longest continuous role in an Australian drama series.[1] After a five-year absence, Ritchie returned to Home and Away in 2013 for a short reprise of her role as Sally Fletcher to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the series.[2] In addition to 20 years on Home and Away, Ritchie has also hosted various television events and appeared in commercials, a mini-series and an Australian film. She has also been involved with the Campbelltown Musical Society.[3]

In 2022, Ritchie appeared as a judge on the tenth season of Australia's Got Talent alongside Shane Jacobson, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon. In 2023, she starred as Carol Spiers in 7 Network's two part documentary series The Claremont Murders. She appeared opposite Erik Thomson, who played her on-screen husband Don Spiers.

Early life

Ritchie was born to parents Heather and Steve, and she has three younger siblings, Rebekah, Stuart and Susan.[4] Ritchie attended Campbelltown North Public School and Hurlstone Agricultural High School – the latter a New South Wales agricultural and selective school.[5]

Career

Ritchie was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine NetworkPBL mini-series Cyclone Tracy, starring Chris Haywood and Tracy Mann.[6] She started working with Home and Away in 1987, at age 8. Production began in July 1987 (shortly before her ninth birthday) and it premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. In 2006, Ritchie played "Nicole" in the ABC film Stepfather of the Bride.[7] While promoting Home and Away in the United Kingdom in 2006 with Mark Furze and Jodi Gordon, Ritchie appeared on The Friday Night Project and Loose Women, and appeared on interviews for Five and Five Life.

In 2006, Ritchie was a contestant on the celebrity singing competition It Takes Two, partnered with Troy Cassar-Daley. The pair placed fourth in the competition.[8] She co-hosted the second series of It Takes Two with Grant Denyer in 2007.[9] In 2007 Ritchie joined Nova radio to co-host the drive show with comedian Akmal Saleh, replacing Matthew Newton.[10] She was replaced in May by New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson.[11]

In September 2007, Ritchie announced that she would be leaving Home and Away in mid-December.[12] Her final scenes were filmed on 13 December 2007,[13] and she last appeared on Australian screens as Sally Fletcher on 3 April 2008, with her final episode being screened on UK terrestrial television on 12 May 2008.[14]

On 14 January 2008, Ritchie began work on the Nova 96.9 breakfast show with Merrick & Rosso.[15] Shortly after the 2008 Logie Awards Ritchie did an interview with Rove McManus on Network Ten, her first interview with another network since leaving Home and Away, and her first television appearance since leaving the show. On 16 October Ritchie appeared on pay-TV, on The Merrick & Rosso Show.

In November, it was revealed that Ritchie would appear in the second series of Underbelly, as Judi Kane, the wife of slain 1970s standover man Les Kane.[16] The series screened in 2009. This was her first TV drama role since leaving Home and Away. Throughout 2009, Ritchie continued her radio role on the Merrick & Rosso and Kate Ritchie Show.

In 2009 Ritchie became the face of Vaseline.[17] It was announced on 7 November 2009 that Ritchie would host the 2009 ARIA Awards on 26 November, alongside actor and fellow Underbelly cast member Gyton Grantley.On 10 November 2009, Ritchie announced she would be leaving Nova 96.9's breakfast team and returning to acting.[18] In January 2010 it was announced that Ritchie had been cast with a lead role in Nine's new police drama Cops L.A.C. The series did not rate well and was cancelled after the season finale.

In 2012, Ritchie narrated the Australian version of the reality series Don't Tell the Bride, which aired on Ch-10. In early 2013, it was announced that Ritchie was returning to Home & Away, reprising her role as Sally Fletcher.[19] [20]

In 2013, Ritchie announced via Twitter that she would be hosting the Nova FM drive show with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold in 2014, following the departure of Meshel Laurie, who went on to host Breakfast on Nova 100 in Melbourne.The show won three major ACRA awards. In 2015 the team won Best Networked Program at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, and the Best On Air team in both 2016 and 2017.

On 25 November 2015, Ritchie became the Godmother of the Cruise liner Pacific Eden, which is from the P&O Fleet.

In 2016 Ritchie released a children's book illustrated by Hannah Sommerville called I Just Couldn't Wait To Meet You. Her second book, It's Not Scribble to Me, was illustrated by Jedda Robaard and published by Random House Australia in 2018.[21]

In June 2016 Ritchie was announced as the brand ambassador for QV Skincare.

Ritchie was to host the retrospective 50th anniversary of Play School in July 2016.

In June 2021, Ritchie was announced to be a judge on the tenth season of Australia's Got Talent alongside returning judge Shane Jacobson, and Britain's Got Talent judges Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.[22] [23]

In 2023, it was announced that Ritchie would be permanently departing her Nova radio show Kate, Tim & Joel after being absence for some time.[24] It was later revealed that she would join Fitzy & Wippa and co-host Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie from March 2023.[25] [26] [27] It was also announced that singer-songwriter and television presenter Ricki-Lee Coulter would replace Ritchie on Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel.[28] [29] [30]

After some years absent from the small screen, in 2023, Ritchie returned in the Seven Network drama series The Claremont Murders, based on real serial killings that took place in Western Australia, and starred as Carol Spiers, the mother of Sarah Spiers, and appeared opposite Erik Thomson.[31] [32] [33]

On 18 July 2024, Ritchie was named for ABC factual series The Role of a Lifetime.[34]

Personal life

Ritchie started dating St George Illawara Dragons player Stuart Webb in 2008. On 9 September 2009, it was announced that they were engaged.[35] On 25 September 2010 Ritchie married Webb in a countryside outdoor wedding at Quamby Estate[36] in Tasmania.

On 17 August 2014, Ritchie gave birth to a daughter.[37]

On 7 November 2019, Stuart Webb agreed to an AVO which was applied for by a police constable on behalf of Ritchie following a domestic incident on 17 October.[38] The AVO prevents Webb from stalking, intimidating, assaulting or threatening, as well as approaching or being in the company of Ritchie "for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs".[39]

In August 2022, she was caught drink driving with alcohol level of 0.06. She was suspended from driving for 3 months.[40]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Cyclone TracyMollyMiniseries
1988–2008, 2013Home and AwaySally FletcherPilot TV film, Seasons 1–21 (main role)
Season 26 (recurring role)
2003Direct-to-video special
2006Stepfather of the BrideNicoleTV film
2007Mere OblivionSoniaShort film
2009Judy KaneSeason 2, Episodes 4 & 5
2010Cops L.A.C.Samantha CooperSeason 1 (main role, 13 episodes)
2013Mr & Mrs MurderCeleste DoyleSeason 1, episode 2
2013It's a DateZaraSeason 1, episode 4
2023The Claremont MurdersCarol SpiersMiniseries (2 episodes)
2025Role of a Lifetime

Television self appearances

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
2022Australia's Got TalentHerselfJudge
2012Don't Tell The BrideNarratorReality TV series
2010–2011Talkin' 'Bout Your GenerationContestant / Surprise Guest2 episodes
2009The 23rd Annual ARIA Music AwardsCo-hostCo-hosted with Gyton Grantley
2007–2009Carols in the DomainCo-hostCo-hosted annually with Grant Denyer for 3 years
2006–2007It Takes TwoHerselfContestant (2006); Co-host (2007)
2002The Best of Aussie DramaHostTV documentary

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryNominated workResult
2006Logie AwardsSilver Logie Award for Most Popular ActressHome and Away (Season 18)
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
2007Silver Logie Award for Most Popular ActressHome and Away (Season 19)
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
2008Silver Logie Award for Most Popular ActressHome and Away (Season 20)
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
2009Silver Logie Award for Most Popular ActressHome and Away (Season 21)
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
AFI AwardsBest Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

Notes and References

  1. Yeaman, Simon, "Kate and Bay belong together", The Advertiser, 2 July 2005
  2. Web site: Kate Ritchie reveals TV plans as she returns screen for Play School's 50-year special].
  3. "Accolade for our 'iconic' Ritchie", Macarthur Chronicle, 16 May 2006
  4. News: 29 October 2005 . Star Watch – Katie Ritchie . .
  5. News: 9 May 2006 . Briefly – Katie gonged . Macarthures Chroniclesa (Sydney, Australia) .
  6. Web site: Cyclone Tracy . . 1 August 2008 .
  7. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21092791-5006343,00.html Home sweet home
  8. "Days just keep getting brighter", Hobart Mercury, 9 November 2006
  9. http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21615231-10388,00.html "It takes two and Kate's happy"
  10. Mitchell, Glenn, "Kate Ritchie's taken over", Herald Sun, 25 January 2007
  11. News: Javes . Sue . Fourth time lucky – Radio . . 6 August 2007 .
  12. News: Kate Ritchie quits Home And Away . 26 September 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071028173856/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0%2C23663%2C22484465-10229%2C00.html . 28 October 2007 .
  13. News: 14 December 2007 . Final scene for Kate after 20 years at Home . .
  14. News: 3 April 2008 . Kate's summer comes to an end . .
  15. News: 15 January 2008 . New voices in on-air battle . .
  16. News: Clune . Richard . Kate's bold return to TV . . 16 November 2008 .
  17. Web site: Kate goes from soap to Vaseline | News and Gossip | Home and Away . Holy Soap . 15 March 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090807112356/http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/news/kate-goes-from-soap-to-vaseline-1481 . 7 August 2009 .
  18. News: 10 November 2009 . Breakfast radio shake-up as Merrick, Rosso split . . 10 November 2009.
  19. News: Kate Ritchie's Sally Fletcher returns to shooting in Summer Bay for Channel 7's Home and Away . The Daily Telegraph . 26 February 2013.
  20. News: Kate Ritchie returns Home for soap's anniversary. The Sydney Morning Herald .
  21. Book: Ritchie, Kate. It's Not Scribble to Me. Random House Australia. 2018. 9780143790136.
  22. Web site: David. Knox. Neil Patrick Harris to judge Australia's Got Talent. 13 June 2021. TV Tonight. 13 June 2021.
  23. Web site: Bianca. Mastroianni. Neil Patrick Harris announced as an Australia's Got Talent judge alongside Kate Richie, Shane Jacobson and Alesha Dixon. 13 June 2021. News.com.au. 13 June 2021.
  24. Web site: 2023-02-27 . Kate Ritchie’s shock career move . 2023-03-11 . 7NEWS . en.
  25. Web site: Cartwright . Lexi . 10 March 2023 . Kate Ritchie announces she's joining Nova's Fitzy & Wippa . News.com.au.
  26. Web site: 3 March 2023. ‘Screwed’: Kate Richie’s new role causes radio uproar . 11 March 2023. PerthNow . en.
  27. Web site: Kate Ritchie Confirms Surprise New Gig . NT News.
  28. Web site: 'I am pumped': Ricki-Lee revealed as Kate Ritchie's replacement on Nova Drive show . 2023-03-11 . celebrity.nine.com.au . en-AU.
  29. Web site: Patterson . Sarah . 2023-03-09 . Ricki-Lee to join Tim & Joel on Nova’s national Drive show . 2023-03-11 . Radio Today . en-AU.
  30. Web site: Song . Darcy . 2023-03-09 . Ricki-Lee Coulter to join Nova's drive show as Kate Ritchie embarks on new project . 2023-03-11 . Mumbrella . en-US.
  31. Web site: The Claremont Murders: Channel seven reveals new shows for 2023 including Kate Ritchie and Erik Thomson drama.
  32. Web site: 2023-04-06 . Kate Ritchie takes on first TV role in a decade in gripping real-life drama . 2023-04-10 . 7NEWS . en.
  33. Web site: 2023-04-09 . Kate Ritchie on ‘emotional’ role in The Claremont Murders . 2023-04-10 . The West Australian . en.
  34. Web site: Knox . David . 2024-07-18 . Production begins on The Role Of A Lifetime for ABC TV Tonight . 2024-07-18 . tvtonight.com.au . en-AU.
  35. News: 9 September 2009 . NRL star Stuart Webb proposes to Kate Ritchie . . 9 September 2009 . Ian . Rakowski.
  36. News: Woman's Day's fairytale exclusive. 4 October 2010.
  37. Web site: Kate Ritchie Welcomes A Baby Girl! . https://archive.today/20140818061136/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/who/latest-news/a/24743940/kate-ritchie-welcomes-a-baby-girl/ . dead . 18 August 2014 . 18 August 2014 . Yahoo7! Who . Yahoo7! . 18 August 2014 .
  38. Web site: Kate Ritchie's husband Stuart Webb has agreed to an AVO. 7 November 2019.
  39. Web site: Kate Ritchie's husband agrees to AVO and is sentenced for drink driving. 7 November 2019.
  40. Web site: Home and Away star Kate Ritchie charged with drink driving.