Kate Ritchie
{{short description|Australian actress, radio presenter, and children's author }}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kate Ritchie
| image = Kate Ritchie (8189930427).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Ritchie in 2012
| birth_name = Katherine Leigh Ritchie
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| nationality =
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|radio presenter|children's author}}
| alma mater = Hurlstone Agricultural High School
| notable_works =
| spouse = {{marriage|Stuart Webb|2010|2019}}
| children = 1
| awards = Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (2007 & 2008)
— Home and Away
| yearsactive = 1986–present
}}
Katherine Leigh Ritchie 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{{when|date=February 2025}} 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 for the longest continuous role in an Australian drama series. 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. In addition to 20 years on Home and Away, Ritchie has also hosted various television events and appeared in commercials.
In 2022, Ritchie appeared as a judge on the tenth season of Australia's Got Talent. In 2023, she starred as Carol Spiers in 7 Network's two-part documentary series 'The Claremont Murders, appearing opposite Erik Thomson, who played her husband.
Early life and education
Katherine Leigh Ritchie{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} was born to parents Heather and Steve, and she has three younger siblings.{{cite news | date = 29 October 2005 | title = Star Watch – Katie Ritchie | work = Herald Sun }}{{better source needed|date=February 2025}}
Ritchie attended Campbelltown North Public School and Hurlstone Agricultural High School – the latter a New South Wales agricultural and selective school.{{cite news | date = 9 May 2006 | title = Briefly – Katie gonged | work = Macarthur's Chronicles (Sydney, Australia) }}
Career
Ritchie was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine Network–PBL mini-series Cyclone Tracy, starring Chris Haywood and Tracy Mann.{{cite web | title = Cyclone Tracy | work = IMDb | url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316973/ | access-date = 1 August 2008 }} 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.{{citation needed|date = August 2008}} In 2006, Ritchie played "Nicole" in the ABC film Stepfather of the Bride.[http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21092791-5006343,00.html Home sweet home], Sunday Mail, 21 January 2007 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.{{citation needed | date = July 2008}}
She was involved with the Campbelltown Musical Society."Accolade for our 'iconic' Ritchie", Macarthur Chronicle, 16 May 2006
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."Days just keep getting brighter", Hobart Mercury, 9 November 2006 She co-hosted the second series of It Takes Two with Grant Denyer in 2007.[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21615231-10388,00.html "It takes two and Kate's happy"], The Daily Telegraph, 25 April 2007 In 2007 Ritchie joined Nova radio to co-host the drive show with comedian Akmal Saleh, replacing Matthew Newton.Mitchell, Glenn, [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21113603-2902,00.html "Kate Ritchie's taken over"], Herald Sun, 25 January 2007 She was replaced in May by New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson.{{cite news | last = Javes | first = Sue | title = Fourth time lucky – Radio | work = Sydney Morning Herald | date = 6 August 2007 }}
In September 2007, Ritchie announced that she would be leaving Home and Away in mid-December.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22484465-10229,00.html |title=Kate Ritchie quits Home And Away |date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028173856/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0%2C23663%2C22484465-10229%2C00.html |archive-date=28 October 2007 }} Her final scenes were filmed on 13 December 2007,{{cite news | date = 14 December 2007 | title = Final scene for Kate after 20 years at Home | work = Daily Telegraph }} 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.{{cite news | date = 3 April 2008 | title = Kate's summer comes to an end | work = The Advertiser }}
On 14 January 2008, Ritchie began work on the Nova 96.9 breakfast show with Merrick & Rosso.{{cite news | date = 15 January 2008 | title = New voices in on-air battle | work = Daily Telegraph }} 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} On 16 October Ritchie appeared on pay-TV, on The Merrick & Rosso Show.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
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.{{cite news | last = Clune | first = Richard | title = Kate's bold return to TV | work = Sunday Herald Sun | date = 16 November 2008 }} The series screened in 2009. This was her first TV drama role since leaving Home and Away.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} Throughout 2009, Ritchie continued her radio role on the Merrick & Rosso and Kate Ritchie Show.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
In 2009 Ritchie became the face of Vaseline.{{cite web |url=http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/news/kate-goes-from-soap-to-vaseline-1481 |title=Kate goes from soap to Vaseline | News and Gossip | Home and Away |publisher=Holy Soap |access-date=15 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807112356/http://holysoap.five.tv/homeandaway/news/kate-goes-from-soap-to-vaseline-1481 |archive-date=7 August 2009 }}
On 10 November 2009, Ritchie announced she would be leaving Nova 96.9's breakfast team and returning to acting.{{cite news | date = 10 November 2009 | title = Breakfast radio shake-up as Merrick, Rosso split | url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26329246-5013560,00.html | work = news.com.au | access-date=10 November 2009}} 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
In 2012, Ritchie narrated the Australian version of the reality series Don't Tell the Bride, which aired on Network Ten. In early 2013, it was announced that Ritchie was returning to Home & Away, reprising her role as Sally Fletcher.{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/kate-ritchies-sally-fletcher-returns-to-shooting-in-summer-bay-for-channel-7s-home-and-away/story-e6frfmyi-1226585419451 | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Kate Ritchie's Sally Fletcher returns to shooting in Summer Bay for Channel 7's Home and Away | date=26 February 2013}}{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/kate-ritchie-returns-home-for-soaps-anniversary-20130211-2e7fh.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Kate Ritchie returns Home for soap's anniversary}}
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.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} 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.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
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.{{Cite book|url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/it-s-not-scribble-to-me-kate-ritchie/prod9780143790136.html|title=It's Not Scribble to Me|last=Ritchie|first=Kate|publisher=Random House Australia|year=2018|isbn=9780143790136}}
Ritchie was to host the retrospective 50th anniversary of Play School in July 2016.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
In June 2021, Ritchie was announced to be a judge for Nicole Scherzinger 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.{{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/06/neil-patrick-harris-to-judge-australias-got-talent.html|title=Neil Patrick Harris to judge Australia's Got Talent|date=13 June 2021|work=TV Tonight|accessdate=13 June 2021}}{{cite web|first=Bianca|last=Mastroianni|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/neil-patrick-harris-announced-as-an-australias-got-talent-judge-alongside-kate-richie-shane-jacobson-and-alesha-dixon/news-story/053778e600a900c6edf8aa88929a0c0c|title=Neil Patrick Harris announced as an Australia's Got Talent judge alongside Kate Richie, Shane Jacobson and Alesha Dixon|date=13 June 2021|work=News.com.au|accessdate=13 June 2021}}
In 2023, it was announced that Ritchie would be permanently departing her Nova radio show Kate, Tim & Joel after being absence for some time.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=Kate Ritchie's shock career move |url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/kate-ritchies-shock-career-move-c-9880413 |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=7NEWS |language=en}} It was later revealed that she would join Fitzy & Wippa and co-host Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie from March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Lexi |date=10 March 2023 |title=Kate Ritchie announces she's joining Nova's Fitzy & Wippa |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/radio/kate-ritchie-announces-shes-joining-novas-fitzy-wippa/news-story/b4d4b88ef41129d2def5e468e0f2172c |website=News.com.au}}{{Cite web |date=3 March 2023|title='Screwed': Kate Richie's new role causes radio uproar |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/nova-shake-up-kate-ritchie-to-co-host-breakfast-radio-with-fitzy-and-wippa-show--c-9926375 |access-date=11 March 2023|website=PerthNow |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Kate Ritchie Confirms Surprise New Gig |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/nova-shake-up-kate-ritchie-to-co-host-breakfast-radio-with-fitzy-and-wippa-show--c-9926375 |website=NT News|date=3 March 2023 }} It was also announced that singer-songwriter and television presenter Ricki-Lee Coulter would replace Ritchie on Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel.{{Cite web |title='I am pumped': Ricki-Lee revealed as Kate Ritchie's replacement on Nova Drive show |url=https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/ricki-lee-coulter-joining-nova-drive-show-tim-blackwell-joel-creasey-replace-kate-ritchie/de0ca539-91f7-49f1-813f-f932fda48778 |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=celebrity.nine.com.au |date=9 March 2023 |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Sarah |date=2023-03-09 |title=Ricki-Lee to join Tim & Joel on Nova's national Drive show |url=https://radiotoday.com.au/ricki-lee-to-join-tim-joel-on-novas-national-drive-show/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Radio Today |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Darcy |date=2023-03-09 |title=Ricki-Lee Coulter to join Nova's drive show as Kate Ritchie embarks on new project |url=https://mumbrella.com.au/ricki-lee-coulter-to-join-novas-drive-show-as-kate-ritchie-embarks-on-new-project-778970 |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Mumbrella |language=en-US}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/the-claremont-murders-channel-seven-reveals-new-shows-for-2023-including-kate-ritchie-and-eric-thomson-drama-c-8646190|title=The Claremont Murders: Channel seven reveals new shows for 2023 including Kate Ritchie and Erik Thomson drama}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=Kate Ritchie takes on first TV role in a decade in gripping real-life drama |url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/kate-ritchie-takes-on-first-tv-role-in-a-decade-in-gripping-real-life-drama-c-10273707 |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=7NEWS |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-09 |title=Kate Ritchie on 'emotional' role in The Claremont Murders |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/kate-ritchie-starring-in-the-claremont-murders-reignited-something-in-me-c-10215878 |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}
On 18 July 2024, Ritchie was named for ABC factual series The Role of a Lifetime.{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2024-07-18 |title=Production begins on The Role Of A Lifetime for ABC |website =TV Tonight |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/07/production-begins-on-the-role-of-a-lifetime-for-abc.html |access-date=2024-07-18 |language=en-AU}}
Personal life
Ritchie became engaged to Stuart Webb, a rugby league player for St George Illawarra Dragons, in September 2009.{{cite news | date = 9 September 2009 | title = NRL star Stuart Webb proposes to Kate Ritchie | url = http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26047966-5013560,00.html | work = news.com.au | access-date=9 September 2009 | first=Ian | last=Rakowski}} They married on 25 September 2010 in an outdoor wedding at Quamby Estate in Tasmania.{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3029143.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007123447/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s3029143.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=7 October 2010 |title=Woman's Day's fairytale exclusive| date=4 October 2010}} Their daughter was born in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/who/latest-news/a/24743940/kate-ritchie-welcomes-a-baby-girl/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140818061136/https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/who/latest-news/a/24743940/kate-ritchie-welcomes-a-baby-girl/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2014 |title=Kate Ritchie Welcomes A Baby Girl! |date=18 August 2014 |website=Yahoo7! Who |publisher=Yahoo7! |access-date=18 August 2014 }}
In 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/kate-ritchies-husband-stuart-webb-agrees-to-avo/news-story/ae5533654ca29596ce1b8fb9ed294aa4|title=Kate Ritchie's husband Stuart Webb has agreed to an AVO|work=news |date=7 November 2019}} The AVO prevented 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".{{Cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/tv/home-and-away-actor-kate-ritchies-husband-agrees-to-extended-avo-terms-c-545641|title=Kate Ritchie's husband agrees to AVO and is sentenced for drink driving|date=7 November 2019}}
In August 2022, Ritchie was caught drink driving with alcohol level of 0.06, and was suspended from driving for three months.{{Cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/home-and-away-star-kate-ritchie-charged-with-drink-driving/news-story/c9338b45dd1e8498e6a0145674c5903a|title=Home and Away star Kate Ritchie charged with drink driving|work=news }}
Filmography
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1986
| Molly | Miniseries |
| 1988–2008, 2013
| rowspan="2"|Sally Fletcher | Pilot TV film, Seasons 1–21 (main role) |
| 2003
| Home and Away: Hearts Divided | Direct-to-video special |
| 2006
| Stepfather of the Bride | Nicole | TV film |
| 2007
| Mere Oblivion | Sonia | Short film |
| 2009
| Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities | Judy Kane | Season 2, Episodes 4 & 5 |
| 2010
| Samantha Cooper | Season 1 (main role, 13 episodes) |
| 2013
| Celeste Doyle | Season 1, episode 2 |
| 2013
| Zara | Season 1, episode 4 |
| 2023
| Carol Spiers | Miniseries (2 episodes) |
| 2025
| Mum | 5 episodes |
= Television self appearances =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 2022
|Herself |Judge |
| 2012
|Narrator |Reality TV series |
| 2010–2011
|Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation |Contestant / Surprise Guest |2 episodes |
| 2009
|The 23rd Annual ARIA Music Awards |Co-host |Co-hosted with Gyton Grantley |
| 2007–2009
|Co-host |Co-hosted annually with Grant Denyer for 3 years |
| 2006–2007
|Herself |Contestant (2006); Co-host (2007) |
| 2002
|The Best of Aussie Drama |Host |TV documentary |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left;" |
| Year
! Association ! Category ! width="105"|Nominated work ! Result ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2006
| rowspan="8"|Logie Awards | bgcolor="silver"|Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | rowspan="2"|Home and Away (Season 18) | {{won}} |
| bgcolor="gold"|Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
| {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| bgcolor="silver"|Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | rowspan="2"|Home and Away (Season 19) | {{won}} |
| bgcolor="gold"|Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
| {{won}} |
| rowspan="2"|2008
| bgcolor="silver"|Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | rowspan="2"|Home and Away (Season 20) | {{won}} |
| bgcolor="gold"|Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
| {{won}} |
| rowspan="3"|2009
| bgcolor="silver"|Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress | rowspan="2"|Home and Away (Season 21) | {{nom}} |
| bgcolor="gold"|Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
| {{nom}} |
| AFI Awards
| bgcolor="lightsteelblue"|Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama | Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities {{small|(Episode 4)}} | {{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0728588}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| title = Gold Logie Award
Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
| before = John Wood
for Blue Heelers
| after = Rebecca Gibney
for Packed to the Rafters
| years = 2007 – 2008
for Home and Away
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television}}
{{Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress on Australian Television}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritchie, Kate}}
Category:Actors from New South Wales
Category:Australian child actresses
Category:Australian soap opera actresses
Category:Australian television actresses
Category:Australian voice actresses
Category:Australian women radio presenters
Category:Nova (radio network) announcers
Category:People educated at Hurlstone Agricultural High School