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Kate Ritchie

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Kate Ritchie
Ritchie in 2012
Born (1978-08-14) 14 August 1978 (age 46)
Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Alma materHurlstone Agricultural High School
Occupations
  • actress
  • radio presenter
  • children's author
Years active1986–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2010⁠–⁠2019)​
Children1
AwardsGold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television (2007 & 2008)
— Home and Away

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Ritchie was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine Network–PBL 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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

Ritchie in 2012

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.[citation needed]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

[edit]

Ritchie started dating St George Illawara Dragons player Stuart Webb in 2008.[citation needed] 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

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1986 Cyclone Tracy Molly Miniseries
1988–2008, 2013 Home and Away Sally Fletcher Pilot TV film, Seasons 1–21 (main role)
Season 26 (recurring 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 Cops L.A.C. Samantha Cooper Season 1 (main role, 13 episodes)
2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Celeste Doyle Season 1, episode 2
2013 It's a Date Zara Season 1, episode 4
2023 The Claremont Murders Carol Spiers Miniseries (2 episodes)
2025 Role of a Lifetime TBA

Television self appearances

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Australia's Got Talent Herself Judge
2012 Don't Tell The Bride 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 Carols in the Domain Co-host Co-hosted annually with Grant Denyer for 3 years
2006–2007 It Takes Two Herself Contestant (2006); Co-host (2007)
2002 The Best of Aussie Drama Host TV documentary

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2006 Logie Awards Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress Home and Away (Season 18) Won
[41]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
[41]
2007 Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress Home and Away (Season 19) Won
[42]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Won
[42]
2008 Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress Home and Away (Season 20) Won
[43]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Won
[43]
2009 Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress Home and Away (Season 21) Nominated
[44]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
[44]
AFI Awards Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities (Episode 4) Nominated
[45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Yeaman, Simon, "Kate and Bay belong together", The Advertiser, 2 July 2005
  2. ^ "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. ^ "Star Watch – Katie Ritchie". Herald Sun. 29 October 2005.
  5. ^ "Briefly – Katie gonged". Macarthures Chroniclesa (Sydney, Australia). 9 May 2006.
  6. ^ "Cyclone Tracy". IMDb. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  7. ^ Home sweet home, Sunday Mail, 21 January 2007
  8. ^ "Days just keep getting brighter", Hobart Mercury, 9 November 2006
  9. ^ "It takes two and Kate's happy", The Daily Telegraph, 25 April 2007
  10. ^ Mitchell, Glenn, "Kate Ritchie's taken over", Herald Sun, 25 January 2007
  11. ^ Javes, Sue (6 August 2007). "Fourth time lucky – Radio". Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ^ "Kate Ritchie quits Home And Away". 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007.
  13. ^ "Final scene for Kate after 20 years at Home". Daily Telegraph. 14 December 2007.
  14. ^ "Kate's summer comes to an end". The Advertiser. 3 April 2008.
  15. ^ "New voices in on-air battle". Daily Telegraph. 15 January 2008.
  16. ^ Clune, Richard (16 November 2008). "Kate's bold return to TV". Sunday Herald Sun.
  17. ^ "Kate goes from soap to Vaseline | News and Gossip | Home and Away". Holy Soap. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Breakfast radio shake-up as Merrick, Rosso split". news.com.au. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  19. ^ "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. ^ "Kate Ritchie returns Home for soap's anniversary". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  21. ^ Ritchie, Kate (2018). It's Not Scribble to Me. Random House Australia. ISBN 9780143790136.
  22. ^ Knox, David (13 June 2021). "Neil Patrick Harris to judge Australia's Got Talent". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  23. ^ Mastroianni, Bianca (13 June 2021). "Neil Patrick Harris announced as an Australia's Got Talent judge alongside Kate Richie, Shane Jacobson and Alesha Dixon". News.com.au. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Kate Ritchie's shock career move". 7NEWS. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  25. ^ Cartwright, Lexi (10 March 2023). "Kate Ritchie announces she's joining Nova's Fitzy & Wippa". News.com.au.
  26. ^ "'Screwed': Kate Richie's new role causes radio uproar". PerthNow. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Kate Ritchie Confirms Surprise New Gig". NT News. 3 March 2023.
  28. ^ "'I am pumped': Ricki-Lee revealed as Kate Ritchie's replacement on Nova Drive show". celebrity.nine.com.au. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  29. ^ Patterson, Sarah (9 March 2023). "Ricki-Lee to join Tim & Joel on Nova's national Drive show". Radio Today. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  30. ^ Song, Darcy (9 March 2023). "Ricki-Lee Coulter to join Nova's drive show as Kate Ritchie embarks on new project". Mumbrella. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  31. ^ "The Claremont Murders: Channel seven reveals new shows for 2023 including Kate Ritchie and Erik Thomson drama".
  32. ^ "Kate Ritchie takes on first TV role in a decade in gripping real-life drama". 7NEWS. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Kate Ritchie on 'emotional' role in The Claremont Murders". The West Australian. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  34. ^ Knox, David (18 July 2024). "Production begins on The Role Of A Lifetime for ABC | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  35. ^ Rakowski, Ian (9 September 2009). "NRL star Stuart Webb proposes to Kate Ritchie". news.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
  36. ^ "Woman's Day's fairytale exclusive". 4 October 2010.
  37. ^ "Kate Ritchie Welcomes A Baby Girl!". Yahoo7! Who. Yahoo7!. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  38. ^ "Kate Ritchie's husband Stuart Webb has agreed to an AVO". 7 November 2019.
  39. ^ "Kate Ritchie's husband agrees to AVO and is sentenced for drink driving". 7 November 2019.
  40. ^ "Home and Away star Kate Ritchie charged with drink driving".
  41. ^ a b "Logie Awards (2006)". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  42. ^ a b "Logie Awards (2006)". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Logie Awards (2006)". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  44. ^ a b "Logie Awards (2006)". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  45. ^ "AACTA AWARDS 2009 (Television)". aacta.org. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Gold Logie Award
Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
2007 – 2008
for Home and Away 		Succeeded by
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