BRUTAL MENTAL BATTLE: Kate Ritchie Breaks Down in Tears Live on Air as She Returns After Six-Month Hiatus for Mental Health!
Radio host Kate Ritchie made her much-anticipated return to the airwaves today after a six-month mental health break.
The former Home And Away star was visibly emotional as she rejoined her co-hosts Michael “Wippa” Wipfli and Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald on their Nova radio show on Friday morning.
“We’ve missed you, Kate. It’s so good to have you back, mate, it really is,” Wipfli said on Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie.
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“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.’”
Ritchie announced in February she was taking a break from the show.
At the time, The Daily Mail had published photos of Ritchie on the phone looking distressed. The mum-of-one called out the paparazzi for invading her privacy, bravely revealing the toll it had taken on her health.
“I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal,” Ritchie said on Instagram.
“This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined.
“So, I have decided to take a break from the show and the team, who I love, to focus on my health.”
Speaking today on-air about her return, Ritchie revealed she was overcome with gratitude by all of the support she has received.
“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,” Ritchie said.
“So if you’re listening and you were one of those people that reached out, or stopped me in the street.
“Or even just smiled at me over the tomatoes in Harris Farm.
“For people to bother to actually say, without being intrusive, ‘Hey, it’s really nice to see you, hope you’re doing well. I can’t wait to hear you back on the radio’ …
“Thank you for bothering, because I read all of those messages and they made all the difference.”
Ritchie added kindness is what kept her going during this challenging time.
“Despite all of the support and the love I feel, I didn’t do it for anyone else — I did it for me,” Ritchie shared.
She paid special thanks to her co-hosts and the wider Nova team, “I love you guys and I have always loved this job.”
In true Fitzy and Wippa style, her co-hosts joked Ritchie had passed her audition and that they would love to have her back on the show.
Gold Logie winner and former Home And Away co-star Lynne McGranger commented on Ritchie’s return on Instagram.
“So good to see you back Kate. Much love honey,” McGranger said.
Ritchie starred on Home And Away as Sally Fletcher for two decades, from 1988 to 2008, and won two Gold Logie awards for her performance.
She briefly reprised the role in 2013 for the show’s anniversary.
Most recently, she starred in The Claremont Murders in 2023 on the Seven Network.