Annette Sharp: Kate Ritchie’s last-minute breakfast show absence

A month after she was photographed struggling to climb from a chauffeur-driven at an industry-related event, Nova breakfast host Kate Ritchie was off air last week citing illness, writes Annette Sharp.

A month after she was photographed struggling to climb from a chauffeur-driven car in Camperdown after arriving at an industry-related event, Nova breakfast host Kate Ritchie was off air last week, citing illness.

Accounts vary as to when Ritchie spoke to management about requiring some much-needed time off.

According to industry insiders, Ritchie spoke to management about taking leave on Monday, after failing to front for her weekday breakfast radio show alongside breakfast show co-hosts Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald and Michael “Wippa” Wipfli.

Kate Ritchie took a week off from the Nova breakfast show she co-hosts with Fitzy and Wippa. Picture: Tim Hunter

Insiders claim when Ritchie failed to turn up for her rearranged 6.30am start — 30 minutes after Fitzy and Wippa clock on at 6am — worried producers started phoning the star, who initially wasn’t answering.

As they became increasingly panicked, the highly paid star was found, prompting a conversation about taking a week’s leave at short notice.

On Friday, a Nova executive said this account was incorrect and insisted Ritchie had in fact called in sick on Sunday, well ahead of her show.

Radio presenters across the board will take a survey break from this weekend, taking them off air for the next fortnight.

Ritchie’s bosses have been supportive and sympathetic to the star, who in 2022 was suspended from driving for three months after blowing 0.06 in a roadside breath test.

With the support of Nova execs, Ritchie admitted her “unhealthy reliance on alcohol”, entered rehab and took a months-long break before moving from drive to breakfast.

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