Nova’s Kate Ritchie scores top gong at annual radio awards

SHE has been on our TV screens since she was a little girl. Now Kate Ritchie who has spent the best part of a decade on radio has taken home one of Australia’s top radio awards. SEE THE LIST OF WINNERS.

A DECADE after winning a Gold Logie for acting, Kate Ritchie has taken home one of Australia’s top radio awards.

Having spent the best part of the last 10 years transitioning from Summer Bay on Home And Away to Nova radio’s Sydney studios, the popular personality was last night named Best Entertainment Presenter at the annual Australian Commercial Radio Awards, held at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

From acting to radio, Kate Ritchie took out Best Entertainment Presenter at the annual Australia Commercial Radio Awards. Picture: Jay Town

MORE NEWS

MEGHAN STUNS AT MEMORIAL OPENING

ACTING THE NEXT STEP FOR MODEL TWINS

SAM ARMYTAGE: I HAVE THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEMS

“I am exactly where I want to be now because I am kind of attempting to master a craft that I haven’t before,” Ritchie said.

“The differences are vast. Radio has certainly thrust me pretty clearly into the real world of sales and numbers and watching certain levels of success. The point of leaving Home And Away was to be challenged and to learn new things and that is the way it has panned out.”

Ritchie, along with her Nova co-hosts Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold also won Best Syndicated Program and Best Networked Program for their national drive afternoon show, Kate, Tim And Marty.

Ritchie and her co-stars Marty Sheargold and Tim Blackwell also took out Best Syndicated Perogram and Best Networked Programs for their afternoon show.

Kyle and Jackie O were named Best On-air Team. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson were named Best On-air Team in the FM metro market for their KIIS FM breakfast show but were last minute no-shows to the awards.

Ray Hadley’s 2GB Continuous Call Team won Best On-air Team — Metro AM while Ben Fordham, also at 2GB, was named Best Talk Presenter.

Ritchie’s former Home And Away co-star Christie Hayes won Best Newcomer On-air in regional markets for her morning show on Wollongong’s i98FM while Grant Denyer won the same gong in metro for his 2DayFM breakfast show.

Grant Denyer won Best Newcomer On-air for his 2DayFM show. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Former Home And Away actor Christie Hayes won the same award for her morning show on Wollongong’s i98FM. Source: Supplied

Ritchie became a household name playing Sally Fletcher on Home And Away from the age of 10. The now 40-year-old won the Gold Logie in 2007 and ’08, before quitting to move into radio.

“There is still an element of playing a role in radio I have to say,” Ritchie said.

“I know radio is not acting but don’t forget that the key element of playing a role is still very evident when you are working in radio. You are not being given a script and you are not being called by another name but there is an element of acting to all of it.”