Kate Ritchie’s absence from Nova gives Ricki-Lee a chance to shine

Kate Ritchie has been missing in action from Nova FM’s Drive show, but it’s given another dumped presenter a chance to prove her worth.

Joel Creasey, Kate Ritchie and Tim Blackwell co-host Nova FM’s Drive show.

TV sweetheart Kate Ritchie has been missing in action from Nova FM’s Drive shift for the past fortnight with her absence giving Ricki-Lee Coulter the chance to remind listeners what terrific radio talent she is.

Ritchie has, according to a Nova spokesperson, been off-air owing to a bout of Covid.

She is expected to rejoin the Drive team of Joel Creasey and Tim Blackwell on Monday.

Richie’s unexpected absence did however let Coulter shine when she stepped in at late notice to work alongside Blackwell and Creasey.

Most recently seen on Dancing With The Stars: All Stars where she made headlines for a daring and barely there in parts, dramatic red gown, Coulter is a natural radio talent and she slipped seamlessly into sync with the Nova Drive stalwarts.

She has more than proved she is a handy backup to have should Ritchie need more time off.

Coulter does have history with Nova.

She co-hosted the station’s Sydney breakfast show in 2010 alongside Merrick Watts and Scott Dooley but was dumped after a year.

While Coulter is best known as a singer she is an accomplished TV host.

She hosted Australia’s Got Talent for Channel 7 in 2019.

The show was put on hold in 2021 because of the pandemic lockdown, but Seven announced at its upfronts last year that the show was on its agenda for 2022.