Kate Ritchie debuts new romance with younger man she was set-up with on Nova show

The radio star has been spotted kissing a younger man during a romantic picnic, with their relationship blossoming after they were set up on-air.

Kate Ritchie has debuted her unexpected new romance.

The Australian radio star, 45, was spotted enjoying a romantic picnic with 30-year-old Will Skelton, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Friday, after they were set up on-air in May.

In loved-up photos confirming their relationship, Ritchie was seen kissing the Sydney-based financial adviser during a day out in Clovelly.

Kate Ritchie and her new man Will Skelton enjoyed an oceanfront picnic in Clovelly. Picture: MEDIA MODE

The pair first met in person on a blind date at Nova FM’s Singles Ball in May, which had been orchestrated on her Nova show Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie.

In the days leading up to the Nova Network’s dating event, Ritchie’s co-hosts Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli made it their mission to set Ritchie up with an eligible bachelor, cherrypicking three suitors for her to choose from, one of which included Skelton.

On their breakfast show May 28, Ritchie ultimately selected Skelton, who works for financial services firm Canaccord Genuity, to take with her to the Singles Ball on May 30, where it appears their romance unexpectedly blossomed.

The pair were seen linking arms as they shared a romantic beach date on Friday. Picture: MEDIA MODE

Skelton, 30, met Ritchie, 45, at Nova’s singles event in May. Picture: MEDIA MODE

“In the spirit of love, and in the spirit of bringing single people all over Sydney together to hopefully have a wonderful life together, even just for a matter of hours, I would like to have the first dance at the Gilli rooftop with Will from Waverton,” Ritchie said on-air at the time. “I won’t take up too much of your time on the night. We could just have a little quick dance and then …”

Skelton interjected, saying, “Nah you can take as much time as you want … I don’t mind at all.”

The pair met for the first time at the event, posing on the red carpet together. Picture: Supplied

Ritchie continued, “I’m all about personality and Will’s got it all! But Will, you’d better not look better than me!” Ritchie laughed, to which her date said, “That’s impossible!”

“Stop flirting you two,” Wippa teased.

Ritchie’s co-hosts Fitzy and Wippa set the actress up with Skelton on the show. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Ritchie was previously married to former NRL star Stuart Webb, whom she wed in 2010. They welcomed their daughter Mae in 2014.

The couple split in 2019 after nine years of marriage.

The former Home and Away actress went on to date security consultant John Bell, who was 17 years her junior, until their split in December 2021 after less than a year together.

She later moved on with Chevy Black in early 2023, but the pair went their separate ways by November.