Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie newsreader Matt de Groot quits on air after 10 years

A popular and longtime member of Nova’s on-air breakfast show quit the show live on air today – sparking an unexpectedly emotional reaction.

Fitzy, Wippa and Kate Ritchie‘s longtime newsreader Matt de Groot has announced on air that he’s leaving the show after 10 years.

An emotional de Groot, 35, stunned listeners with the news on Thursday morning, revealing that he is relocating to London early next year.

“It has been the best 10 years with the best team,” he told Michael “Wippa” Wipfli, Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald and Kate Ritchie, while fighting to hold back tears.

He explained that his wife, Bronte Coy – who is a senior entertainment and royal reporter for news.com.au – was being relocated to the UK.

“It’s too great an opportunity as a family to pass up the chance to move to London and live over there for a couple of years,” de Groot said.

“So after 10 years of telling people ‘it’s busy on the M5’, someone else will have the opportunity to do the best job in Sydney radio news next year.”

De Groot has been part of the show for a decade.

“We know the love you have for your family, and we’ve been trying to talk you around this and is there any way we can have you involved … It’s not over for us,” Fitzy said.

“Because we do get stuck into you, Matty, but the insight you bring into this show and your personality – you have been a vital part of this show for 10 years and we want to say thank you very much for all of that, buddy.”

“You’re making me upset,” an emotional Wippa told de Groot as the newsreader broke down.

“I have loved this, and love it, and I’m not going because I don’t love it. In 10 years, there’s lots of water that goes under the bridge … We live very intimately close to each other, at hours of the day where you’re generally at your emotionally-tethered end,” de Groot explained.

“And to do it, at it’s core, with people who … care. It’s not a decision I’m making easily or lightly but because it’s such a great opportunity for the family and … thank you for having me.”

He added: “I’ve done the maths, and I’ve done 39,000 traffic reports in 10 years.”

The team at the 2023 ACRAs: Fitzy, Wippa, Kate, de Groot, and executive producer Tom Ivey.

The station’s switchboard lit up, as listeners called in – some openly sobbing on air – as they shared their reactions to the news.

“MDG, bloody awesome work you’ve done over the past 10 years on the show … Back when you were doing the morning show with Sarah [McGilvray], tuning in, because I’m a truckie … it’s been a pleasure, you’ve done an awesome job – thank you very much,” Richard from Wilton told him.

Donna in Chester Hill couldn’t contain her emotion as she was put to air.

“I’m sorry Matt, I’m a little bit emotional. I had a stroke earlier this year and it was obviously a rough time,” she began.

“But it was listening to you and even going back to the podcast where they would play these horrible – but very funny – jokes on you, that really got me through the rough time.

“I just hope whoever is your replacement is there for everything that these guys dish out, because it’s what makes this show so great.”

Meanwhile, Sam from Wahroonga described de Groot as “without peer”.

“I moved back to Sydney in 2014, always listened to you guys on the radio. MDG, you are without peer as the best newsreader in Australia, it’s been awesome,” he told the team.

Fitzy agreed, chiming in: “He’s so good at delivering it all, but also having that personality on the side.”

De Groot first joined the show as breakfast show in 2013, and has since delivered the news from the top of the Harbour Bridge, in an ice bath, in a fighter plane, in a helicopter, on the snow, on a cruise ship, and in the line for Harry Styles.

Over the past decade at Nova, in addition to his Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie role, de Groot also previously hosted the 5.30am Matt and Sarah show and weekend breakfast with Matt, Sarah and Matty J, featuring Sarah McGilvray and Bachelor star Matthew Johnson.

De Groot will finish up on the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show at the end of the year.