Ricki-Lee Coulter to replace Kate Ritchie on Nova’s national drive program

Kate Ritchie has confirmed she is permanently leaving her drive program. A replacement has been confirmed.

Ricki-Lee Coulter will be a permanent fixture on Nova’s drive program.

Singer and former Australian Idol contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter will join Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey on the popular radio program.

Coulter will replace Kate Ritchie, who stepped back from the show in October. Coulter’s appointment means Ritchie has officially left the show but she teased that she will announce her plans – with Nova – tomorrow.

Ritchie was earlier this week in media reports linked to a move to Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa program.

Coulter joining the national drive programs means it will now be renamed the Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel show.

Ricki-Lee Coulter has joined Nova's national drive program. Picture: Nova

Coulter said in a statement, “I love Tim and Joel like the brothers I never had but always wanted, and I have been having so much fun in the studio with them – they are the best in the business. I have so much love for Kate and I’m so happy I’ve been able to help out on the drive show over the last year. I am pumped to be officially joining the Nova family.”

Blackwell and Creasey said of their new co-host, “Is there anything this girl can’t do? We’re so stoked that Ricki-Lee can fit us in around her current schedule of world domination. Music, TV and now radio with us.

“Her energy gets us all up and about each and every day. Fingers crossed we can both keep up.”

Coulter first gained notice as a contestant in the 2004 season of Australian Idol, and has since sold millions of records and clocked up 100 million streams of her work. She has also hosted Australian Idol and Australia’s Got Talent.

Nova's Kate Ritchie stepped back from the drive show in October. Picture: Supplied

Nova’s chief executive, Peter Charlton, welcome Coulter to “Australia’s number one drive show” and gave thanks to Ritchie’s contributions over her eight years on the program.

When Ritchie stepped back from the show in October, she said she was taking a break after a “hectic” year.

“As some of you may have heard from me on the show today, this past year has been hectic for my family and I. I have had much change, like many of you, in a short space of time and it has taken its toll.

“So I’ve made the decision to take a short break to have more time for myself and my family to re-energise.”

Ritchie’s exit follows that of Marty Sheargold, who left the program in 2020.