Fitzy and Wippa listeners tune out saying show ‘isn’t the same without Sarah McGilvray’ after Kate Ritchie replaced her
Nova’s loyal Fitzy and Wippa listeners are being tuned out after the Sydney breakfast show axed co-host Sarah McGilvray to make way for Kate Ritchie.
The sudden departure of Sarah and the introduction of Kate, formerly of Nova’s national driving show, has led fans to complain about the move on social media.
After the show posted a photo on Facebook of Kate with co-hosts Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, listeners took to the comments section to express their dissatisfaction with the new lineup.
One fan said the trio sounded “awkward” and described the former Home and Away star as “no match for Sarah”.
“I know it’s early but I miss Sarah,” said another.
Nova’s loyal Fitzy and Wippa listeners are tuning out after the Sydney breakfast show left co-host Sarah McGilvray behind to make way for Kate Ritchie (center, with Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, left, and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, right)
The sudden departure of Sarah (pictured) and introduction of Kate, formerly of Nova’s national driving show, has led fans to complain about the move on social media.
After the show posted a photo on Facebook of Kate with co-hosts Fitzy and Wippa, listeners took to the comments section to express their dissatisfaction with the new lineup.
One fan said the trio sounded “awkward” and described the former Home and Away star as “no match for Sarah”. “I know it’s early but I miss Sarah,” said another.
One listener said she just wouldn’t be “bothered” with the new team hearing Kate’s work on the Nova driving show.
However, one fan came to Kate’s defense and wished her luck with the new team, but added: ‘I don’t know why they couldn’t keep Sarah too! Love Sarah!
Sarah’s brutal departure from Fitzy & Wippa was finally acknowledged last week, a full month after she disappeared from the airwaves.
She spent 12 years working for the breakfast show Nova 96.9, eight of them in front of the microphone, before being ousted to make way for Kate, who was recruited from the afternoon slot.
One fan came to Kate’s defense (pictured) and wished her luck with the new team, but added: ‘I don’t know why they couldn’t have Sarah too! Love Sarah!
Nova confirmed in a statement earlier this month that Kate would be joining Fitzy and Wippa on their Sydney breakfast show starting March 13.
The announcement came a day after Ricki-Lee Coulter was confirmed as Kate’s replacement on the national Kate, Tim and Joel driving show.
Kate had been absent from evenings for months, during which time she checked herself into rehab for alcohol dependency.
Meanwhile, the former soap opera actress will not be working full-time on Fitzy and Wippa, and a Nova spokesperson confirmed that she will be on the air from 7am to 9am.
The first hour of the show will only feature Fitzy and Wippa and newsreader Matt De Groot.