Kate Ritchie and her new Nova co-host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli are reportedly having a frosty relationship after it was revealed that the former Home and Away star only works two hours a day.
According to women’s Daythe couple didn’t get along last month at a Married At First Sight reunion event in Sydney.
The magazine claims that Wippa and co-host Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald are not impressed with Ritchie’s shorter hours.
The former Home and Away actress is on the air from 7am to 9am, while Fitzy and Wippa start at 6am.
While Ritchie isn’t the first breakfast radio host to have a limited schedule, her later start and ten-hour workweek has also raised eyebrows among radio insiders.
Kate Ritchie (pictured) and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli have a ‘frosty relationship’ as Nova’s co-hosts remain annoyed that she only works two hours a day
Industry professionals on the Media Spy forums called the move “ridiculous” after Fitzy and Wippa’s co-anchor Sarah McGilvray, who worked standard breakfast radio hours, was fired to make way for Ritchie.
A representative for Nova said Ritchie’s starting at 7 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. reflects the “different audience” for the first hour of breakfast radio — a demographic of early starters, including tradies, in the industry known as ‘six o’clockers’.
“The 6am to 7am hour has a very different audience and feel, and Fitzy & Wippa’s 6am club is very popular with their loyal early riser listeners,” the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The addition of a new high profile voice from 7am to 9am is nothing new to radio and has been extremely successful with Mick Molloy and Sam Pang being great examples of the popularity of this approach, and Nova 919’s very own Jodie & Haysey who 7:00 am starts. Ben, Liam & Belle in Adelaide.
“We intend to deliver everything that Fitzy & Wippa audiences have loved about the show over the past 12 years, with the addition of something new with Kate joining the team each morning.”
According to Woman’s Day, Wippa and co-host Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald are not impressed with Ritchie’s shorter hours
McGilvray worked for the Nova 96.9 breakfast show for 12 years, eight of them at the microphone, before being pushed out to make room for Ritchie, who had been drafted into the network’s national drive show.
Co-hosts Fitzgerald and Wipfli paid tribute to their longtime colleague last month – their first day on the air with Ritchie as host.
While they were no doubt sincere in wishing their partner well, one comment came across as painfully awkward in light of the circumstances surrounding McGilvray’s departure.
Wipfli urged McGilvray to “stay in the radio game,” which felt like a hollow gesture considering she was being kicked out of her job by Nova management.
“Guys, we wanted to have a chat here because with the announcement on Friday that we’ve made about the show, the excitement of Kate Ritchie joining, it’s clear that Sarah, who’s worked with us for the last ten years, wants the show has left,” Wipfli began.
So we just wanted to say a few words to acknowledge that and also thank Sez. She’s been a huge part of the show for the past ten years, and as a colleague and friend, even more so, we just want to say that we love her dearly and she gave everything for this show.
“We hope she stays in the radio game.”
The former Home and Away actress is on the air from 7am to 9am, while Fitzy and Wippa start at 6am
Fitzgerald went on to say that McGilvray had started out as a producer before stepping in front of the mic and helping create some “amazing moments” on the show.
He talked about his “favorite Sar moment” when the Fitzy and Wippa team were in LA on a business trip and they saw Leonardo DiCaprio smoking a cigarette “in the back of their hotel” and McGilvray tried – and failed – to have his picture taken with him. to go. .
“We talk about it to this day. Those memories will stay with me forever, Sarah. I love you to death,” he added.
Wipfli concluded, “So we say thank you, Sez. We know you’re good at the radio game. We hope you keep it up and we wish you all the best.’
Nova confirmed in a statement that Ritchie would be joining Fitzgerald and Wipfli on their breakfast show in Sydney from March 13.
“I’m so excited to join Fitzy and Wippa in the very competitive breakfast slot,” Ritchie said.
“I’m a huge fan of the show and I’ve been good friends with the guys for years. Driving has been an important part of my life for the past eight years, but I’m thrilled to take on this new challenge by returning to breakfast radio in my hometown.
While Ritchie isn’t the first breakfast radio host to have a limited schedule, her later start and ten-hour workweek has also raised eyebrows among radio insiders.
“Can’t wait to wake up Sydneysiders alongside two of the industry’s beloved breakfast announcers.”
Fitzgerald and Wipfli added: ‘We’ve been annoying Kate in the office for over a decade; now we can do it every morning.
“We’re excited for our audience to hear how funny Kate thinks we are. Nova listeners have always loved Kate and now she’s featured every weekday. Please enjoy your breakfast.’
The announcement came a day after Ricki-Lee Coulter was confirmed as Ritchie’s replacement on the Kate, Tim and Joel National Drive Show.
Ritchie had been absent from the afternoon slot for months during which time she entered rehab for alcohol addiction.
Sarah McGilvray (pictured) worked for the Nova 96.9 breakfast show for 12 years, eight of them on the microphone, before being pushed out to make way for Ritchie, who was drafted into the network’s national drive show