Nova’s hit breakfast show Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie is set to undergo a huge shake-up which insiders fear could threaten the show’s momentum.
From early next year, longtime co-host Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, 47, will move to Adelaide with his family, but will continue to present the show remotely.
However, one industry insider fears this move could affect the undeniable chemistry between the co-hosts and potentially turn away listeners.
“Fitzy moving to Adelaide and doing the show from there is a huge risk. The chemistry is never the same when the hosts are not in the same studio,” they said Yahoo.
“Nova will have to work hard to maintain the same energy so that the long distance is not transmitted through the air.”
Nova’s hit breakfast show Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie is set to undergo a massive shake-up next year, which insiders fear could threaten the show’s momentum. Pictured L – R: Ryan ‘Fitzy Fitzgerald, Kate Ritchie and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli
They added that it was a particularly risky move because if the show loses listeners as a result, the presenter’s contracts may not be renewed.
The show has been struggling for some time and earlier this month it was reported that since Kate Ritchie, 45, joined in March, the programme’s ratings have declined.
The recently released Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 7 results showed that the breakfast show had fallen by 0.2 points, from 7.3 to 7.1.
From early next year, longtime co-host Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, 47, will move to Adelaide with his family – but will continue to present the show remotely
Radio king Kyle Sandilands quickly came up with his own theory about why listeners were dropping out.
‘What’s going on at Nova? They moved Kate Ritchie to the breakfast show with Fitzy and Wippa to try and not make it a boys’ club,” he began.
“Failure, it’s only 7.1. It was at 7.3, it’s slowly decreasing.’
However, one industry insider fears this move could affect the undeniable chemistry between the co-hosts and potentially turn away listeners. “The chemistry is never the same when the hosts are not in the same studio,” they told Yahoo
And earlier this year, Fitzy, Wippa and Kate were shocked when one of their beloved stars quit live broadcasts.
In November, former newsreader Matt de Groot announced that he would resign from his position after ten years.
An emotional de Groot, 35, held back tears as he surprised listeners with the news, revealing he will be moving to London with his family early next year.
They added that it was a particularly risky move because if the show loses listeners as a result, the host’s contracts may not be renewed.