Kate Ritchie has left her fans astonished by sharing a glamorous forgotten magazine spread she participated in several years ago. The Nova radio star, 47, posted the cover of the 2017 issue of Facon Magazine, where she posed for a high-fashion poolside photoshoot.
The striking image revealed a dramatically different side to Kate, contrasting sharply with her usual relaxed public persona. She looked every inch the movie star as she reclined on a sunlit outdoor daybed beside a pool, wearing a bold red, bikini-style one-piece swimsuit with elegant long sleeves. Her brunette hair was styled in bouncy curls, and she wore bold smoky eyeshadow and a fire engine red lipstick.
Kate posted the image in celebration of the magazine's 10-year anniversary.
Radio Show Changes
In January, it was reported that Nova's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show was axed from its breakfast time slot. The network confirmed that the trio's breakfast show would be replaced by a new program, Ricki-Lee & Tim, hosted by Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell, formerly hosts of Nova's Drive show alongside Joel Creasey.
Meanwhile, Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli, and Kate Ritchie were shifted into a national Drive timeslot. The trio announced the news on-air.
'After 15 years of doing this breakfast radio show, the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show, they have finally completed their apprenticeship, and they're going to be graduating to the national drive time position,' Wippa said. '4-6pm around Australia on the country's best Radio Network, Nova. There it is, guys!'
Kate expressed her excitement about the move. 'I've absolutely loved my time with the boys on Sydney Breakfast and I'm thrilled we now get to share our show with all of Australia,' she said in a statement.
Personal Challenges and Return
Fitzy and Wippa were without their co-host Kate at the start of last year after she took time off to deal with personal issues. She finally returned to the show in August 2025 after a long hiatus to work on her mental health.
The Nova 96.9 Sydney breakfast radio host had been absent from the show since January after she had a very public meltdown in a Sydney park. Kate was receiving ongoing support at a rehabilitation facility after the incident, which saw her photographed in tears and appearing visibly distressed shortly after picking up her daughter, Mae, from school.
She later released a statement on Instagram addressing the concerning photos and explaining why she was taking a break from her radio show. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she began. 'So I have decided to take a break from the show and the team who I love to focus on my health. Thank you Nova for being there when I need you.'
