Kate Ritchie pours heart out in emotional episode of Anh Do’s Brush With Fame

Former Editor & Content Director

Nova Drive co-host and former Home & Away star Kate Ritchie has appeared on the ABC’s Anh Do’s Brush With Fame, covering everything from growing up in the public eye to her transition to radio, as well as being a mother and learning who she is away from the spotlight.

The show features host Do interviewing prominent guests about their life as he paints a portrait of them. Ritchie said she hoped he captured that she is open and kind.

Before he painted, Do said Ritchie is warm and authentic and he wanted to “capture a portrait that’s as engaging as the woman behind it”.

During the interview, Ritchie also opened up about her struggles when she first got behind the microphone on Nova’s Sydney Breakfast show alongside Merrick Watts and Tim ‘Rosso’ Ross.

“That was probably the most challenging thing for me, because all of a sudden I was telling my own story and I wasn’t given a script and it was just banter, and I’d never done that before,” she said. “I had to find my own voice, and I didn’t feel comfortable in that, because I was still trying to work out who I was.

“I remember one of the producers saying to me, ‘Kate, we really want you to share more of your life on the radio’ – which is what you do, especially during the Breakfast shift.

“And I remember being really frustrated, because my response was, ‘Well, I’d talk more about my life if I had a life’. I’m doing Breakfast radio and I’m coming home and falling into bed and maybe having a bowl of soup. I don’t have a social life. I didn’t have a family at that point. Where am I getting my stories from? I’m exhausted.”

After the chat, Do said it’s easy to see what so many Australians adore Ritchie.

“You have a charisma and a star quality that I wanted in there, but also, Kate, there is a vulnerability and a kindness that is so magnetic.”

The episode had an overnight metro audience of 556,000 in its timeslot, according to the OzTAM metric.

Comment Form

Your email address will not be published.

Recent comments (4)
Post new comment
Julie B
8 Apr 2021 - 11:46 am

Kate Ritchie is a role model for many aspiring radio students across the country

Daniel
8 Apr 2021 - 1:57 pm

One of Australia’s greatest broadcasters?

All she does is play silly games and screams

Tim
9 Apr 2021 - 8:09 am

Poor old Kate she is floundering in this new Nova drive lineup. Embarrassing to listen to at times. Marty Sheargold must be having quite a laugh when he tunes in now. Lots of giggling doesn’t count as good content. Actors, actresses have a poor track record on radio. Can’t think of one that has ever done well. Unless you count Cameron Daddo on Smooth.

Penny
12 Apr 2021 - 1:44 pm

You are amazing ….a joy to listen to .

Jobs

See all