Former Home & Away star Kate Richie has been announced by dmg Radio as Meshel Laurie’s replacement in Nova’s national drive show from 4pm to 6pm in 2014.
Ritchie will join Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold with Meshel Laurie moving to host Melbourne’s Nova 100’s breakfast show with Tommy Little.
Paul Jackson, dmg Radio’s Group Program Director said: “Kate Ritchie is the perfect fit to join Tim & Marty on drive. With Meshel Laurie’s move to Nova 100’s breakfast show, Kate was a natural choice as she’s no stranger to the audience and her style of banter fits perfectly the real, relatable, conversational style that has made our drive show number one across Australia.”
Richie has been a regular fill-in alongside Sam Mac for Nova 96.9’s Fitzy and Wippa and one was third of the Nova Sydney breakfast team throughout 2008 – 2009.
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Richie said: “I love the freedom of radio (as well as cheeky boys) which is why I can’t wait to get back into the Nova studio on a regular basis with Tim and Marty. I can’t say I ever loved the 4.00am alarm clock and that’s what makes this drive shift a dream job!”
Tim and Marty said: “We were hoping Kate would say yes to joining us because we’ve already started an office poll asking people which show name they prefer: Kate, Tim & Marty… Marty, Tim & Kate… Tim, Kate & Marty… Kate, Marty & Tim… Marty, Kate & Tim or Tim, Marty & Kate.”
Richie became a household name for her role as Sally Fletcher in the Seven Network’s Home and Away. She left the series in 2007 after 20 years and has most recently appeared in Peter Helliar’s It’s A Date.
The Melbourne radio market will see radical changes next year with the new Nova breakfast team of Laurie and Little going up against Fifi Box and Dave Thornton who are teaming up for Fox FM’s new breakfast show.
The move means the Today Network will also have a new lineup for its national drivetime show to compete with Nova’s new national drivetime show.