Kate Ritchie has confirmed the rumours that she will be joining Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa. 

The radio presenter, who stepped away from her drive-time show Kate, Tim & Joel in October for health reasons, made the announcement on-air on Friday morning alongside her new co-hosts Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli.

“It is so nice to be here, it’s been a long time and I’m excited to be back in the studio making radio,” Ritchie said.

“A bit of time off has made me realise I love doing a bit of broadcasting, and I’m now looking forward to doing it with you guys.”

Ritchie co-hosted the show for the remainder of Friday morning, before officially joining the team from next week when the show will be known as Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie.

In the wake of Ritchie leaving the drive show, singer and former Australian Idol contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter will join Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey on the drive-time radio program.

Coulter replaced Kate Ritchie’s long-standing role, meaning the show will now be renamed the Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel show.

Coulter said in a statement, “I love Tim and Joel like the brothers I never had but always wanted, and I have been having so much fun in the studio with them – they are the best in the business. I have so much love for Kate and I’m so happy I’ve been able to help out on the drive show over the last year. I am pumped to be officially joining the Nova family.”

Blackwell and Creasey said of their new co-host, “Is there anything this girl can’t do? We’re so stoked that Ricki-Lee can fit us in around her current schedule of world domination. Music, TV and now radio with us.”

“Her energy gets us all up and about each and every day. Fingers crossed we can both keep up.”

Image credits: Nova