Kate Ritchie was spotted entering an exclusive private psychiatric hospital in Sydney after a difficult year.
The 44-year-old “Home and Away” actress announced in October that she would be leaving her afternoon radio show on Nova for the remainder of 2022 – just two months after she was charged with drunk driving on a Monday night in August .
Nova announced her departure in a pre-taped clip rather than reading it live on air, suggesting that management may have wanted Ritchie to stick firmly to a prepared script.
“Everyone on the radio was like, ‘Wow, that was weird, she’s not coming back,'” a radio insider told Chron Australia at the time, fueling speculation she’ll never return to the show.
On Sunday, Ritchie was seen with bags entering the Sydney Clinic in Bronte, which is offering a “mental health or addiction recovery program” to patients.
Chron Australia has made multiple attempts to seek comment from Ritchie’s management.
Kate Ritchie was spotted entering a private psychiatric hospital in Sydney on Sunday after a difficult year
The mother-of-one was seen carrying several bags to the Sydney Clinic in Bronte, which is offering a “mental health or addiction recovery program” to patients. Chron Australia does not indicate that Ritchie is being treated for these conditions
Ritchie picked up one of the family books she wrote, Everyday Play, which has recipes and activities for children and their parents.
She was brought to the clinic by her mother, Heather.
The following Monday afternoon, Ritchie – dressed casually in blue jeans with a matching denim shirt and a handbag over her shoulder – was picked up from the clinic by her mother.
The Sydney Clinic runs inpatient and day programs to “assess and treat mental illness” and support those who “have problems with alcohol and other drugs”.
Chron Australia does not indicate that Ritchie is being treated for these conditions.
The clinic has a “multidisciplinary team of consulting psychiatrists and addiction specialists, nurses, exercise physiologists, social workers, psychologists and psychotherapists”.
Ritchie arrived at the clinic in an SUV with her mother, Heather, before getting her belongings from the car and entering the facility
Ritchie was carrying several grocery bags and a woven tote
She took with her one of the family support books she wrote, Everyday Play, which contains recipes and activities for children and their parents
The Sydney Clinic runs inpatient and day programs to “assess and treat mental illness” and support those who “have problems with alcohol and other drugs”. Chron Australia does not indicate that Ritchie is being treated for these conditions
An industry insider said the Sydney Clinic is popular with on-air talent because it’s relatively discreet.
“They have a good strike rate and day programs allow patients to come and go and continue to see family and work while they get help,” the insider said.
“This time of year is also perfect as there are no ratings, most people are not vacationing in the city and the networks are shutting down.”
Ritchie surprised listeners in October when she announced she was leaving her hit Nova Drive show for the rest of the year due to stress.
Shortly after the announcement, a radio insider claimed that she may not return to the Nova Drive program and could be replaced by assistant co-host Ricki-Lee Coulter.
Ritchie is said to have lost the support of colleague Tim Blackwell, who is interested in having popular singer Coulter on the national Kate, Tim & Joel show permanently.
The third team member, comedian Joel Creasey, remains a fan of Ritchie, but Blackwell is the 20-year-old broadcast pro who runs the program, and the industry insider says he’ll get what he wants.
Coulter, who proved popular as part of the Nova breakfast team in Sydney in 2010, hosted Network Seven’s Australia’s Got Talent, on which Ritchie served as a judge.
“Kate’s return next year is not a certainty,” the insider told Chron Australia of Ritchie’s future at Nova.
“Management loves Kate but she’s been MIA a lot this year and Ricki-Lee has done a great job filling in. This has led to a dilemma. Tim is a big Ricki-Lee fan and Joel is in the Kate fan club.”
On Monday, Ritchie, dressed casually in blue jeans with a matching denim shirt and a handbag over her shoulder, was picked up by her mother again and taken home
She carried only one bag along with her purse across her chest
Ritchie shocked her fans and devoted listeners in October when she announced she was leaving her hit Nova Drive show for the rest of the year due to stress
Rumors about Ritchie’s future at Nova began swirling after it was revealed she returned a score of 0.06 – just above the legal limit – when called by police at 2.45pm on August 22 for a random breath test in her Subaru -Van was stopped in Pagewood.
Ritchie was fined $600, banned from driving for three months and apologized on Instagram.
“Recently I did a random breath test,” she wrote. “Although it was a low level, the test was positive.
“I made a bad decision and there is no doubt that I understand the seriousness of my actions. I’m really sorry.’
At the time, listeners were noticing Ritchie’s frequent absences from the show in recent years.
In August, she was charged with drunk driving in south-east Sydney. She was stopped by police for a random breath test in her Subaru station wagon in Pagewood at 2.45pm on August 22 and returned a reading of 0.06 – just above the legal limit
At one point in 2020, she took a seven-consecutive-week vacation from the show, which one radio figure in the industry said was “outrageous.”
However, another well-placed radio source said her exit had nothing to do with the drunk driving scandal and that management was keen to get her back in the chair.
The source insisted that Kate’s on-air statement that she was stressed and exhausted from her schedule was the real reason for her absence.
Ritchie had said, “We love our audience and they seem to get along with us.”
“And as you might have guessed, I invest a lot of emotional energy in everything I do, my work and especially my family, and in the last few months that I’ve been working in radio I’ve returned to television and my free time I even wrote a children’s book.
Ritchie shocked her fans and devoted listeners in October when she announced she was leaving her hit Nova Drive show for the rest of the year due to stress
“So it’s just like some of you I imagine I’m tired and just need a quick break and have more time for myself and for my family to recharge.
“I have spoken to Nova bosses and they have kindly agreed that this is a good time to take a break as we near the end of the year.
“Nova was fabulous and understanding so thank you Nova and thank you Tim, Joel and the team and most importantly thank you to all of our fabulous listeners. I really mean that.
“It’s time to recharge the batteries and come back fresh next year. And although it’s only for a short time, I will miss you all. See you in the new year.’
Ritchie shares eight-year-old daughter Mae with ex-husband Stuart Webb.
The couple split in 2020 after 10 years of marriage.
Kate grew up in front of Australian television audiences after appearing as Sally Fletcher in Home and Away in 1988 when she was just nine years old.
She appeared on the program for the next 20 years, winning the Gold Logie for Favorite Personality in 2007 and 2008 and the Silver Logie for Favorite Actress in 2006–08.
Ritchie shares one child – daughter Mae, eight – with her ex-husband Stuart Webb. The couple split in 2020 after 10 years of marriage (above in happier times)