Kate Ritchie Confirms She Won’t Return to Home and Away: “That Chapter of My Life Is Done”
It’s official — Kate Ritchie has no plans to return to Home and Away, the show that made her a household name. The beloved actress, who grew up on Australian television as Sally Fletcher, revealed during Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie breakfast show that her time in Summer Bay is well and truly over.
“The Show Doesn’t Need Sally Anymore”
Speaking candidly on Friday’s broadcast, the 47-year-old star said she has nothing but love for the long-running series, but believes Home and Away has moved on without her.
“The show is doing so well, it doesn’t need Sally anymore,” she said. “That’s a chapter of my life that’s done.”
Ritchie added that she’s been approached “numerous times” by producers since leaving the soap 17 years ago, but each time she’s politely declined. “They’ve checked in just to gauge my interest, but I think Sally has a nice life somewhere,” she explained with a smile.
At one point, Ritchie joked that she’d return “if asked” — before quickly reversing the tease. “No, no, that part of my life is over,” she clarified.
A Difficult Goodbye to Summer Bay
Ritchie famously joined Home and Away in 1988 at just eight years old, growing up in front of the cameras as Sally Fletcher — a character she portrayed for 20 years. She became one of the soap’s most iconic figures, even winning two Gold Logie Awards for her performance.
Since leaving in 2008, Ritchie has made only a handful of acting appearances, choosing instead to focus on radio and her family life. Reflecting on her departure, she admitted it took time to adjust to life outside the Bay.
“I sat down about five years ago and watched one episode, but I couldn’t bear seeing other people living in my house and sitting on my couch,” she joked.
Life Beyond the Soap
Ritchie now co-hosts Nova 96.9’s popular Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie breakfast show and has built a successful second career in radio. She also shares an 11-year-old daughter, Mae, with her ex-husband, former NRL player Stuart Webb.
While she hasn’t ruled out acting completely, Ritchie said her current schedule — and the ever-evolving Home and Away cast — make a return unlikely.
“All of the new viewers wouldn’t even know who Sally is,” she said. “I’ve got my hands full with parenting and life generally, let alone throwing another job into the mix.”
From Child Star to Acclaimed Actress
After leaving Home and Away, Ritchie appeared in Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities in 2009 and later starred in the police drama Cops L.A.C.. Most recently, she took on a darker role in The Claremont Murders (2023), proving her range beyond the soap world that raised her.
Still, for millions of fans, Kate Ritchie will always be Sally Fletcher — the heart of Summer Bay.
As one fan wrote online after her radio revelation: “Sally was the soul of Home and Away. Even if she never comes back, she’ll always belong there.”