Nova Unveils New Sydney Breakfast and National Drive Shows

NOVA Entertainment today announced brand new line-ups for their Sydney Breakfast and national Drive shows on the Nova FM Network, launching Monday, February 9.

Nova 96.9’s new Sydney breakfast show will be Ricki-Lee & Tim, hosted by chart-topping recording artist and television presenter Ricki-Lee and award-winning radio broadcaster, Tim Blackwell.

A consistent number one show in their current Drive timeslot, Ricki-Lee and Timare set to build on the incredible legacy of Nova FM Sydney breakfast shows, delivering a live show from Sydney, for Sydney, every weekday from 6am to 9am.

An exciting new Nova Network project for hugely talented Drive co-host and comedian Joel Creasey will also be revealed on-air today on the Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel Drive show.

Also launching on February 9 is Nova’s new national Drive show, Fitzy, Wippa & Kate. Hosted by three of Australia’s most loved personalities, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and Kate Ritchie, the show will be broadcast live from 4pm to 6pm every weekday across Australia.

Following on from record audience results in 2025 for their current Sydney Breakfast show, all three presenters have hosted Nova’s national Drive show during their extensive careers, captivating audiences Australia-wide.

Following the Drive show each weekday, Ricki-Lee & Tim will also be on-air from 6pm for an hour-long national show, underscoring Nova’s commitment to delivering premium content across the entire day.

On her new role on Nova 96.9’s Sydney Breakfast show, Ricki-Lee said, "I've had so much fun working with Tim and Joel over the past few years and I am constantly blown away by how much people love our show all around the country. Stepping into Sydney Breakfast is a huge honour, and I can’t wait to wake up with Sydney and start every day making the people of this beautiful city smile - and to do it alongside one of my best friends makes it even sweeter. Tim and I are so ready for this. I can’t wait!"

Tim Blackwell added, “It’s been a dream of mine to host Sydney Breakfast my entire career. The fact I get to create a new show, in Sydney, for Sydney, with my best mate and wake up with the greatest city in the world every morning is a privilege that I don’t take for granted.” 

Nova Network’s Group Programming Director, Brendan Taylor said, “Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel have been a consistent number one show in their timeslot, and now is the right moment for a new sound for Sydney. Ricki-Lee and Tim are perfectly positioned to bring something exciting to Sydney Breakfast. They’re two of the best in the business and will continue to build on the incredible legacy of previous Nova Sydney breakfast line-ups, while delivering an exciting new show for Sydneysiders that’s live and local, every day.”

On the new Drive show, Taylor added, “Fitzy, Wippa and Kate are a powerhouse combination and their chemistry, humour and heart resonate deeply with audiences. They’ve delivered excellent results together and this move to Drive allows us to share their magic with all of Australia.”

On joining Nova 96.9’s new Drive show, Kate Ritchie said, “I’ve absolutely loved my time with the boys on Sydney Breakfast and I’m thrilled we now get to share our show with all of Australia. My morning alarm is ready and waiting to be set for packing school lunch and doing drop-off again with the beauty of entertaining our loyal listeners on their drive home. It’ll be an exciting evolution for all of us”

Added Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, “Fourteen, fifteen, who knows how many years we’ve been doing breakfast? I was roughly aged twelve, Fitzy’s voice hadn’t even dropped when we started and Kate is still the rose between two very rough thorns, But the time has come to share the love with the rest of the country. So this odd throuple is packing up the family and moving to a national Drive show. Come with us, it will be fun.”

Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald said, “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved with our audience in Sydney over the past 15 years, but equally excited to open up to our national family. It gives us an opportunity to travel around to see everyone and more importantly, claim all interstate trips as ‘work events’”.

NOVA Entertainment CEO, Peter Charlton said, “A key ingredient of NOVA’s success has been consistency, so we’ve made these changes with consideration and a long-term view. This evolution is all about continuing to give our incredible talent the perfect platforms to deliver great content, market-leading audiences and trusted environments for our advertising partners.”

Ricki-Lee & Tim on Nova 96.9 Sydney can be heard weekdays from 6am-9am, starting Monday, February 9. National listeners can also tune into the show across the Nova Network every weekday from 6pm-7pm.

Fitzy, Wippa & Kate can be heard weekdays from Monday, February 9 nationally across the Nova Network from 4pm-6pm.

Listeners can also stream the shows live or catch up with the daily podcast on the Nova Player.

Australia’s favourite trio Fitzy, Wippa & Kate serve Australia a daily hit of pure afternoon fun from 4pm-6pm weekdays. Cheeky, quick and totally family‑friendly, it’s the show you can crank up with the kids in the car and still enjoy a proper laugh, thanks to the team’s mix of sharp banter, upbeat vibes and their signature anything‑can-happen fun.

After years of owning Sydney breakfast, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and Kate Ritchie have taken their magic national, bringing fast, funny and feel‑good banter to Drive time listeners across the country. They’re the good guys (and girl) of radio – warm, witty and always up for a laugh. Whether they’re sharing stories from their own lives, engaging with the audience or reacting to the wildest bits of pop culture, their chemistry makes every moment instantly entertaining.

Perfectly built for the afternoon commute and school pick‑up, Fitzy, Wippa & Kate deliver Australia’s go‑to entertainment and music combo. It’s energetic, engaging and guaranteed to lift your mood. The kind of show that turns an ordinary afternoon into something fun, familiar and always a little unpredictable.

Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald first rose to prominence as an AFL player, debuting for the Sydney Swans before joining the Adelaide Crows. However, it was his appearance on Big Brother Australia in 2004 that made him a household name. His quick wit and down-to-earth charm caught the attention of Nova, kickstarting his media career.

Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house, Fitzy joined Nova 919 as a sports reporter and later became a co-host of the Fitzy, Jules & Clare breakfast show. After seven years on breakfast radio, Fitzy moved to Sydney in 2011 to team up with Wippa, first hosting Nova’s national Drive show. The duo’s undeniable chemistry led them to take over Nova 96.9’s Breakfast slot later that year, creating the hugely popular Fitzy & Wippa show. Kate Ritchie joined the duo in 2023 to bring the show to new heights.

Now returning to the national Drive slot with Wippa and Kate alongside him, Fitzy is ready to drive Aussies home around the country. Now based in Adelaide, the radio powerhouse is ready to bring his humour and laughs to the 4pm timeslot.

Beyond radio, Fitzy has made a name for himself on television. He is a regular presenter on The Project and Fox Sports’ The Back Page and hosted Foxtel’s AFL series The Recruit in 2014.

Fitzy is the quintessential Aussie dad, always trying to get a laugh with his puns or quirky stories. His humour, relatability, and knack for storytelling make him a beloved personality both on and off the air.

Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli is a popular radio personality with over two decades of experience in the Australian media landscape. After starting his career in building management, Wippa transitioned to radio, securing his first role in country South Australia. His natural talent quickly led to a position at Nova in Perth, before relocating to Melbourne to join the national Drive show in 2009.

In 2011, Wippa formed a successful partnership with Fitzy on Drive, and together they took over Nova 96.9’s Sydney Breakfast show later that year. Their chemistry and engaging style made them one of the most influential duos in Australian radio, earning them a loyal audience and solidifying their place at the forefront of the industry. Kate Ritchie joined the duo in 2023 to bring the show to new heights as Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie.

Now returning to the national Drive slot with Fitzy and Kate alongside him, Wippa will enjoy entertaining Aussies on their commute home each day.

Beyond radio, Wippa is a creative force, having launched the Invictus Games – The Soldier and the Story with Wippa podcast and setting two Guinness World Records, first for the world’s largest catapult and later for the longest Hot Wheels track. His contributions to both media and entertainment have earned him widespread recognition and cemented his status as a leading figure in the Australian radio industry.

In 2024, Wippa co-founded the pro-bono initiative 36 Months, a social change movement aiming to change legislation to increase the age of social media citizenship from ages 13 to 16. The movement’s success brought Wippa to the world stage, where Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited him to speak before the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2025.

Kate Ritchie is one of Australia’s most beloved radio personalities, known for her infectious humour and down-to-earth charm. She became a household name through her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on Home & Away, but it’s her radio presence that truly sets her apart.

In 2008, Kate joined Nova as part of the Kate, Merrick & Rosso Breakfast team in Sydney, before co-hosting the award-winning Kate, Tim & Marty Drive show from 2014. Her natural wit, cheeky sense of humour and relatable personality made her a fan favourite and helped the show become a standout success.

Kate joined the hugely popular Fitzy & Wippa Sydney Breakfast show in 2023, bringing the show to new heights.

Now, Kate brings her signature blend of fun and authenticity back to Drive with Fitzy and Wippa along for the ride. Kate will continue to keep the boys in check while sharing the funny moments of life with Aussie listeners. A true Aussie legend with a not-so-secret naughty side, Kate continues to win hearts across the country.