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 Tim are 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.

Ricki‑Lee & Tim are the fresh, fun and unapologetically cheeky wake‑up Sydney’s ready for. Their chemistry is instant, their friendship is real, and the laughs? Guaranteed. Every morning they jump head‑first into the conversations the city is having, from the big overnight headlines to the hilarious stories Sydneysiders will be recounting all day. If it's happening in the city they both proudly call home, they’re on it, whether it’s serious, silly or somewhere in between.

Chart-topping recording artist Ricki‑Lee brings the star power, the music chops and the unmistakable glam. Seasoned radio pro Tim Blackwell brings the lightning‑fast wit, the pop‑culture brain no one can keep up with and the kind of storytelling that gets the whole city talking. And as passionate Sydneysiders, their love for the Harbour City runs deep. They don’t just broadcast to Sydney – they live it. They know the rhythm of the harbour, the chaos of the commute, the quirks of the suburbs and everything local, day in, day out.

Bright, bold and bursting with energy, Ricki‑Lee and Tim make waking up in Sydney genuinely fun.

A true powerhouse of Australian entertainment, Ricki-Lee is a multi‑talented performer, celebrated for her extraordinary success across radio, television and music. Now firmly established as one of the country’s leading radio hosts, Ricki-Lee is the co-host of Nova 96.9’s brand-new Sydney Breakfast show, Ricki-Lee and Tim, alongside award-winning radio presenter Tim Blackwell, delivering an exciting new show for Sydneysiders that’s live and local every day.

The girl from the Gold Coast has proudly called Sydney home since 2010 and has worked alongside Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey on Nova’s #1 national Drive show since 2022. Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel is one of the most listened-to programs in the country and with her quick wit, infectious laughter and down-to-earth nature, Ricki-Lee’s on-air presence has made her a favourite with audiences nationwide. In 2024 she was nominated for an ACRA for Best Individual Talent.

Ricki‑Lee is a multi‑platinum selling ARIA Award nominated recording artist who has sold millions of records worldwide and amassed over 150 million streams. In 2024, her fifth album On My Own debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Album Chart, featuring the singles On My Own, Ghost, Point of No Return and I Was Made For Loving You. She has consistently topped the charts for over 20 years, with achievements including 4x #1’s on the ARIA Dance Chart and UK Club Chart, 3x ARIA Top 10 Albums, 8x ARIA Top 10 Singles, 15x ARIA Top 40 Singles and a Top 10 single on Japan’s Billboard Hot 100 Chart, along with 6x Gold, 5x Platinum and 4x Double Platinum certifications.

Ricki-Lee is also the host of Australian Idol, the iconic show that launched her career and made her a household name 22 years ago. Loved for her heart and humour by millions of Australians who watch the show, her work on the series earned her a Logie nomination for Most Popular Presenter in 2025. The fourth season of the wildly successful and much-loved show returns to 7 on Feb 2.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Ricki-Lee is one of Australia’s finest success stories and has proven herself to be a formidable force in the Australian entertainment industry.

Tim Blackwell is a highly respected radio broadcaster and TV presenter, with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry.

Known for his dynamic presence and influential role in the Australian media industry, Tim has been an integral part of the Nova family since the network first launched in 2001.

Tim’s radio journey has seen him co-host some of Nova’s most popular and successful shows. He was the face and voice behind Breakfast radio shows in Brisbane and Melbourne and was also the very first voice to hit the airwaves when Nova Perth launched, setting the tone for the station before taking the reins of its Drive show.

Over a successful 13‑year run on Nova’s #1 national Drive show, the ACRA award-winning presenter has cemented his status as one of Australia’s leading radio figures. Tim has been instrumental in delivering a consistently top-rating show for the Nova Network.

Having grown up in Sydney, Tim is embarking on a new role as one half of Nova 96.9’s brand-new Breakfast team, Ricki-Lee & Tim, waking up with his hometown every day alongside his colleague and friend, Ricki-Lee.

In 2020, Tim expanded his broadcasting portfolio by launching Introducing with Tim Blackwell, a podcast where he interviews some of the most popular and intriguing musicians from around the world. His deep knowledge of the music industry, combined with his genuine curiosity, has made the podcast a must-listen for music lovers.

Tim is also an experienced major music events host, presenting the ARIA Awards in both 2024 and 2025, further showcasing his expertise and connection to the Australian and international music scene.

Sarah Harris is one of Australia’s most experienced and versatile media personalities, bringing over 25 years of intelligence, authenticity and straight-talking style to news, current affairs, and entertainment broadcasting.

In 2026, Sarah joined Nova 96.9’s Sydney breakfast show alongside Ricki-Lee and Tim as newsreader, adding her trusted voice to radio.

For 12 years at Network Ten, Sarah became a familiar face in Australian living rooms as co-host of The Project, Studio 10, and Shark Tank Australia - connecting with audiences through her sharp wit, genuine curiosity, and rare ability to make complex issues feel accessible and relatable.

Sarah’s television journey spans Australia’s major networks including Seven, Nine, Ten, and ABC. Whether delivering hard news or lighter moments, she’s built a reputation for asking the questions people really want answered, always with empathy and insight.

A proud ambassador for The Smith Family, Sarah champions education equity for disadvantaged children and families, bringing heart and visibility to a cause close to her values.

From breaking news to breakfast radio, boardrooms to red carpets, Sarah Harris brings journalistic credibility wrapped in genuine warmth - the rare combination that makes her not just respected, but truly engaging