Former Home and Away star Kate Ritchie reveals the catalyst for her departure from the show


Former Home and Away star Kate Ritchie reveals the real reason she left the long-running soap after joining the show at the age of 10

Twelve years after leaving Home and Away, Kate Ritchie has spoken about what prompted her decision to quit the long-running soap. 

The 41-year-old actress-turned-radio host said she was nearing her 30th birthday and there was ‘a lot of change in the air’ when she decided to leave the series.

Kate first joined the cast in 1988 when she was just 10 years old, and after 20 years on TV, she was looking for something different.

Emotional exit: Twelve years after leaving Home and Away, Kate Ritchie has spoken about what prompted her decision to quit the long-running soap

‘I knew I was going to leave at some point, so why not then when my world was changing?’ she said in an interview with News.com.au.

Kate said she met with the show’s long-time executive producer, John Holmes, to talk it over with him, and he supported her decision.

Although she had been planning on taking some time off, she said she quickly landed a job in radio.

Ready for a change: In an interview with News.com.au on Tuesday, Kate said she was nearing her 30th birthday and there was 'a lot of change in the air' when she decided to leave the series. Pictured on Home and Away

Ready for a change: In an interview with News.com.au on Tuesday, Kate said she was nearing her 30th birthday and there was ‘a lot of change in the air’ when she decided to leave the series. Pictured on Home and Away

‘Everything about my departure was, personally and professionally, perfect,’ she admitted. 

‘It was this feeling of being so lost in so many ways but being so excited… It was that one time in my life where I really learned to trust my gut about things.’ 

In an editorial piece for the Herald Sun in April 2008, shortly before her final appearance as Sally Fletcher, Kate compared leaving the show to ending a relationship you’ve outgrown.   

Moving on: Although she had been planning on taking some time off after her departure from Home and Away, she said she quickly landed a job in radio

Moving on: Although she had been planning on taking some time off after her departure from Home and Away, she said she quickly landed a job in radio

‘Something just wasn’t right any more and the time had come for the inevitable parting of ways,’ she wrote. 

Although she knew she had made the right decision, she admitted it was an adjustment after having grown up on the series. 

‘I struggle to remember what life was like before I knew that place. I grew up there,’ she continued. 

'I knew I was going to leave at some point, so why not then when my world was changing?' she told the publication. Pictured with former co-star Heath Ledger

‘I knew I was going to leave at some point, so why not then when my world was changing?’ she told the publication. Pictured with former co-star Heath Ledger

‘I know every join in the wall, every drawer that doesn’t open and every photo frame sitting on every inch of furniture.’

Describing Sally as ‘the best friend I ever had’, Kate said she was surprised at how much she already missed her character.

She added: ‘Everything I have ever achieved, the success I have had, has been as a result of her. I deeply miss the comfort she has given me over the years.’ 

'It was this feeling of being so lost in so many ways but being so excited… It was that one time in my life where I really learned to trust my gut about things,' she said

‘It was this feeling of being so lost in so many ways but being so excited… It was that one time in my life where I really learned to trust my gut about things,’ she said