Latest news with #MichaelWipfli
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Ritchie fails to show up to annual Singles Party as she all but confirms her departure from Nova radio gig
Kate Ritchie has all but confirmed her departure from her Nova radio gig by failing to show up to the station's annual Singles Party on Tuesday night. The 46-year-old was absent from the event which was hosted by her co-hosts Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli. Kate did not feature in a video posted to the radio station's Instagram page recapping the event. She has not been mentioned in the lead up to the event although her name was still featured on station promos. There has been ongoing speculation over when she'll return to co-host Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Nova 96.9 following her sudden departure in January after a troubling public incident in a Sydney park. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Last month, Fitzy and Wippa shared some details about their Singles Party but made no mention if their absent co-star Kate would be attending. 'It's back, Fitzy, Wippa and Kate Ritchie's Singles Party returns! One night, one room, 100 chances to find the one,' a promo played on the station said. Wippa then chatted to Kate's fill-in presenter Chrissie Swan about the event and told her it was going to be a great night aboard a luxurious yacht on the Sydney Harbour. 'Chrissie, last year you weren't even there! You are not going to believe it, before the Slow Dance took place, a couple already held hands and wandered off because they were having such a good time together,' Wippa began. 'This is the power of the Singles Party and it is back again for 2025, bigger and better!' Fitzy then jumped it to discuss how diverse the event would be - but failed to mention if Kate would be attending. 'It was such an eclectic group of people we had [at last year's event]. A weird mix, ladies who had been unlucky in love, older men, private school boys, it was all over the ship and an amazing night,' Fitzy said. An excited Chrissie then said she needed to 'get in on this' and asked if she could attend, to which Fitzy responded: 'Yes... we need you here.' The radio network first shared the news of the event on June 1st, alongside a promo image featuring Fitzy, Wippa and Kate, who had been absent from the show for several months. Confused listeners demanded to know if Kate will be returning to the radio program after appearing on the event poster. 'Where is Kate? She has been absent all year and nothing has been mentioned about her coming back, is she returning or not?' one person asked. 'Hope Kate is going well, will she be returning this year?' another concerned fan said. Kate's Instagram bio doesn't mention Nova anymore; instead she is simply 'actor, radio and broadcaster' which may point to her making a quiet exit. Kate has been receiving ongoing support at a rehabilitation facility since the incident, which saw her photographed in tears and appearing visibly distressed shortly after picking up daughter Mae from school. At the time, Kate released a heartfelt statement on social media explaining her decision to step away from the show. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she began. 'So I have decided to take a break from the show and the team who I love to focus on my health. I want to thank all of those who are helping me through this very difficult time. Thank you Nova for being there when I need you.' At the time, Nova's co-hosts had promised their audience that the absent Kate would return after one day off, but that timeline was soon dropped. Nova has remained tight-lipped on any potential comeback date and did not respond to questions about whether the embattled star had continued to receive pay during her absence.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How to save THOUSANDS on your next shop: The 'genius' AI trick everyone needs to know about
Aussie shoppers are losing it over a 'genius' money-saving trick that could help you thousands at checkout. Nova 96.9 presenter Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli revealed the simple hack during a recent segment on Fitzy & Wippa with Kate, explaining how he used AI to score a discount on an online order. 'Can I tell you what I did the other day? And it's a tip that we got on this show,' Wippa began, before launching into the trick that left his co-hosts stunned. While online shopping, Wippa said he was just about to complete his order when he spotted the 'coupon' prompt at checkout. Instead of skipping over it like many do, he turned to ChatGPT and asked it to look for active discount codes for the site he was shopping on. 'I went on ChatGPT and said, "Please search for any coupons that could be attached to the website",' he explained. 'It actually worked, I felt like a bit of a scammer... The software fired back five of them (discount codes) - there's always a 'Welcome10' or a 'Thanks15'. I got 15 per cent off my Labubu doll.' His co-host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald was amazed by the discovery, saying: 'That is unbelievable' to which Wippa responded, 'Easy savings, guys.' Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli revealed the simple hack during a recent segment on Fitzy & Wippa with Kate, explaining how he used AI to score a discount on an online purchase The best part? The entire process took just seconds and cost him nothing. The AI-generated codes worked instantly, allowing Wippa to pocket a discount he would have otherwise missed. 'The AI Hack that could save you THOUSANDS,' the radio station said in its caption. While coupon browser extensions like Honey have been around for years, using AI tools like ChatGPT to search for codes on demand is a fresh, user-driven feature that's quickly catching on with savvy shoppers. Social media users have since called the tip a 'game-changer,' with many now trying it for everything from groceries and gifts to clothing and tech. 'I do this all the time,' one confessed. With the cost of living continuing to bite, it's a timely reminder that a few keystrokes - and a little AI assistance - could lead to some seriously savings. So next time you're about to check out, don't skip the coupon box - your wallet will thank you.
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Nova listeners demand to know where Kate Ritchie is as radio station makes a major announcement after star's months long absence
Nova FM has announced it will be hosting its annual Singles Party. The radio network shared the news on Thursday alongside a promo image featuring hosts Ryan Fitzgerald, Michael Wipfli and Kate Ritchie, who has been absent from the show for several months. And now, confused listeners are demanding to know whether Ritchie will be returning to the radio program after appearing on the event poster. 'Where is Kate? She has been absent all year and nothing has been mentioned about her coming back, is she returning or not?' one person asked. 'Hope Kate is going well, will she be returning this year?' another concerned fan said. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'When is Kate back?' a third questioned. There has been ongoing speculation over when she'll return to co-host Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Nova 96.9 following her sudden departure in January after a troubling public incident in a Sydney park. Kate's Instagram bio doesn't mention Nova anymore; instead she is simply 'actor, radio and broadcaster' which may point to her making a quiet exit. Despite her absence, the breakfast radio show has continued to thrive with just Fitzy and Wippa at the helm, recently recording its highest ratings in almost a year. The duo pulled in an impressive 8.7 per cent share of the audience in the latest survey, putting pressure on Nova bosses to make a decision about the show's future direction. Kate has been receiving ongoing support at a rehabilitation facility since the incident, which saw her photographed in tears and appearing visibly distressed shortly after picking Mae up from school. At the time, Kate released a heartfelt statement on social media explaining her decision to step away from the show. 'I struggle with mental health issues at times, which are deeply personal. This has proven to be a bigger challenge than I imagined,' she began. 'So I have decided to take a break from the show and the team who I love to focus on my health. I want to thank all of those who are helping me through this very difficult time. I love you. Thank you Nova for being there when I need you.' Kate went on to address the images taken on January 29. 'This is also a problem many others are struggling with. They know what it's like. The images of me taken last week show that I wasn't okay on that day,' she continued. She went on to thank her friends and fans for their support. 'Thank you to my wonderful family, all the Nova listeners, and many others who are sending their love and support. I appreciate it more than you can imagine,' she wrote. Footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia then showed the former actress crying while on the phone, wiping tears from her eyes and burying her head in her hands. A witness, who saw Ritchie get out of the car at the park, said the star 'looked really distressed'. 'She walked around a bit in the park while talking and then suddenly she sat down and started rocking her whole body back and forth and crying,' they said. 'It was really confronting – she looked so upset. When she turned around her eyes were all red and puffy and she looked absolutely devastated.' The actress was then seen struggling to get up from the grass. 'After the call ended, she tried to stand up but lost her balance and sort of fell over again,' the bystander added. 'When she finally managed to get to her feet, she started making another phone call... she looked much happier during that call.' Kate then walked around to the back of the vehicle – holding an arm out on the car as she got into the driver's seat and drove home. At the time, Nova's co-hosts had promised their audience that the absent Kate would return after one day off, but that timeline was soon dropped. This isn't the first time Kate has stepped away from her duties at Nova. In 2022, she took an extended hiatus from her drive-time program with Tim Blackwell and Joel Creasey, citing exhaustion and burnout. She never returned to that show either. Nova has remained tight-lipped on any potential comeback date and did not respond to questions about whether the embattled star had continued to receive pay during her absence.
