Memories of Kate
Past Home and Away cast/crew talk to us about their memories of working with Kate Ritchie on the show.
Debra Lawrance & Dennis Coard
Pippa and Michael Ross
Debra took over the role of Pippa Fletcher from Vanessa Downing in 1990, and
very much became a second mum to Kate during her time on the show. When Debra
fell for and eventually married Dennis, who played Pippa's second husband
Michael, Kate was one of the only people to know of the relationship.
We would both like to say that working with Kate was always an absolute joy; she is a true professional, unfailingly polite and fair in her dealings with people, and also fun to be with !! We would like to thank her for allowing us to practise our parenting skills on her for all those years... we now have two delicious children who are just like Kate and we couldn't be happier!!
Judy Nunn & Bruce Venables
Ailsa Stewart and Various
Judy spent 13 years on the show playing Ailsa Stewart, watching Kate grow up over the years and forming a close bond
with her. Judy's husband Bruce also has close ties with the show, being the person to speak the show's very first lines in 1988, and also having various other guest roles...
As Kate herself has often said, 'Home and Away' was like a second family, and I'm sure to her it must have seemed very much so. To some of we seasoned old hands of course it was 'just another job'. Or so we thought at the start. However, the show did develop a very strong sense of 'family' - and for me that was principally because of Kate. Being so closely involved in Kate's growth and maturity both professionally and personally, was not only a bonding experience but a privilege. Bruce and I became very close to Kate, and still feel very much a part of her life. She's a fine young woman, a highly talented performer and a really good mate. We're immensely proud of her achievements.
(Judy and Bruce photo with thanks to Judy)
Shaun Wood
Chris Fletcher
Shaun spent six years of his childhood with Kate, playing her adoptive brother Chris Fletcher from 1992 to 1998...
I always saw Kate as a big sister on and off the
screen. Kate was one of the people that I saw on a very regular basis and was a
great role model for myself - always really encouraging with a really
positive outlook and great attitude towards the show. I remember her always
having a smile on her face. It is no surprise that Kate is as successful and
as popular she is, and I feel privileged to have been lucky enough to work with her
for the period of time I did.
I hope for all the best for Kate in the future and have no doubt that she will
succeed in anything she chooses to pursue.
(photos thanks to Shaun)Tempany Deckert
Selina Cook/Roberts
Tempany played the character Selina from 1994-1997, good friend and classmate
of Sally.Working with Kate Ritchie was a dream. Not only a wonderful actress, but Kate is funny, sweet and with a heart of gold. The consumate professional, Kate was always on time, knew her lines and had time for everyone. I was amazed she always had such a great attitude after so many years on the show.
A real giggler, there were often times when we wondered if we'd get through
a scene....but somehow Kate was the one who'd end up keeping a straight face
while the rest of us messed up! I wish her all the best for her future
projects and hope to work with her again one day!
Bevan Lee
Seven
Network Script Executive
Bevan has known Kate for 20 years, being the person that
wrote her very first storylines for the first 18 months of the show. In 1996 he
returned to Seven as Network Script Executive and has overseen her storylines
ever since. In 2007 he returned to the Script Producer's chair in order to give
Kate the farewell she deserved.It's been amazing watching Kate not
only grow in to a beautiful young woman and a fine human being, but also to see
her mature in to a fine actress. From her initial fine child performer
instincts, through her slightly halting, more self-conscious teen years, in to
the blossoming of more adult performances and her latter years of fully-rounded,
screen dominating mature work. She has morphed through all these stages and
ended up both a fine performer and an iconic figure in the history of Australian
television. And all the time staying one of the nicest people in the business.
That is no mean feat. I eagerly look forward to watching her career go from
strength to strength in the years to come.
Coral Drouyn
Former Script Producer
Coral first wrote for the show in the early 90's, and then became Script
Producer and Story Editor from 2002-2004.
Working with Kate was always a delight. Thoroughly professional, she was always ready with a smile and compliments if she liked a story, concerns if she wasn't sure. She's a lady in every sense of the word... No tantrums, backbiting or star complex. Just a terrific person and actress. The one thing that did surprise me was that she was so adamant she did NOT want to move into the Caravan Park and play Pippa to foster children - and I had to promise to her I wouldn't do that to the character - who was way too young. I hope she did, in the end, enjoy those years of following in Pippa's footsteps. After all, it's where it all began.
