Nova listeners rally behind ousted Fitzy & Wippa host Sarah after she was replaced by Kate Ritchie

Nova radio shocked listeners on Friday when the station officially announced that former Home and Away star Kate Ritchie had replaced long-serving host Sarah McGilvray on Fitzy and Wippa. 

And now some of Sarah’s most devout fans have rallied behind her after she was ousted by the radio station.

Underneath Fitzy and Wippa’s announcement post on Instagram, many listeners flocked to the comments section to say that they won’t be tuning in to the station anymore due to Sarah being replaced. 

Many said they were ‘disappointed’ by the news and upset that Sarah didn’t get the proper send off she deserved.

It comes after current and former employees of the radio station told Daily Mail Australia they were blindsided by news McGilvray was being pushed aside, with some only learning about it via the press last week.

Her exit had not been acknowledged on air since she vanished from the show almost four weeks ago after a blow-up with management about her role at the network. 

‘Where is Sarah,’ one person commented underneath the announcement post. 

‘Loyalty… Sarah deserved more,’ another said. 

‘Nope! I won’t be listening now! Should have kept Sarah. Bye Nova,’ one quipped. 

Another fan said Sarah’s sudden disappearance from the show was ‘disappointing’.

Nova radio shocked listeners on Friday when the station officially announced that former Home and Away star Kate had replaced long-serving host Sarah

Underneath Fitzy and Wippa’s announcement post on Instagram, many listeners flocked to the comments section to say that they won’t be tuning in to the station anymore due to Sarah being replaced

‘How incredibly disappointing and disrespectful. Not even a goodbye or thank you to Sarah. After all those years, how do you not even mention her?’

They scathingly added in part of the post: ‘I couldn’t think of anything worse than listening to Kate every morning.’ 

One fan said: ‘Looks like this is my last day of listening to Fitzy and Wippa. Worst decision ever  to bring in Kate. I’m sure she is a lovely person but is very irritating on the radio. Bring back Sarah!’ 

However, some listeners said they were looking forward to hearing Kate on air. 

‘Great to see Kate back on the airways,’ one person wrote. Another said they had ‘missed’ Kate. 

Underneath Sarah’s own post about International Women’s Day this week and before the official announcement was made, she also received an outpouring of support from fans. 

‘Our mornings are not the same without you. Switching stations until you are back (or following you to your next fabulous gig),’ one user wrote.

‘Miss hearing your voice Sarah, it’s just not the same,’ another said.  

Underneath Sarah’s own post about International Women’s Day this week and before the official announcement was made, she also received an outpouring of support from fans

Underneath Sarah’s own post about International Women’s Day this week and before the official announcement was made, she also received an outpouring of support from fans

‘Look who’s come to breakfast,’ Fitzy and Wippa’s announcement post read, alongside a picture of Kate, Fitzy and Wippa.

Nova confirmed in a statement on Friday that Ritchie would be joining Fitzgerald and Wipfli on their Sydney breakfast show from March 13.

‘I am so excited to be joining Fitzy and Wippa in the very competitive breakfast slot,’ Ritchie said.

‘I’m a huge fan of the show and I’ve been great mates with the boys for years. The past eight years on drive has been an important part of my life but I’m thrilled to take on this new challenge by returning to breakfast radio in my hometown.

‘I can’t wait to wake up Sydneysiders beside two of the industry’s much-loved breakfast announcers.’

Fitzgerald and Wipfli added: ‘We’ve been annoying Kate around the office for over ten years; now we get to do it every morning.

‘We are excited for our audience to hear how funny Kate thinks we are. Nova listeners have always loved Kate and now she’ll be served up every weekday. Please enjoy your breakfast.’

The announcement comes a day after Ricki-Lee Coulter was confirmed as Ritchie’s replacement on the Kate, Tim and Joel national drive show.

Nova confirmed in a statement on Friday that Ritchie would be joining Fitzgerald and Wipfli on their Sydney breakfast show from March 13. ‘I am so excited to be joining Fitzy and Wippa in the very competitive breakfast slot,’ Ritchie said

The announcement comes a day after Ricki-Lee Coulter was confirmed as Ritchie’s replacement on the Kate, Tim and Joel national drive show

Ritchie had been absent from the afternoon slot for months, during which time she entered a rehab facility for alcohol dependency.

Nova FM staff recently spoke of their ‘shock’ and ‘confusion’ over Sarah’s sudden exit.

Current and former employees of the radio station told Daily Mail Australia they were blindsided by news McGilvray was being pushed aside, with some only learning about it via the press last week.

One staffer said her departure was ‘brutal’ for someone who had ‘given a decade of her life’ to a radio show and was popular with listeners, adding she was ‘tossed aside without so much as a proper goodbye’.

‘The guys at Nova are baffled. Most people didn’t even find out until the stories broke. They had all been asking, “Where is Sarah?” and were confused,’ another said.

Nova FM staff recently spoke of their ‘shock’ and ‘confusion’ over Sarah’s sudden exit

McGilvray worked on Fitzy and Wippa for 12 years, spending eight of those as a co-host alongside Fitzgerald and Wipfli. Before that, she was a senior producer for the Sydney breakfast program.

Her exit had not been acknowledged on air since she vanished from the show almost four weeks ago after a blow-up with management about her role at the network.

A source with knowledge of the discussion said McGilvray was ‘upset and angry’ at her bosses for effectively taking her job away from her by bringing in Ritchie as a third host.

Nova execs apparently tried to offer her a ‘consolation deal’ that would see her take on a ‘managerial-type role’ within the company, but she rejected it and walked out.

Nova execs apparently tried to offer her a ‘consolation deal’ that would see her take on a ‘managerial-type role’ within the company, but she rejected it and walked out