Nova's Fitzy set for shock move in 2024: 'Huge risk'

After over a decade at the helm of Nova 96.9's breakfast slot live from the station's Sydney studio, Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli are set to find themselves in unfamiliar territory next year with the future of their family-friendly radio show alongside Kate Ritchie looking “uncertain”.

Yahoo Lifestyle understands Fitzy will be relocating to Adelaide with his wife Belinda Jay and their two sons within the next six months, and he'll be permanently broadcasting remotely from South Australia – despite spending the last 12 years doing the show by Wippa's side each morning.

A radio insider tells us: “Fitzy moving back to Adelaide and doing the show from there is a huge risk. The chemistry is never the same when hosts are not in the same studio, so Nova will have to work hard to maintain the same energy so the long distance doesn't convey on air.

"If it doesn't work, the talent's contracts may not be renewed – it's as simple as that and the future of the show is uncertain. Not having MDG [newsreader, Matt de Groot] there is another huge blow for listeners too.”

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It's the latest in a series of changes to shake the Nova 96.9 breakfast show.

In March, producer-turned-co-host Sarah McGilvray was controversially axed and replaced by Kate Ritchie, with Nova rebranding breakfast to Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie in a bid to boost listeners.

The news was met with a mixed response, especially as it was revealed Kate would only join the boys for two of their three-hour show each morning – despite being paid a reported $1 million a year.

Earlier this month, popular newsreader Matt de Groot announced he was leaving and would be relocating to London with his family in the new year after 11 years with Fitzy and Wippa.

When contacted for comment, a spokesperson from Nova Entertainment didn't deny the changes, telling us, "Currently, NOVA Entertainment is unable to comment on the production logistics of the Sydney Breakfast show for 2024 but will provide any relevant updates in the new year, prior to shows returning."

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Fitzy has previously made no secret of his desire to move back to South Australia and put his family ahead of his lucrative radio career in Sydney.

"We will end up back at Port Noarlunga to live," he told RealEstate.com in 2015. "I’m really enjoying my time in Sydney but I really want my kids to have that life… the childhood I had, I would not change it for the world."

For the last two years, the former sports star has been building his dream home in the beachside suburb of Port Noarlunga, 34 kilometres south of Adelaide, which is now said to be finished.

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