over the weekend after sharing a striking swimsuit photo that captured both her relaxed glow and a quiet sense of personal triumph — just days

after finally addressing long-running rumours about a possible return to Home and Away.

Kate Ritchie (pictured) was enjoying the last of summer weather this weekend

The 47-year-old took to Instagram to mark the end of her holiday break, posting a sultry yet understated selfie as she lounged on a boat beneath the sun. Dressed in animal-print swimwear and shielding her face beneath a grey cap, Ritchie exuded ease and self-assurance, her youthful figure drawing instant admiration from fans.

“Okay, okay. It’s goodbye to a beautiful break. No more of this,” she wrote, signaling that the carefree days of summer were officially over. The caption, simple but reflective, hinted at a familiar transition for Ritchie — from rest and reflection back to the fast-paced demands of her daily life.

With the holiday chapter closed, Ritchie made it clear she was returning to her role behind the microphone on Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, where she has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s most trusted and relatable radio voices. It’s a role that represents not just career evolution, but personal resilience after a period marked by health challenges and introspection.

A Life Beyond Summer Bay

The timing of Ritchie’s beachside moment wastepped into the role of Sally Fletcher in 1988, beginning a 20-year journey that would define an era of Australian television. Sally grew up on screen alongside the audience, becoming one of the soap’s most enduring and emotionally resonant characters. When Ritchie left the series in 2008, it marked the end of a chapter not just for the show, but for Ritchie herself.

For nearly two decades, rumours have swirled that she might one day return to Summer Bay. Those whispers only grew louder after Ritchie briefly returned to acting last year following a lengthy break taken to prioritise her health. Yet now, she has finally offered her most definitive answer to date — and it may surprise longtime fans.

The radio host shared a sultry selfie on Instagram, in which she was laid out on a boat, relaxing in the sun. The 47-year-old showed off her youthful figure in animal print swimwear

It comes after the former soap star finally revealed that she has no plans to return to Summer Bay. Pictured in 2019

Speaking candidly on Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, the actress revealed that she has no plans to reprise her iconic role.

“The show is doing so well, it doesn’t need Sally anymore,” Ritchie said, her tone reflective rather than dismissive. She added that Sally is likely living “a nice life somewhere,” suggesting a sense of peace and closure with the character she once embodied so completely.

Closing a Chapter — With Gratitude

Ritchie was careful to stress that her decision comes from a place of respect, not resentment. She spoke warmly of Home and Away, acknowledging its continued success and evolution without her.

“I still love the show,” she said, before adding that it has clearly “moved on.”

For fans hoping to hear a tease of a dramatic comeback, Ritchie briefly offered one — only to swiftly retract it. With a playful glint, she joked that she would return “if asked,” before quickly clarifying that the idea no longer aligns with where she is in life.

“That’s a chapter of my life that’s done,” she said firmly.

It was a statement that carried weight, not because it rejected the past, but because it honored it while refusing to be defined by it forever.

Ritchie also revealed that producers have approached her “numerous times” over the past 17 years to gauge her interest in returning. Each time, the door remained open — but she ultimately chose not to walk through it.

The Emotional Cost of Growing Up on Screen

In a revealing moment during the radio discussion, Ritchie admitted that despite her affection for the series, she doesn’t regularly watch it.

“I think I sat down maybe about five years ago and watched one episode,” she confessed, before adding with humor, “but I couldn’t bear seeing other people living in my house and sitting on my couch for a while.”

The comment, delivered lightly, underscored a deeper truth about the emotional complexity of growing up on screen. Ritchie has previously spoken about how difficult it was to separate her own identity from Sally Fletcher after spending two decades inhabiting the role.

Leaving Home and Away wasn’t just a career move — it was an act of self-definition. Since then, she has built a successful radio career, embraced motherhood, and navigated very public personal challenges, all while slowly redefining who she is beyond Summer Bay.

A Confident Present, A Grounded Future

Ritchie’s recent swimsuit photo felt symbolic for many fans — not simply because of how radiant she looked, but because of what it represented. Confidence, comfort, and control. At 47, she appears firmly rooted in herself, unburdened by expectations to relive the past or prove anything to anyone.

Back in October last year, she acknowledged that the idea of returning to Home and Away had crossed her mind.

“[Producers] have stopped calling, but they have told me the door is always open,” she told the Herald Sun at the time. “The idea of being back there and seeing everyone and working with all those actors again is not something I would not want to do — it’s just whether it makes sense anymore.”

Now, it seems she has her answer.

As Kate Ritchie returns to work and leaves summer behind, she does so on her own terms — grateful for the role that shaped her, but no longer defined by it. And for fans who grew up watching Sally Fletcher grow into adulthood, there’s something quietly powerful about seeing the woman behind the character so at peace with where she stands today.

The sun may be setting on summer, and the door to Summer Bay may finally be closed — but Kate Ritchie’s story, confidently rewritten, is very much still unfolding.