Kate Ritchie talks about the chance of Sally Fletcher returning to Home and Away after more than a century
Home and Away bosses revealed a real treat for long-term fans last month with the announcement that Kate Ritchie had agreed to reprise her role as Sally Fletcher.
Sally, one of the show’s best-loved characters, will be back on screen later this year for a special storyline to coincide with Home and Away‘s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Kate Ritchie, who plays Sally, for an in-depth chat about her return.
How does it feel to be back on Home and Away after five years?
“It felt kind of strange at first, but in no time it was as if I had never left. Yes, there are many new things about the job. There are brand new studios, new sets and new fellow cast members, but there is also a lovely sense of familiarity about it all.
“There is also a sense of security in knowing exactly what the show is about and where its heart is, so all I have to do is concentrate on the work itself and enjoy! It was a job I loved and will forever have a sentimental attachment to, so I’m pleased that it has been this way upon my return.”
How did the return come about?
“I received a call from my manager one day saying that a request had come through from Home and Away, asking whether I would be interested in returning as a guest as part of the show’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
“I wasn’t sure what to think at first, because I honestly had never considered making a return. It had taken a long time to reach my decision to leave in the first place! I kept asking myself, ‘Why would I want to go back?’ and then I realised that the question really should be ‘Why not?’ Life and career should be all about doing the things that are rewarding and fun, and I knew it would be both those things.”
What was the main appeal of returning for you? Is it mainly because it’s Home and Away‘s 25th year?
“Celebrating Home and Away is a very good reason to accept the invitation of a return, but the main appeal is that working on Home and Away is one of the best jobs in the world for a multitude of reasons and it is a job that I enjoyed very much. It’s also a very good excuse to catch up with some people that I haven’t seen for a long time too!”
What can you tell us about what brings Sally back to Summer Bay?
“Not a great deal as yet! But what I can say is that it would be nice to think Sally Fletcher has returned for a holiday but to be honest, that wouldn’t be particularly interesting for me or the audience, so in true Summer Bay style there is a much more serious reason for her return! It’s one that requires the support of the people she loves most.”
Is Sally the same person we know and love, or has she changed much during her time away?
“When Sally first left Summer Bay, she was off on a holiday to Thailand and that is where she has stayed. She’s been doing what she loves and what she does best, teaching and working with kids.
“It has no doubt been an experience she would have found enriching, but I don’t think it would have necessarily ‘changed’ her, as it is purely an extension of the road she was already on. Sally has always been pretty solid, and so I’d like to think she is still the person audiences have known and loved.”
What can we expect from the story as it progresses? Will there be high-octane drama, or is the story more personal and low-key?
“Well, I suppose it all depends whether Sally gets mixed up with one of the River Boys or not! Personally, my favourite stories to watch and to work on have always been the personal and low-key, and the ones that really are the heart of Home and Away. I have my fingers crossed that it’s one of those.”
How easy was it to ‘find’ the character of Sally again after five years? Has it come naturally or has it required some effort?
“Sally is a bit like that best friend we all have who, regardless of how long it’s been since we’ve spoken or caught up, you can just pick up where you left off – so stepping back into her shoes has come naturally. I have actually missed playing her very much and so it feels great to be revisiting that for a while.”
Do you still watch Home and Away on occasion, or are the new characters like the River Boys all unfamiliar to you?
“I must admit, I did have to do a little bit of research as to who was related to who, and who was dating who! Thankfully, Leah and Irene are still working in the Diner and Mr Stewart is still ‘stoning the flamin’ crows’, so all was not lost!”
Do you think Home and Away has changed much while you’ve been away?
“I think it has changed a great deal, as it probably did when I was a regular cast member but didn’t notice on a day-to-day basis! I think the biggest change to the show over the past five years is the way it looks, and I have to say it just gets better and better.
“Gone are the days of three cameras across the front in a brightly lit studio, with the process now being more like film than ever before – just without the luxury of time!”
Given your history with the show, how do you feel about Home and Away reaching its 25th year?
“I feel extremely proud of the show. Proud of the show I worked on for so many years and proud of the show it has become since. It is a credit to all of the people who have contributed to it, continuing to make it better and better all the time.
“I also think in a day and age where everything is about the ‘new and shiny’, it is comforting to know that there are still plenty of people, the world over, who stay loyal and like what they know.”
Would you ever consider returning again, or do you think this is the last time viewers will see Sally?
“I didn’t think I would be back this time around, so who knows?”
You’ve had a lot of different roles on Australian TV since leaving Summer Bay. How has life after the show compared to what you’d expected?
“I really didn’t know what to expect. Leaving Home and Away was not only leaving a workplace but leaving an entire life behind – one that I had lived since the age of 8, and so I knew it was going to take some adjusting!
“Going straight into breakfast radio here in Sydney was the best thing that could have happened. The timing was perfect. It was not a job I could possibly try to compare with Home and Away. It taught me so many new skills, put the shoe on the other foot in many ways and helped me find my voice. I had to learn to be me and not the character I had played for such a long time.
“Since then I have worked on many different projects, as an actress, host and ambassador. I also had some much overdue downtime, planned a wedding, got married and spent some time in the UK!
“So, to say the five years post Home and Away were full and busy is an understatement. Most recently, I have been working with the ADCNSW, filling in the breakfast slot at Nova over summer with Sam Mac and filming a guest role on new ABC drama comedy It’s A Date, which is due for release later in the year.”
Would you ever consider working abroad or are you keen to carry on working in Australia?
“I have never had the inclination to pack my bags and head to LA like many of my former work mates. Instead, after finally leaving the shores of Summer Bay, I chose to build on what I already had here in Australia.
“For me, heading to the US would be like starting all over again, which I am not prepared to do. In saying that, there has always been a part of me that would love to one day work in the UK. I think this is because I have always been a great admirer and big fan of British drama. Especially crime! I happen to think it’s the best, anywhere in the world, so if I ever had the chance to add that to my resume I would be happy to start loading my suitcase!”
You’ve had great storylines as Sally. Which ones stand out as your favourites?
“Besides cutting Mr Haggis out of the bagpipes as a 9-year-old girl? I’d have to say the story arc which saw Sally lose the love of her life – and father of her child – Flynn to cancer. I thought it was handled so beautifully and to this day, it’s one of the stories that people continue to talk to me about.”
A lot of Aussie dramas have come and gone. Why do you think Home and Away has stuck around?
“I have always felt that Home and Away respects the audience, which is why we have received that from them in return for the past 25 years and at its heart is family, good and bad. Something that pulls on the heartstrings makes viewers feel connected to the characters and keeps people tuning in because they care what happens to them.”
> Read more ‘Home and Away’ spoilers and news
Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.15pm and 6pm on Channel 5 in the UK, and weekdays at 7pm on Network Seven in Australia.
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