Kate Ritchie, a former cast member of Home and Away, issued an apology on social media following her arrest for drunk driving.
Police stopped the former soap star-turned-radio broadcaster and Australia’s Got Talent judge in the Sydney suburb of Pagewood for a random breath test.
She claimed that after a test for alcohol in her car came back positive, she was escorted to the neighborhood police station and given another test. Her second test result was 0.06, which was beyond the permitted limit of 0.05.
Ritchie posted the following on her Instagram: “Recently I did a random breath test. Despite the low level, the test was successful.
“I made a poor decision and there is no doubt I understand the seriousness of my actions. I am truly sorry, Kate.”
Regarding the arrest, the police provided the Daily Mail Australia with the following statement: “She was issued with an infringement notice for the offence of Drive with Low Range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol and issued a Licence Suspension Notice.”
The article also stated that Ritchie was immediately given a $600 fine and a three-month driving suspension.
In a subsequent statement to NewsAU, a representative for radio station Nova said: “We have no plans to modify the Kate, Tim & Joel drive program or Kate’s role within the show. We don’t often comment on this type of false rumor, or confirm our presenter line up for 2023.
“Kate has been on pre-arranged leave for the past few weeks. After the survey break, she will return to the Kate, Tim, and Joel show. Kate is a seasoned broadcaster and a well-liked member of the Nova Network and Kate, Tim & Joel teams.”
Ritchie’s addition to the Australia’s Got Talent judging panel, which also includes returning judge Shane Jacobson, Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, and How I Met Your Mother actor Neil Patrick Harris, was revealed last year.
However, because to pandemic constraints, the series was postponed till this year, and it was revealed that David Walliams had taken Neil Patrick Harris’ seat on the panel.
The series was recently filmed, and its debut is anticipated soon.
