Who’s Coming Home? UPDATED

Kate Ritchie today confirmed that she will soon be returning to Summer Bay for a couple of months, to reprise her role as Sally Fletcher in Home and Away‘ss 25th anniversary year.

Kate spent over 20 years in the role and, along with Ray Meagher (Alf Stewart), was one of only 2 original cast members left by the time of her on-screen exit 5 years ago. Sally’ss departure in April 2008 saw her leave to travel the world with daughter Pippa and foster daughter Cassie, after an emotional storyline which saw her reunited with long-lost twin brother Miles (aka Milco). She eventually settled in Thailand, teaching in an orphanage, where Miles later joined her in 2011.

Speaking to New Idea of her return, Kate said “It’s funny, because I’d never considered going back. It took me such a long time to pluck up the courage to leave Home and Away, that making a return visit was never on the agenda.There will be a wonderful sense of familiarity stepping back into Sally’s shoes for a while. Summer Bay is a very different place these days and I am looking forward to working with all the fresh faces that have continued to take Home and Away from strength to strength.”

Kate continues “I’sm not going back forever, just for a couple of months, but there’ss a great story for Sally and my return was heavily reliant on that. I wasn’st going to come back and change sheets in the caravan park! The show will always have a big place in my heart, which is why revisiting it is such a wonderful opportunity.”

Ray Meagher has also spoken of his excitement of being reunited with Kate on screen, saying “The Bay has really missed Sally and I’ve missed Kate – this is great news. I can’t wait to work with Kate again and yes I know she’ll steal every bloody scene she’s in.”

Series Producer Lucy Addario said “We are thrilled Kate is returning to Home and Away. Sally holds such a special place in the heart of the show and we trust fans will be as excited as we are to watch her story unfold and follow Sally’s journey again.”

Kate will begin filming in the week beginning 25th February, with the return expected to air around July 2013.

For more information on Sally’ss time in the bay, take a look at the spin-off site we created for her departure, which includes a round-up of all her storylines, memories from cast & crew about working with Kate, and an exclusive insight into her departure from Bevan Lee.

Update:
Kate Ritchie returned to filming yesterday (Monday 25th February) and is pictured here on location at Palm Beach.