I'm hoping Kate Ritchie will enjoy it so much she'll want to come back permanently.Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
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I'm hoping Kate Ritchie will enjoy it so much she'll want to come back permanently.Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
Home and Away star Kate Ritchie has revealed that her character Sally Fletcher will be harboring a secret upon her return to Summer Bay.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Ritchie, who starred in the soap for 20 years before leaving in 2008, would be making a return to the show for its 25th anniversary.
While Sally pretends that she is simply back because she has missed the bay and wants to show her daughter Pippa around, it soon becomes clear that there is more to her return that she is letting on.
Ritchie told TV Week: "Sally feels that there is this enormous mountain in front of her. She's back because she doesn't want to climb it on her own.
"The secret is something that rocks the foundation of her family and is, in some ways, close to home. It's something she's been through before and is extremely distressing.
"When you're in that situation, you need to be surrounded by people you love, the people that know you better than you know yourself.
"She realises Summer Bay is where she is going to get the greatest support."
Sally feels unable to share the news with her old friends at first, but it is not long before people start to notice that something is going on behind the scenes.
Ritchie said: "It's actually Roo who picks up on the vibe that there is more to Sally's return. When there is something weighing heavily on your heart, it finds its way out into the world.
"The person she reveals the news to first is Alf. I think she does so because that is why she is back - to have someone to lean on and a community to help her out.
"As much as she didn't want to land in town and dump this information on everyone, she also needs their love and support.
"She's reaching out really and she's back because she knew she couldn't do it on her own."
Sally had cancer before maybe she has again
Her daughter is dying and vj may have the same thing
Home and Away star Kate Ritchie has revealed that her character Sally Fletcher is facing every parent's worst nightmare.
Australian viewers will have seen Sally return to Summer Bay last week, but will know that she is hiding a devastating secret.
Sally's daughter Pippa is dying of mitochondrial disease, and she is desperately trying to get the money together to take her to a clinic in America.
Ritchie told TV Week: "At this point, there is no cure for mitochondrial disease. So it is more about living with it, and managing it and trying to make your life better.
"The fact that there is a clinic in America doing trials is just a glimmer of hope. It's just about trying to get her there."
Sally decides that the only way to get the money together is to sell the Caravan Park house. However, she struggles to get bids on the property.
Realising how desperate Sally is for the money, Alf (Ray Meagher) steps in and suggests that he and Roo (Georgie Parker) could jointly purchase the house and Sally is overwhelmed by his kindness.
Ritchie said: "It's lovely that people are rallying around her and trying to make her feel better.
"It proves how wonderful friendship can be and the fact that people will do anything for you if they can."
Unbeknown to Sally though, Roo and Alf are turned down by the bank and aren't approved for the loan. Unable to tell her the disappointing truth, Alf lies to Sally and Pippa and tells them everything will be fine.
Ritchie continued: "It's very hard. As much as Sally wants to be back in Summer Bay, she feels helpless if she's just sitting there and not doing anything.
"The idea of selling the house, getting to America and going to the Mayo Clinic feels like she's actively pursuing the goal and working towards something. It's scary it could be snatched away.
"Many emotions for Flynn also flood back. She does say quite often to Alf on those bad days, it is not only what she is dealing with that's getting her down, it's the fact that she is dealing with it on her own.
"Her soulmate Flynn, will never be around to help her with these things. She doesn't have the man she loves around and Pippa doesn't have her father."
Home and Away's Sally Fletcher will be left devastated when her unwell daughter Pippa suffers a seizure.
Pippa (Piper Morrissey) is suffering from mitochondrial disease, and Sally (Kate Ritchie) is desperately trying to get the money together to take Pippa to the US for treatment when the incident happens.
Pippa suffers the seizure at school shortly after telling Jett how she is set to travel to America to cure her illness.
After Pippa is rushed to hospital, Sally is told by the doctors that the seizure is connected to the disease but fortunately there is no permanent damage.
Ritchie said to TV Week: "It's hideous. All the fears Sally has had have been realised. When it feels like there is not a lot of hope, it's a hard road to travel.
"Sally tries to reassure Pippa that it's going to be okay, she's not going to die and they're going to fight this together.
"You can have the greatest plan in the world, but you also need a little bit of luck on your side.
"You need to have the universe looking out for you and it doesn't look like it's working out for them."
Home and Away's Sally Fletcher will be left devastated when she discovers her young daughter Pippa is planning her own funeral.
Pippa (Piper Morrissey), who recently suffered a seizure as a result of mitochondrial disease, is receiving treatment in hospital and decides she needs to prepare for the worst case scenario.
However, this will devastate her mum Sally (Kate Ritchie), who is desperately trying to get the money together to take her daughter to America to receive life-saving treatment for the disease.
Ritchie said to TV Week: "Sally is devastated and shocked. It's the first time Sally has really had to acknowledge that this child is a lot more cluey than she imagined.
"Pippa is being affected by it a lot more than Sally thought and Sally needs to be more upfront."
Home and Away star Kate Ritchie has said that she doesn't feel as sad about leaving the soap this time round.
The actress played Sally Fletcher for over 20 years before departing the role in 2008, but recently returned for an eight-week stint to coincide with the show's 25th anniversary.
With her final scenes being aired on Australian screens this week, Ritchie said to The West: "It wasn't the same kind of sadness as when I first said goodbye after 20 years.
"I suppose when I was leaving all those years ago, I wasn't sure what the future held. I was worried about leaving my safety net, whereas now life is different.
"There was a little sadness that I wouldn't be seeing people every day but there was also something really nice about knowing that the door had been opened, and that all of my fears about going back were ridiculous.
"Who knows what the future holds but there are far worse places to be than in Summer Bay and working on a show like Home and Away."
Ritchie also revealed that the best part of returning to the show was working with Piper Morrissey, who plays Sally's young daughter Pippa. The 11-year old actress has previously described Ritchie as being like a mum to her on set.
Ritchie said: "I am very flattered that she would say such a thing because I have met Piper's mum and she is a wonderful lady.
"It was such an interesting time working with Piper because I suppose in some ways I could see a lot of me in her.
"I think when I was a young girl and I was working on the set I had that same sense of excitement and eagerness that sometimes wears off as we all age."
UK viewers will see Sally return to Summer Bay on Tuesday, September 17 on Channel 5 at 6pm.
so she came back for money and then leaves
Yes, but the money was for her sick daughter