Former Home and Away star Kate Ritchie has opened up about her special friendship with legendary singer John Farnham in a touching tribute.
In an emotional interview about the 74-year-old, shown as part of 7NEWS Spotlight’s The Lost Tapes of John Farnham, Ritchie reveals just how much the You’re the Voice icon means to her.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Kate Ritchie tells 7NEWS Spotlight about her time working with John Farnham
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Ritchie was just nine when she first met Farnham during filming for a special episode of Home and Away in 1998. She played nine-year-old Sally Fletcher, who was lucky enough to meet her idol, during what was to become an iconic Australian TV moment.
“I think we forget how big John Farnham was,” Ritchie told Spotlight’s Michael Usher. “Not only was he an incredible talent and so likeable, I feel as though he represented what Australia was all about.
“Not only was he our soundtrack, but he was the guy you wanted to be friends with.”
Since filming that episode with Farnham, Ritchie says he’s touched her life in a very special way.
“I remember I was the luckiest little girl in Australia,” she said. “The story was that Sally Fletcher won tickets to see Johnny perform but at the last minute she got an awful case of the chicken pox and because he is such a great guy … he decided to come back to Summer Bay and visit Sally Fletcher in her pyjamas.”
The two filmed a special video clip together – and Ritchie has never forgotten that moment.
“He made the child that I was feel like I was the important person on set that day,” she said. “It was like he had come to see me and he needed my help.”
Even now, 25 years later, Ritchie is still one of the country’s biggest Farnham fans.
“It’s really nice to talk about it,” she said. “I’ve bored my family over the years and (his 1990 hit) Burn For You is a bit of a favourite.
“I think that if you’re celebrating the nation we live in … and you’re not playing John Farnham, you’re not doing it correctly.”
Ritchie was one of many Aussie stars to share their most personal stories about everyone’s favourite Whispering Jack for the Spotlight special, including Glenn Shorrock, Jon Stevens, Phil Burton, Tottie Goldsmith and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Last August, the 74-year-old singer had 12-hour surgery after being diagnosed with throat cancer, with doctors removing a tumour from his mouth and reconstructing his jaw.
But just weeks ago his family revealed he is recovering well.
Farnham’s son, Robert, told The Morning Show his dad is now “cancer free” and “really happy” and is now even singing, tap dancing and walking his dogs again.