Gumleaf
May 5th, 2008, 05:10 AM
00:06 AEST Mon May 5 2008
A teary-eyed Kate Ritchie thanked the character she played for 20 years on Home and Away, Sally Fletcher, as she took the Gold Logie for the second year running.
Ritchie, wearing a black and white Grecian off-the-shoulder Lisa Ho frock was presented the award by TV legend Bert Newton at Melbourne's Crown Entertainment Complex tonight.
The night was all about Ritchie, 29, who also picked up the Silver for most popular actress.
The actor turned radio presenter thanked the cast and crew of Home and Away's 20-year run but had an emotional message for someone else.
"There are so many people that I need to thank tonight but the most important person that I need to thank is Sally Fletcher," she said.
"I didn't realise how important she was to me and what a huge part of me she was until I had to say goodbye.
"She has been like my best mate and, to be honest, I feel like I have had my right arm cut off and there are days when I ... I don't even know how to finish that sentence, but I just appreciate being able to share so much of my life with everyone, and I think the most important thing is that I feel so appreciated. Thank you so much. Thank you."
Ritchie also paid tribute to the ABC's Chris Lilley who had been the sentimental favourite.
"I am enjoying winning tonight but I am disappointed about winning it because I won't get to hear Chris Lilley's acceptance speech."
Ritchie, who has joined Merrick and Rosso on breakfast radio in Sydney, added: "I would like to think that this is the end of one very long chapter of my life, but it is also the beginning of something fantastic and exciting, and I hope this is not the last you will ever see of me."
Ritchie had beaten an impressive list dominated by the ABC including Lilley, Andrew Denton, Adam Hills along with Neighbours' Natalie Blair, All Saints' John Howard, and serial winners Rove McManus and Lisa McCune.
And while Seven was the big winner on the night with nine gongs, it was a triumphant event for the ABC which picked up seven - eight if including satirist John Clarke's induction into the Hall of Fame.
Nine and Ten picked up two each.
SBS also scored one, while pay TV shows picked up two.
Lilley, who created, wrote and acted in the mockumentary series Summer Heights High, picked up the Silver Logie for most popular actor, while Summer Heights High won most outstanding comedy program.
He also thrilled the crowd, in the form of popular character Mr G.
Other ABC wins included The Choir of Hard Knocks and the Australian Story program on Belinda Emmett, Rove McManus' wife who in 2006 aged 32 died after a long battle with breast cancer.
Seven's wins came largely thanks to Home and Away - which won most popular drama and best new talent in the form of Lincoln Lewis.
Seven's Kath and Kim - formerly on the ABC - won most popular light entertainment program.
The Bathurst 1000 coverage, Dancing with the Stars, Better Homes and Gardens, and the Garuda plane crash news story were among other winners for Seven.
The late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi picked up best new female talent at tonight's Logies.
The nine-year-old received the award for her ABC show Bindi: The Jungle Girl.
While the night was all about Ritchie, before the awards the Underbelly cast were the overwhelming favourites on the carpet.
Notable absentees were Todd McKenney, who's caught up in a drugs scandal, and Sam Newman who broke bones in his foot after he dropped weights on it.
Nevertheless, McKenney was not forgotten, with Newton joking about him while presenting the award to Ritchie.
A teary-eyed Kate Ritchie thanked the character she played for 20 years on Home and Away, Sally Fletcher, as she took the Gold Logie for the second year running.
Ritchie, wearing a black and white Grecian off-the-shoulder Lisa Ho frock was presented the award by TV legend Bert Newton at Melbourne's Crown Entertainment Complex tonight.
The night was all about Ritchie, 29, who also picked up the Silver for most popular actress.
The actor turned radio presenter thanked the cast and crew of Home and Away's 20-year run but had an emotional message for someone else.
"There are so many people that I need to thank tonight but the most important person that I need to thank is Sally Fletcher," she said.
"I didn't realise how important she was to me and what a huge part of me she was until I had to say goodbye.
"She has been like my best mate and, to be honest, I feel like I have had my right arm cut off and there are days when I ... I don't even know how to finish that sentence, but I just appreciate being able to share so much of my life with everyone, and I think the most important thing is that I feel so appreciated. Thank you so much. Thank you."
Ritchie also paid tribute to the ABC's Chris Lilley who had been the sentimental favourite.
"I am enjoying winning tonight but I am disappointed about winning it because I won't get to hear Chris Lilley's acceptance speech."
Ritchie, who has joined Merrick and Rosso on breakfast radio in Sydney, added: "I would like to think that this is the end of one very long chapter of my life, but it is also the beginning of something fantastic and exciting, and I hope this is not the last you will ever see of me."
Ritchie had beaten an impressive list dominated by the ABC including Lilley, Andrew Denton, Adam Hills along with Neighbours' Natalie Blair, All Saints' John Howard, and serial winners Rove McManus and Lisa McCune.
And while Seven was the big winner on the night with nine gongs, it was a triumphant event for the ABC which picked up seven - eight if including satirist John Clarke's induction into the Hall of Fame.
Nine and Ten picked up two each.
SBS also scored one, while pay TV shows picked up two.
Lilley, who created, wrote and acted in the mockumentary series Summer Heights High, picked up the Silver Logie for most popular actor, while Summer Heights High won most outstanding comedy program.
He also thrilled the crowd, in the form of popular character Mr G.
Other ABC wins included The Choir of Hard Knocks and the Australian Story program on Belinda Emmett, Rove McManus' wife who in 2006 aged 32 died after a long battle with breast cancer.
Seven's wins came largely thanks to Home and Away - which won most popular drama and best new talent in the form of Lincoln Lewis.
Seven's Kath and Kim - formerly on the ABC - won most popular light entertainment program.
The Bathurst 1000 coverage, Dancing with the Stars, Better Homes and Gardens, and the Garuda plane crash news story were among other winners for Seven.
The late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's daughter Bindi picked up best new female talent at tonight's Logies.
The nine-year-old received the award for her ABC show Bindi: The Jungle Girl.
While the night was all about Ritchie, before the awards the Underbelly cast were the overwhelming favourites on the carpet.
Notable absentees were Todd McKenney, who's caught up in a drugs scandal, and Sam Newman who broke bones in his foot after he dropped weights on it.
Nevertheless, McKenney was not forgotten, with Newton joking about him while presenting the award to Ritchie.