Kate Ritchie pays tribute to beloved Home and Away employee: 'I really don't know how she managed it'

Kate Ritchie has shared love for Home and Away crew member who made her life easier on set back in her days on the soap. 

In an Instagram post on Monday, the 44-year-old cuddled up to Carol Toohey and paid tribute to her hard work on what was Carol’s 80th birthday.  

‘Yesterday I joined a room full of people in celebrating Carol and the fact that she is now 80 years young!’ Kate wrote in a lengthy caption. 

’40 of those years were spent feeding and nurturing many of us from her tiny kitchen at Channel Seven. I really don’t know how she managed it.’

She went on: Actors and crew of @homeandawayas well as A Country Practice and even Sons and Daughters. Every meatloaf Pippa made was thanks to Carol.

 ‘Every muffin and milkshake in the Diner? Well, that was Carol too. She made us toasted sandwiches when we were hungry and hot toddies when we were under the weather with 15 scenes in the Fletcher House ahead of us. 

‘She made me a chocolate birthday cake every August and another for my final day in December 2007. Four cakes in fact! 

‘An enormous K-A-T-E and I have the pics to prove it. Thank you Carol for all of the above, for teaching me that cooking is how some of us show love and for bringing so many of us together yesterday. It filled my cup. It always does’. 

It comes after radio star Tim Blackwell appeared to have confirmed rumours of a feud between him and former co-star Kate. 

In an Instagram post on Monday, the 44-year-old cuddled up to Carol Toohey and paid tribute to her hard work on what was Carol’s 80th birthday

 The 41-year-old seemed to hint at a clash with his former Nova FM co-host by making a snarky comment when asked about her departure from the drive time show on the Shock Jocks podcast.

When asked what prompted Kate’s exit, Tim responded: ‘That’s a question for her, I know nothing.’

He then added: ‘I think it ran its course and I think she wanted a new opportunity… and [new host] Ricki-Lee Coulter was around as well.’

Tim went on to speak fondly of his new co-host, saying ‘she’s powerful, vocal and the female version of him’.

It comes after radio star Tim Blackwell (left) appeared to have confirmed rumours of a feud between him and former co-star Kate

He continued: ‘She’s a bit of a control freak, she knows what she wants, she’s very vocal, very powerful, she’s got her own ideas, that’s why we love her so much.’

Ricki-Lee replaced Kate on the show earlier this year, with the program rebranded as the Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel Show.

Kate had quit the show following a long absence and stint at rehab for alcohol dependency.

Ricki-Lee said she was ‘so happy’ to be taking over the segment alongside co-hosts Tim and Joel Creasey.

After quitting the show following a long absence and stint at rehab for alcohol dependency, the popular radio host was replaced by Ricki-Lee Coulter (left)