Kate Thornton: Difference between revisions
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| birth_place = [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]] |
| birth_place = [[Cardiff]], [[Wales]] |
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| nationality = Welsh |
| nationality = Welsh |
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| television = '''Presenting:'''<br>{{nowrap|''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]] <small>(2004- |
| television = '''Presenting:'''<br>{{nowrap|''[[The X Factor (UK)|The X Factor]] <small>(2004-06)</small>''<br>''[[Loose Women]] <small>(2009-11)</small>''<br>''[[This Morning (TV programme)|This Morning]] <small>(2009—)</small>''<br>''[[71 Degrees North]] <small>(2010)''<br>}} |
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| employer = [[ITV]] |
| employer = [[ITV]] |
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| agent = Troika Talent<ref>http://www.troikatalent.com/#/melanie-rockcliffe-and-dylan-hearn/kate-thornton/</ref> |
| agent = Troika Talent<ref>http://www.troikatalent.com/#/melanie-rockcliffe-and-dylan-hearn/kate-thornton/</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:25, 28 December 2012
Kate Thornton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 July 1974 |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Occupation(s) | Television presenter, Journalist |
| Years active | 1992-present |
| Employer | ITV |
| Agent | Troika Talent[1] |
| Television | Presenting: The X Factor (2004-06) Loose Women (2009-11) This Morning (2009—) 71 Degrees North (2010) |
| Spouse | Darren Emerson (2007-11) |
| Children | Ben (2008) |
Kate Thornton (born 7 July 1974) is a Welsh journalist and television presenter. Early in her career, she was notable for her articles at the Daily Mirror and for her role as editor of Smash Hits magazine. She is most famous for her role as a TV presenter, hosting the first three series' of The X Factor and the anchor of Loose Women for two years between August 2010 to August 2012.
Journalistic career
Thornton started her career at the Sunday Mirror in 1992 as an editorial assistant. She later became a pop music columist for the Daily Mirror. While in this role, Thornton was instrumental in initiating a media controversy concerning the British musical group Pulp. Prior to the release of the band's single Sorted for E's & Wizz in 1995, the Daily Mirror printed a front-page story headed "BAN THIS SICK STUNT" alongside a story by Kate Thornton which said the song was "pro-drugs" and called for the single to be banned.[2] The pre-release single had an inlay which Thornton alleged showed how to make an origami 'wrap' or parcel with the intention of "offering teenage fans a DIY guide on hiding illegal drugs".[3] In an interview with music paper NME on the same day, Kate Thornton was quoted to say: "We wanted to see the sleeve pulled and we thought it was a crusade we would take up single-handedly. I think the sleeve is something that will concern our readers, although it may not concern yours." The band agreed to change the artwork, while continuing to assert that Kate Thornton had misinterpreted the meaning of both the sleeve art and the song's lyrics. Lead singer Jarvis Cocker released a statement two days later saying: "...'Sorted' is not a pro-drugs song... Nowhere on the sleeve does it say you are supposed to put drugs in here but I understand the confusion... I wouldn't want anything we do to encourage people to take drugs because they aren't a solution or an answer to anything. I don't think anyone who listens to Sorted would come away thinking it had a pro drugs message. If they did I would say they had misinterpreted it."[4] The Daily Mirror printed his statement, but he was unhappy that the front page article written by Thornton contained the misquote "I don't want the sleeve to get in the way of what the record is saying, which is an anti-drugs message", which he felt over-simplified the song's meaning once again. He also criticised Thornton's decision to contact the father of a victim of an Ecstacy-related death for a response.[5] The Daily Mirror campaign continued, publishing their readers' response to a poll to have the song itself banned. The single reached number two on the UK Single Charts, and the track featured on the band's 1995 album Different Class.[6]
In 1995, she became the youngest ever editor of pop magazine Smash Hits at age 22, producing her first issue in February 1996 covering the breakup of boy-band Take That.[7] She left a year later, having been unable to prevent a further slide in sales of the magazine.[8] In 1997, she became a Features Editor at the Sunday Times, a post she held until 2001, and also a contributing Editor for magazine Marie Claire, in which position she continued until 2003.[9]
Television career
Whilst undertaking these new editorial roles, Thornton began a second career in television. In February 1997 Thornton was given her first TV presenting job, on the ITV current affairs programme "Straight Up". She was tasked with putting together a photo tribute with music for Princess Diana on the day of her death. In an interview in March 2011, Thornton said: "...because it was a Sunday, the music library was shut and the only thing I had in my car, the only piece of music that was appropriate, was Candle in the Wind from Elton John's greatest hits." Colleagues attributed the subsequent airplay and then the re-recording of the song to this event. Thornton is quoted as having been doubtful initially, but later having come to accept the possibility: "I never dared to assume for one minute that I was the link. But Nick Knowles [co-presenter on the show] has convinced me that whatever came as a result of it was all down to me."[10]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Top of the Pops | Presenter |
| Dishes | Presenter | |
| The Power List | Presenter | |
| 1998–2000 | The Kate and Jono Show | Co-presenter |
| Don't Try This at Home | Presenter | |
| This Morning | Reporter | |
| 2000 | The TV BAFTAs | Presenter |
| 2001–03 | Pop Idol: Extra | Presenter |
| 2001 | The Brits are Coming | Presenter |
| The Brits: Backstage | Presenter | |
| BAFTA Children's Awards | Presenter | |
| 2001–02 | The Ideal Home Show | Presenter |
| 2001–03 | Holiday - You Call the Shots | Presenter |
| 2002 | Lad's Army | Presenter |
| 2004 | American Idol | Guest |
| 2004–06 | The X Factor | Presenter |
| 2005 | Celebrity Wrestling | Co-presenter |
| 2007 | Red Nose Day 2007: The Big One | Presenter |
| Happy Birthday Elton John | Presenter | |
| The Royal Variety Performance | Presenter | |
| Greatest Britons | Presenter | |
| 2008 | Countdown to Midnight: Take That Live | Presenter |
| Don't Miss a Trick | Presenter | |
| Hello Goodbye | Presenter | |
| Elton's New Year's Eve Party | Presenter | |
| 2009–11 | Loose Women | Anchor |
| 2009– | This Morning | Relief Presenter |
| 2010 | 71 Degrees North | Co-presenter |
| The Nation's Favourite Abba Song | Narrator | |
| 2011 | The Alan Titchmarsh Show | Guest |
| A Night with Will Young | Presenter | |
| All Star Family Fortunes | Celebrity contestant | |
| 2011, 12 | This Morning's Hub | Relief Presenter |
| 2012 | Lorraine | Guest presenter |
Thornton has also presented Gravity Games for BBC2, Women: The Naked Truth Honest for Channel 4 and Breasts Uncupped for Sky One.[9]
Radio career and other events
Thornton has presented a number of programmes for BBC Radio 2 since 2002. As well as presenting, Thornton was also the writer of the radio documentary From Band to Brand in 2004, and the creator of the radio series Line of Enquiry, inviting an audience to put questions to a number of celebrities, which began in 2007.[9]
Kate hosted the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012. She has been confirmed as the host of the 2013 tour.
Personal life
Kate began dating DJ Darren Emerson in 2004.[11] The couple became engaged in 2007. She gave birth to her first child, a boy named Ben on 13 May 2008.[12] On 3 February 2011, she announced live on air that she and Darren had separated.[13] In January 2012 Thornton told an interview with The Sun that after leaving Loose Women she had enrolled at college to study counselling because her television career had "hit the kerb".[14]
References
- ^ http://www.troikatalent.com/#/melanie-rockcliffe-and-dylan-hearn/kate-thornton/
- ^ "Ban This Sick Stunt". The Daily Mirror. 20 September 1995.
- ^ Sleeve art for single 'Sorted for E's and Wizz' at PulpWiki.net
- ^ Response statement by Jarvis Cocker to Daily Mirror story, 22 September 1995 stored at www.acrylicafternoons.com
- ^ 'Pulp in Britpop's First Ban' Melody Maker, 30 September 1995
- ^ Roberts, David (editor) (2006) [1977]. British Hit Singles & Albums (19th edition). London: HiT Entertainment. p. 442. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Can 'Smash Hits' survive the end of Take That? by Andy Beckett The Independent - Sunday 18 February 1996
- ^ About Smash Hits! Smash Hits Pop Channel website
- ^ a b c Kate Thornton CV at Troika Talent PDF file accessed September 2011
- ^ Kate Thornton: Single motherhood, guilt and why she worries about Kate Middleton, Interview by Marianne Kavanagh.
- ^ Melanie Swan. Joy of X. The People. 29 October 2006.
- ^ Kate is latest yummy mummy The Sun - 16 May 2008
- ^ Kate's break-up revealed on air The Sun - 4 February 2011
- ^ Blackburn, Jen (10 January 2012). "Kate Thornton: TV host retrains as therapist after losing her job on Loose Women | The Sun |Showbiz|TV". The Sun. Retrieved 10 January 2012.